Fascomp Built Its Business on Distribution

Rivets, lockbolts, blind bolts, and other fasteners are incredibly versatile and can be used for various applications, but sometimes, you need a specialty fastener designed for the task. Fascomp is a specialty fastener maker that creates electronic hardware specifically designed for electronics installations and components.

Fascomp makes fasteners solely for the electronics industry. You can probably find Fascomp fasteners almost anywhere there are electronic controls. Fascomp parts are used be

hind the scenes as part of the control boxes in streetlights, elevators, aircraft, and elsewhere. The company’s mission is to provide specialty electronics fasteners to electronics manufacturers for multiple uses.

Fascomp’s goal is also to meet unique customer needs at commodity pricing. Because Fascomp is one of the newest additions to the Bay Supply Marketplace, we wanted to learn more about electronic fasteners. We spoke with Jason Bertone, Fascomp's vice president.

The Parts Are Inside the Control Box

Fascomp makes a variety of custom fastener hardware commonly used in electronics manufacturing. Its biggest sellers are standoffs used to mount circuit boards and prevent electronic parts from coming in contact. Standoffs are used in many electronic systems and are essential to electronic controls.

“Whether you are at a streetlight and see the control box of the signal or in a commercial jet, you’ll find Fascomp parts,” Bertone said. “In Boeing 737 airplanes, for example, Fascomp makes the fasteners that hold the plastic consoles above the seats together. The injection molding where you see the call button, air control, and light button are put together using Fascomp parts.”

Bertone says that the biggest markets for Fascomp fasteners are telecommunications, medical equipment, lighting systems, and anything with a control box. The company doesn’t sell too many fasteners for military or automotive manufacturing since they tend to need highly specialized parts, which contradicts Fascomp’s philosophy of providing mass-produced parts for manufacturing.

Ramping Up to Stable Growth

Fascomp was founded in 2001 and has headquarters in Orlando, Florida, and an office in Naugatuck, Connecticut. The company manufactures most of its parts at its facility in Shenzhen, China, which has helped it grow in the Asian and U.S. markets. 

To accommodate U.S. contracts, such as those of aerospace manufacturers that require domestic parts manufacturing, Fascomp has been ramping up its Connecticut production facilities. Today, the company makes about 70 percent of its products in Asia and 30 percent—including all specialty products—in the U.S. 

Having a domestic plant in Connecticut helps Fascomp beat other vendors in terms of price for parts. The Naugatuck facility is very efficient in high-volume production.

The Business Is Built on Distribution

Bertone also credits Fascomp’s distribution channel as a competitive differentiator. Fascomp’s sales are through distributors, and there are no direct sales—not even to the company’s largest customers. The fact that Fascomp won’t compete with its distributors on large contracts promotes distributor loyalty, and collaborative partnerships mean better customer service.

When a large company such as Boeing or Otis approaches the company for parts, they delegate the sale to a distribution partner. Of course, Fascomp supports its distributors on the sales call and works with the customer to ensure they get the right parts.

Facomp currently has more than 1,000 distributors, including 300 active distribution partners.

To help maintain its competitive edge, Fascomp also maintains an extensive parts inventory. About 80 percent of the company’s inventory is ready for drop shipment, either from the central Orlando warehouse or Naugatuck. Bertone estimates that 35 percent of its sales are in male and female standoffs, and 30 percent are for customer-specific parts.

Responding quickly to customer needs helps set Fascomp apart from its competitors. Maintaining a large inventory eliminates shipping delays and helps manufacturing customers keep their production quotas.

“Inventory is key,” Bertone said. “In 2023, we ran a 62 percent fill order rate, so for every order placed, 62 percent of those orders partially or all filled out of stock. That's a very high rate in our industry.”

And there’s its competitive pricing. Bertone explained that the company prefers high-volume orders so its prices can remain competitive. Fascomp can produce large orders in its Naugatuck facility for less than it would cost to do so overseas, giving the company an edge.

Extending Market Reach with Bay Supply

Partnering with Bay Supply was a logical move for Fascomp, especially since more buyers are going directly to the web to source parts.

“I knew Bay Supply from the trade magazines, and they are very active on the internet and very good at marketing,” Bertone said. “And Bay Supply is an inventory company like us, so it’s a really easy fit—especially since they didn’t have electronic hardware on their line card.”

Fascomp has some big internet competitors, and working with Bay Supply gives it a stronger internet presence and the ability to reach new customers. As Bertone explained, customers can place orders through Bay Supply, and Fascomp can quickly drop ship parts to fulfill orders. 

“We open ourselves to everybody, so we don’t have to pick winners,” Bertone said. “We let the market pick the winners, and we support everyone the same way. Signing with Bay Supply was an easy choice for us.”

Fascomp’s line of electronics hardware is available on the Bay Supply Marketplace. To find Fascomp products or fasteners that meet your needs, simply create a free account and explore the online catalog.