For more than three decades Klimas Wkręt-met has become known in the market as a manufacturer that provides the highest quality construction fasteners solutions.
Interview with Maciej Strychalski, Director of Marketing Department at Klimas Wkręt.
Easy Engineering: A brief description of the company and its activities.
Maciej Strychalski: Despite the size it has managed to achieve, a family company, invariably guided by values.
On the one hand, we listen to the needs of the market – from do-it-yourselfers to contractors to architects. On the other hand, we are consistently pursuing our GO GLOBAL strategy of expanding into global markets. We have opened several companies in different parts of the globe, including India and France and our products today reach nearly 70 countries around the world.
Our two headquarters, located in the southern part of Poland near the city of Czestochowa, include nearly 80,000 sqm, 4 production halls equipped with the most modern machinery in Europe, a high-storage warehouse and modern office space.
The company is also known for its commitment to issues of regional and national importance, actively supporting charitable and cultural initiatives, as well as carrying out its own activities in this regard.
E.E: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
M.S: First and foremost, we offer our customers and business partners top-quality solutions in the field of construction fasteners. In total, we have about 6,500 of them in our portfolio, so we cater to various market needs. Such a wide range of products allows us to become known as one of the best recognized Polish construction brands.
E.E: What’s the news about new products?
M.S: Innovation has a special meaning for us. In the construction fastening industry, we strive to be vigilant, listening carefully to the needs of international markets. Thanks to this and the fact that we have our laboratory, we are in a position to provide innovative solutions. An example is our latest fastener for fixing thermal insulation ThermoDrive V-2. This new-generation fastener for fixing polystyrene, mineral wool, and wood wool has an unprecedented tolerance to the inaccuracies of thickness and surface of insulation and substrates present in the realities of construction. Its creation is the result of a proper diagnosis of the needs of contractors and our staff of specialists, thanks to whose knowledge and experience we have created a truly innovative project in the field of ETICS systems.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
M.S: Among the 6,500 products in our portfolio are both screws for various substrates, fasteners for fixing thermal insulation, and mechanical or chemical anchors. Such a wide product portfolio allows us to secure different stages of the investment – from the foundation to the roof. Klimas Wkręt-met’s offer also includes screws that will prove useful in finishing work, for example, for fixing in gypsum board, solid and hollow substrates.
The company’s extensive offer applies to products dedicated to wood, among which there are fasteners with special parameters, for example, carpentry screws, patio screws, screws for angled connections, or spacer screws.
We manufacture our products with the highest quality standards. Safety and comfort of their use are our priority, which is why our fasteners have European ETA technical approvals.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
M.S: The construction industry is growing extremely fast. It is also changing a lot, recent years have shown that we need to move towards energy efficiency and sustainability in it at every stage of operations – from production to transportation to sales. Rapidly changing construction trends mean that we are constantly innovating and improving, which allows us to be the Central and Eastern European production leader in the field of construction fasteners.
That’s why today we openly talk about Mass Timber technology, CLT timber, in timber construction seeing the future of the industry. Our portfolio already includes products that will work well for connections in this type of construction, so we can confidently say that we are ready for change, and even that in this part of Europe we are the forerunners.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
M.S: We share the view that wood is the future of construction. Experts point out that wood is the most sustainable building material, due in part to its relatively smallest carbon footprint created in the production process. As a good insulator, wood also accounts for a building’s energy efficiency due to its low heat transfer rate, and is also a renewable resource. Klimas Wkręt-met is well aware that the company’s portfolio must keep up with the changing world. Thus, the manufacturer’s offer includes screws, the quality and parameters of which allow them to be used in wood construction in the broadest sense. And so, for example, in the case of connections that require tightening of elements, the WKCP and WKCS screws will be excellent, while in the case of structural reinforcement and angled connections, the solution from the portfolio of the Polish brand will be the WKFC and WKFS screws. It is therefore safe to say that the brand, vigilantly monitoring global trends, is already ready for the inevitable changes in the construction industry.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
M.S: The latest such product is the aforementioned ThermoDrive V2, which represents a huge innovation in thermal insulation systems.
Its premiere took place this spring, so it is a new product in our portfolio. What is peculiar to it is the unprecedented tolerance to inaccuracies in thickness and surface of the insulation, as well as substrates – something that every contractor encounters in the reality of construction. This new generation fastener is suitable for fixing both polystyrene, mineral wool, and wood wool.
E.E: What estimations do you have for 2023?
M.S: We are basically past the halfway point of the year, a lot has already happened and affected expectations or plans, to mention the prolonged difficult geopolitical situation in Europe. Therefore, instead of estimates, we will talk about the path that Klimas Wkręt-met will consistently follow. This path is GO GLOBAL, which means that we are gradually extending our position as a production leader in Central and Eastern Europe to other parts of the world. We are already present in the markets of 70 countries from different parts of the globe, and we also own several companies, effectively building the stature of our brand.