Engineering reliability in a changing world – The TR perspective

Engineering has shaped society for centuries, from the earliest tools to today’s advanced systems. While technologies have evolved dramatically since Engineering magazine was founded 160 years ago, the core responsibility of engineers has remained the same; to deliver safe, reliable and efficient solutions that perform under real-world conditions. 

Focused growth driven by engineered sector expertise

Fasteners, whether standardised or manufactured to drawing, are used across almost every industry worldwide to assemble components and bring product engineers’ designs to life. With a meticulous eye for detail, TR’s engineers specialise in joining solutions, fastening products and their associated manufacturing methods, while building deep knowledge of the markets in which they operate. This is why early-stage collaboration with customer engineering teams is so important. While customers are specialists in their own designed products, they often have a more generalist understanding of fastening solutions and can benefit from TR’s specialist expertise.

Starting my career over 25 years ago, working on a nuclear power application, I was responsible for detailing and preparing equipment for manufacture and assembly. A quick visit to the warehouse to select readily available fasteners resulted in significant design changes, ultimately delaying the project. Early involvement from a TR fastening specialist would have shortened the design cycle and potentially improved the final design.

While TR operates across multiple markets, many joining solutions are transferable from one industry to another. Adapting to and understanding industry-specific standards, requirements and materials helps to strengthen overall design capability and improve the success rates of collaborating organisations.

The engineering landscape has shifted significantly in recent years. While automotive manufacturing continues to undergo structural transformation driven by electrification and supply chain pressure, sectors such as smart infrastructure and medical equipment are expanding rapidly.

Following an extensive R&D programme, TR has introduced new ranges of fasteners manufactured from 100% recycled nylon, delivering up to a 90% reduction in raw-material CO₂ emissions while maintaining over 80% of the mechanical performance of traditional virgin materials. This drive towards more sustainable fastener products was not only to increase TR’s product range, but also to serve as a call to action for the wider fastener industry to place greater focus on sustainability.

These components including cable ties, push-lock rivets, snap rivets, drive fasteners, threaded pillars and wire saddles serve critical roles in smart infrastructure applications such as data cabling, control systems and enclosure assembly. Until now, recycled plastics have rarely met the requirements of functional, load-bearing components. TR’s breakthrough demonstrates that sustainability and engineering performance can co-exist.

From fastener supplier to full-service engineering partner

Engineering resilience through a global manufacturing network

Developing future engineering capability through collaboration and education

Looking ahead - TR’s engineering priorities beyond 2026

1. Engineering-led innovation: Advancing materials, performance and fastening technology.
2. Sustainable operations: Reducing carbon footprint across global manufacturing.
3. Collaborative partnership: Supporting customers from concept through to production, with solutions tailored to sector-specific challenges.