About A.F.A.C. Ltd.

A.F.A.C. was formed in 1980 in Meppershall, Bedfordshire to supply metalworkers with small quantities of WELD STUDS, which at that time were only available in bulk from the stud welding machine manufacturers.

Having worked in the STUD WELDING industry for many years, the founders were able to offer the expertise necessary to support their customers.

Continued growth and diversification into the supply of WELD BOLTS, WELD NUTS, RIVET BUSHES and SOLID RIVETS made it necessary to seek larger premises and in 1985 Applied Fastenings and Components, as the company was then known, moved to Shefford. Following that, in 2009 and to offer greater efficiency, a move was made to Wilstead, a few miles away, where order processing and despatch is undertaken in a new purpose built warehouse. The administration and technical offices are nearby in Wilstead.

The new factory allowed space to manufacture an increased range of products, including the RANKER rustless anchor, used to hold customs plates onto seagoing containers.

At this time A.F.A.C. began the trial marketing of PVC STUDSAVER caps to allow their customers to protect their WELD STUDS and WELD BOLTS following welding into place and the final assembly.

It was soon discovered that the STUDSAVER CAPS could also be used to mask WELD STUDS and WELD BOLTS during painting and powder coating operations.

The STUDSAVER CAP became an overnight success, replacing the time consuming use of masking tape and offering limited re-usability.

The success of the PVC STUDSAVER CAP led to requests from customers for a product to mask female threads and holes. A product to meet this requirement was the BAKEWELL PLUG.

The BAKEWELL PLUG was designed specifically for masking during electro-static powder coating applications and was the first masking product in the U.K. able to withstand stoving temperatures in excess of 260 degrees C/ 500 degrees F. In addition, the BAKEWELL PLUG could be re-used time and time again. To aid identification, BAKEWELL PLUGS were colour coded to indicate the thread size they would mask.

Using the same high temperature silicone rubber, the BAKEWELL TUBE was evolved to provide a re-usable method of masking studs. Drawing on the expertise in the production of weld studs, the BAKEWELL TUBE range was developed to give the optimum fit on studs, making them easy to fit and remove. Once again colour coding was employed to assist customers to identify the part needed for their application, thus, simply by giving the colour, the correct size could be supplied.

By 1990, sale of the masking products were far in excess of the original range of fastener products.

The range of products offered by A.F.A.C. has continued to expand to include, the silicone rubber BAKEWELL range, PLUGS, DOMECAPS, BUNGS, CAPITALLS, SPADETUBES, HAMMERHEADS, SCREWIN PLUGS, RAMRODS, TUBES, COMBIPLUGS, FLANGED-CAPS, SOCKETEX PLUGS, TUGPLUGS and CONECAPS. All of these BAKEWELL products are produced from SILICONE RUBBER for temperature and chemical resistance.

To give even greater choice, A.F.A.C. has introduced its low cost GLASSNAKE stud masking tube. For lower temperature applications, TPR TABCAPS are now available. A.F.A.C. design staff are continuing to work with industry worldwide to reduce production costs and improve products. Now A.F.A.C. Ltd is able to offer and ever increasing range of fasteners and hardware to an even greater number of industries and increase the range of stocked items. With its new partnerships in the far east, A.F.A.C. Ltd is able to tap into worldwide manufacturing facilities to ensure that they can offer the most diverse, economical, quality products available in the UK, Europe and the U.S.A.

A.F.A.C. innovation continues to improve manufacturing productivity worldwide.