Nuts and Bolts - September 1, 2025

Team Austin
Sep 2
3 min read

Here’s some extra information that we thought you’d find interesting.

Cracking the Code: Sales Team Strengthens Partnership with ITW Plexus

Members of the Austin sales team had an excellent meeting at ITW Plexus, a trusted partner for structural adhesives, on July 31 and August 1 at their headquarters in Danvers, MA. The team learned about products, applications, and what makes Plexus the industry leader in structural adhesives.

Andrew Person, Simeon, Stewart, Manon Belanger, Jay White, Nick Angle, Will Isham, and Tony Gray were in attendance from Austin.

Jorge Reynolds, Sales Director of Transportation; Matt Massini; Mike Stewart; and Jose Luis Calderon, Regional Sales Managers, attended from Plexus. Our team also met many of their skilled technical personnel and managers who operate the production facility.

The theme for this training was “Finding the key to Crack the Code,” which focused on what Austin can do to start rapid growth with Plexus.

The main items the team focused on to help crack the code include:

More collaboration between Austin and Plexus salespeople, including discussing projects and making joint sales calls, with special attention to big accounts and development projects.
Austin’s Chemical sales experts, Tony and Will, work to focus the Austin team on Plexus projects.
Getting all salespeople comfortable dispensing and demonstrating Plexus products, with samples ready when they go on the road.
Open communication.

More about what sets Plexus apart in a crowded market of structural adhesives manufacturers

Plexus distinguishes itself from competitors for several key reasons. Its manufacturing process is highly consistent, resulting in very few quality problems. Unlike many other adhesives, most Plexus applications do not need surface preparation, saving time and labor. Its products also provide excellent off-ratio tolerance, allowing up to 20% deviation without impacting performance, whereas competitors typically require within 5% accuracy—especially important in bulk drum and pail uses. Plexus adhesives also show superior fatigue resistance, with bonded joints often enduring up to 10 million cycles without failure, a level of performance unmatched by other adhesive technologies. Additionally, Plexus products pose fewer hazards than other MMA adhesives, and their newer 8000 Series is designed for ease of use with a 1:1 mix ratio and low odor.

During training, the Plexus team shared valuable insights into why structural bonding is often better than welding, fastening, and other joining methods. They reviewed their product lineup, presented case studies across various vehicle applications—including aftermarket automotive, heavy-duty trailers, truck bodies, and RVs—and let our team spend time in the lab with their technicians. Our salespeople had the chance to apply adhesives, assemble their own samples, and see Plexus’s lab capabilities firsthand.

On the second day, Matt Massini led a session on how to sell against competitors with Plexus, emphasizing how Plexus consistently shows performance advantages. While they may not always be the lowest-priced option, they usually provide greater overall value. To further highlight Plexus’ capabilities, the training ended with a production plant tour.

Since then, Austin and Plexus sales teams have held several joint meetings to identify targets, coordinate travel plans, and pursue opportunities together. Tony and Jorge continue to work closely on large account projects, aiming to collaborate on significant growth opportunities.

Plexus has a professional and skilled sales organization, backed by industry-leading products. Their structural adhesives offer real opportunities to improve production efficiency and performance for our customers, making them an excellent partner. If we keep 'cracking the code,” the future with Plexus looks very promising.

Thanks to Tony Gray for providing details of the training with Plexus.

Safe Assist Success at Belmont Trailers

Robert Walden and Michael Hotaling visited Belmont Trailers in Leola, PA, to conduct a comprehensive review of the spec trailer they are building for BrightView, a commercial landscaping company.

They met with the Production Manager, Engineering Manager, and Purchasing Manager to gather feedback from all levels of their management team. They are very pleased with Safe Assist and its easy use and installation. They are also excited to put it on their first Double SA-1450HD trailer in a few weeks.

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