Fastener Technology

What Fastener Technology does

Fastener Technology International (FTI) is a privately held trade publication operated by Initial Publications Inc., headquartered at 1741 Akron Peninsula Rd., Akron, Ohio. The company produces a bimonthly international technical magazine covering the global fastener industry, distributed in print and digital editions to readers in 90+ countries. Its product portfolio includes the core FTI Magazine, the Fastener Focus magazine-in-magazine section, the monthly Fastener News Report newsletter, the annual Buyers' Guide (containing 1,300+ company listings across 850+ product categories), the annual Company Profiles section, the Manufacturer Identification Symbols International Guide, and content collaboration with the Fully Threaded Radio podcast.

FTI's business model combines advertising sales, subscription revenue, and one-time publication sales. Subscriptions are free for US/CAN fastener industry professionals and priced at $120/year for international print readers. Advertising is monetized through block ads, classified ads, email sponsorships, and flip book sponsorships across both the magazine and newsletter. The Buyers' Guide ($55), Manufacturer Identification Symbols Guide ($50-69), and Fastener News Report subscriptions ($25 PDF / $50 print) generate supplementary reference-product revenue. Digital editions are distributed via Bluetoad and MyDigitalPublication platforms.

The publication serves three primary customer segments: fastener manufacturers (cold forming, heat treatment, finishing operations), fastener distributors, and OEMs/end users in automotive, aerospace, construction, and industrial applications. FTI monetizes its audience primarily by selling advertising access to this concentrated vertical, supported by a network of regional sales agents across China, Europe, India, Italy, Japan, and Taiwan. The company employs 11-50 staff and is led by Chip Lippincott (President and Publisher) and Mike McNulty (VP & Editor), with a clear family-business leadership footprint.

Name

Fastener Technology

Legal name

Fastener Technology International

Website

https://fastenertech.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fastener Technology International is a private Akron, Ohio-based trade publisher producing a bimonthly technical magazine, monthly newsletter, and annual Buyers' Guide serving fastener manufacturers, distributors, OEMs, and end users across 90+ countries, monetized primarily through advertising and supplementary reference publications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Akron

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions: Free print and digital subscriptions for US/CAN fastener industry professionals; $120/year paid print or free digital for international subscribers. Six issues published per year.
2. Advertising Revenue: Block advertisements, classified advertisements, email sponsorships, and flip book sponsorship opportunities. Multiple ad rate sheets available for different magazine sections.
3. Publications and Books: Sale of annual Buyers' Guide ($55), Fastener News Report newsletter subscriptions ($25-50/year), and Manufacturer Identification Symbols guide ($50-69).
4. Fastener News Report Newsletter: Monthly newsletter published 12 times per year covering mergers, acquisitions, market reports, sales & earnings data, contracts, and new products. Available as PDF subscription ($25/year) or print ($50/year).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Fastener Technology International (FTI), published by Initial Publications Inc., produces a bimonthly international technical magazine covering manufacturers, distributors, OEMs, and end users of all types of fasteners. The publication is offered in print and digital editions across 90+ countries and is supplemented by an annual Buyers' Guide (1,300+ company listings across 850+ product categories), a monthly Fastener News Report newsletter, the Fastener Focus magazine-in-a-magazine section, and a Manufacturer Identification Symbols reference guide.

Product overview

Fastener Technology International (FTI) is a publishing company that produces a portfolio of print and digital publications for the fastener industry. The core product is the FTI Magazine, a bimonthly technical publication distributed to 90+ countries, supplemented by Fastener Focus (a magazine-in-magazine section focused on distribution and OEM channels), the monthly Fastener News Report newsletter, and the annual Buyers' Guide containing 1,300+ company listings across 850+ product categories. Additional offerings include the Company Profiles section, the Manufacturer Identification Symbols Guide, and podcast content through Fully Threaded Radio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fastener Focus: A magazine-in-a-magazine section within FTI that provides extensive coverage of the distribution, OEM and end-use of fastener products. Concentrated on how fastener products are marketed, distributed and applied.
• Fastener News Report
• Fastener Technology International Buyers' Guide

Products and services

• Fastener Technology International (FTI) Magazine A bimonthly international technical magazine for manufacturers, distributors, OEMs, and users of all types of fasteners. Published in print and digital editions, with readers located in 90 different countries worldwide. Free subscriptions for US/CAN industry professionals; $120/year paid international print subscription.
• Fastener Focus
• Fastener News Report Newsletter A monthly newsletter providing professionals with global fastener business and market news, including mergers, acquisitions, market reports, sales & earnings data, contracts, new products, and industry events. Available as PDF subscription ($25/year) or print subscription ($50/year).
• Fastener Technology International Buyers' Guide An annual publication containing over 1,300 alphabetized company listings with complete address, telephone, fax, and key contact information. Companies are categorized by over 850 product categories offered. Sold at $55 per copy through the bookstore.
• Company Profiles Section An annual section presented every October/November issue listing major leaders in the Fastener Industry with company descriptions, machinery and products produced, addresses, and contact information.
• Manufacturer Identification Symbols International Guide Annual reference guide listing manufacturer identification symbols/headmarks for the fastener industry. Available in print ($69) or PDF ($50) versions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Readers in 90 different countries
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Ringier Trade Media Ltd. (China)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational sales agent for China coverage. Vivian Shang handles East China region (+86-21 6289-5533, Ext. 169); Maggie Liu handles North & South China (+86-20 8732-3316, Ext. 9332); Mike Hay handles Hong Kong (+852 2369 8788, Ext. 11).
• Anna Hasman (Europe/India)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales Manager for Europe and India regions. Cell: 614-285-5150, EU: + 31 6 27 41 93 33, WhatsApp: +1 330-690-9378.
• Kapil Suri (India)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales agent for India. Tel: +91 98102 48458.
• Casiraghi Global Media srl (Italy)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian sales agent. Diego Casiraghi and Oliver Casirhi. Tel: +39 031 261407, [email protected].
• Sakura International (Japan)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJapanese sales agent. Ken Myohdai. Tel: 81-6-6264-3900 or 81-3-5646-1160. Fax: 81-6-6264-3901 or 81-3-5646-1161.
• Worldwide Services Co. Ltd. (Taiwan)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTaiwan sales agent. Robert Yu. Tel: +886 4 23251784 • Fax: +886 4 23252967, [email protected].
• Fully Threaded RadiocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFTI contributes content to Fully Threaded Radio podcast, an industry audio platform for fastener news and discussion.
• International Fastener Expo (IFE)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerIFE is North America's largest fastener trade show. FTI provides exhibitor spotlights and editorial coverage for the event with bonus distribution of Fastener Focus magazine at the show.
• Fastener Training InstituteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFTI promotes training opportunities from Fastener Training Institute including webinars, day classes, multi-day classes, and Fastener Training Week (FTW).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Engineering360 (IHS Markit / GlobalSpec): Large-scale industrial information platform with product directories, technical content, and supplier discovery serving engineers and OEMs. Comparable to FTI's directory + editorial model but at multi-vertical scale and digital-first.
• Thomas Publishing / ThomasNet: Long-established industrial sourcing platform and directory serving manufacturers and distributors across many verticals. Comparable B2B directory and product-discovery business model to FTI's Buyers' Guide, but at much broader industrial scope.
• Hardware + Building Supply Dealer (HBS Dealer): B2B trade publication covering hardware and building supply distribution, including fastener categories. Comparable niche B2B media business model with overlapping distributor and OEM audiences, though broader in scope than FTI.

Direct peers

• Assembly Magazine: BNP Media trade publication covering manufacturing assembly processes and fastening technologies. Comparable B2B trade magazine model serving overlapping OEM/end-user audience that consumes fastener specification content.
• Fastener World (China): China-based trade magazine and directory serving the global fastener industry. Directly comparable to FTI as a niche B2B fastener publication, with both print, digital, and Buyers' Guide-style directory products targeting overlapping manufacturer and distributor audiences.
• American Fastener Journal: US trade publication dedicated to the fastener industry, covering manufacturers, distributors, and OEMs. Closest direct competitor in North America, with similar bimonthly/periodical cadence and audience overlap with FTI's magazine and Buyers' Guide.
• Cutting Tool Engineering: SME-published trade magazine covering metal cutting and related manufacturing processes, including fastener machining. Similar niche B2B media model with print, digital, and ancillary product revenue streams targeting industrial manufacturers.
• Industrial Distribution: BNP Media's B2B trade magazine for industrial distributors, including fastener distributors. Highly comparable business model (trade magazine + digital + events + directory) and overlapping advertiser base with FTI's distributor segment.

Regional players

• Ringier Trade Media: China-headquartered B2B trade media group with industrial publications across multiple verticals, including fastener-adjacent titles. Already partners with FTI as a sales agent for China, and represents a comparable but regionally focused trade publishing model.

Emerging players

• Fully Threaded Radio: Fastener-industry podcast that FTI contributes to and co-distributes. Comparable audience and subject matter, but operates as an audio-first emerging media property rather than a legacy print magazine.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fastener-technology

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fastener Technology