FACE2FACE - Fastener + Fixing Magazine Article
In September Toronto headquartered Interfast Inc. announced the launch of a new division operating under the name of Interfast Europe Ltd. Phil Matten caught up with newly appointed general manager, David Proctor, to find out more.
David Proctor's appointment was confirmed the day after Interfast Inc. acquired certain assets of Burwood Fastener Products Limited, based in Surrey, UK. "Interfast had already made initial moves to acquire Burwood," says David. "However, before an acquisition could be finalised, Burwood was placed into administration and Interfast was able to purchase certain assets from the administrator within 24 hours."
"As a result it was possible to continue to support Burwood customers seamlessly. That process was greatly assisted by Neil Stanbury, who continued in the business as operations and quality director, together with other colleagues from Burwood."
"For Interfast, though, this was a long planned strategic decision, to provide its existing European customer base with local support and service, and to develop a physical presence in Europe on which to substantially grow its market share." David Proctor acknowledges that the acquisition brings some 'legacy issues', not least with previous Burwood suppliers.
"We hope those companies will recognise that Interfast played no part in the failure of the Burwood business, but is committed to creating a new business that will develop a distinctive role in the European aerospace supply chain. That means integrating the best of both organisations, to offer a comprehensive range of fastener products as well as engineering product support and extensive supply chain management."
"Interfast is a very credible company, with high ethical as well as commercial standards," explains David Proctor. "Those standards reflect the unique influence of Doug Woollings."
Douglas Woollings has served as president and chief executive officer of Interfast Inc, since he founded the business, with just three people, in 1966. He started his career in automotive parts management, later serving as a national sales manager in a UK fastener company, before starting Interfast.
"Doug has succeeded in growing Interfast to the number one market position in Canada and as a top 10 aerospace fastener distribution firm globally, with customers in Asia Pacific, Europe, North and South America," says David Proctor. "He has built an extraordinarily strong management team, which represents the quite unique blend of experience, business acumen and drive that has contributed so effectively to the company's prosperity."
"He also remains an avid pilot and is absolutely passionate about the aerospace industry." David Proctor's own pedigree in aerospace owes much to thirteen years with Southco. As global general manager he was responsible, following the acquisition of Dzuz in 2004, for integrating the quarter turn fastener program into Southco and for developing the company's overall strategy towards the aerospace market.
"Interfast has a tremendous reputation as a valued and trusted partner to some of the world’s leading aerospace, airline and industrial companies. We work with both OEM and MRO companies, offering a full range of fastening systems, special and standard hardware, precision hole preparation and production installation tooling. It is the nature of aerospace that to succeed you need to be highly responsive and highly responsible. We have to deliver effective solutions, sometimes at short notice, backed by absolute quality assurance and certification."
"Today the aerospace industry is under unprecedented cost pressures, so Interfast's proven track record in helping companies optimise their operations, providing opportunities to lower costs and improve efficiencies, without any sacrifice to quality or service, is a key differentiator."
Of course, it is early days for both David Proctor and Interfast Europe. "Right now we are developing the business plan for approval by the Interfast board. Perhaps we should really describe this as a 'soft launch'. The company identity has been established but, in most respects, we have an almost blank sheet of paper on which to develop something truly world class. We do already have customers in many parts of Europe, including Italy, Switzerland and Germany, with some business in France and the Low Countries, as well as the UK. Now we have to decide our priorities, where we strengthen our sales teams, which language skills we need to introduce, the phasing of our own inventory program and, indeed, where we will warehouse it. Exciting times!"