COMPANY	ITW Amercian company with well distributed network of agents around the world. Factories located in US, Europe and Asia.	HILTI German company specialised in hand tools and other accessories. Very much an all in one modern hardware shop serving the industrial sector.	SCI An Australian subsidary based in Singapore.Agents in three location around the world.Factory located in Singapore.	ENGINEERING EDGE A relatively new Singapore company with agents in various Asia countries and expanding. Factories located in Taiwan.
PRODUCT BRAND	BUILDEX Part of finished goods manufactured by their own factory in Australia. Purchase the rest from Taiwanese manufacturers.	HILTI Fasteners are imported from various sources.(i.e. Taiwan,Germany, China,etc)	SCI Fastener with base coat purchased from Taiwan. Final SUPAGARD coating done in Singapore factory.	CORROSHIELD Fastener fully manufactured by their own factory in Taiwan. Aimed to achieve cost efficiency.
COATING TYPE	CLIMASEAL This coating has proved to be quite reliable. In fact, it is attributed to this that they are one of the biggest supplier of premium SD-Screws today.	CLEAR ZINC Very common coating normally applied on fasteners for indoor application. Obviously not suitable for outdoor or high corrosion resistance application.	SUPAGARD Imported coating from US. Corrosion resistance capabilities in doubt due to over- whelming negative response from users.	CORROSHIELD Coating technology from Australia.Complies with ASTM recommendations. Have proved to be a reliable coating to resist e-mature corrosion.
COATING PROCESS	TUMBLE Multiple layers of coating using Tin-Zinc base and further coated with their Climaseal coating.Using tumbling effect as coating method.	NONE Clear Zinc forms the only protective coating. No other surface treatment detected. Salt Spray Test result only within 24 hrs before red rust occurs.	ELECTRO Multiple layers of coating using electro- zinc plating for base & further coated with SUPAGARD. A costly process & electro- plating opens screws to risks of hydrogen embrittlement in the long run if plating process not properly controlled.	TUMBLE Uses tumbling method similar to ITW. However, only a single coat of CORROSHIELD is required. Emphasize on coating quality control rather than thickness. Cost savings achieved.
AS3566 COMPLAINT	YES Claims to be compliant with AS 3566. Tested by BHP to comply with AS 3566 standard.	YES Provides some warranty, but no test reports available. Serious doubts in compliance to this standard.	YES Claims to be compliant with AS 3566. Not known to have their screws tested by BHP for compliance. Need to note that users are quite negative towards this coating.	YES Claims to be compliant with AS 3566. Undergoing tests by BHP to prove compliance to AS 3566 standard. Time will tell their product's competence. TEST REPORT AVAILABLE
DRILL POINT	NORMAL PT 3 Normal drill point provides just sufficient for a roofing, but can quite tiring in prolong drilling compromising workmanship. Drill point design similar to those sold by Taiwanese manufacturers.	NORMAL PT 3 Normal drill point provides just sufficient for a roofing, but can quite tiring in prolong drilling compromising workmanship. However, important to note that PIAS drills better than ITW.	NORMAL PT 3 Normal drill point provides just sufficient for a roofing, but can quite tiring in prolong drilling compromising workmanship. Drill point design similar to those sold by Taiwanese manufacturers.	LEVIN DRILL POINT Unique drill point that promises exceptional ease of use with improvement of drill speed up to 30%. Plus an automatic centralising effect to prevent slippage during drilling.
PRICING STRATEGY	HIGH Reputated to sell their premium fasteners at high prices. Proving to be quite costly most of the time. Aim to benchmark as high priced premium fastener.	AVERAGE Average pricing makes their fasteners affordable, but still considered as very expensive in comparison to the market price of zinc plated fasteners.	HIGH Pricing strategy to be approximately 10% below BX. However, price still considered relatively high. Factory loaction plus freight cost from Taiwan and US make SCI quite uncompetitive.	AVERAGE Pricing strategy to be 15% to 18% below the market price for premium fastners. Shipment shipped directly from Taiwan factory achieving savings in freight cost. Aims to offer value for money product.
AFTER SALES SERVICE	YES Known for their good after sales service. Staff training and product seminar are regular events.	MINIMAL Average after sales service. Technical expertise mainly on hand tools rather than fasteners.	MINIMAL Bare minimum after sales service. Not reputated to provide acceptable technical back-up support. In fact, some users have expressed disappointment with their service back-up and response to problems.	YES Conducts regular training for their appointed agents to keep abreast of new technology in the fastener arena. Up to date information for improve service to users. Product seminar are regular events.
OTHER FEATURES	SHANKGARD Patented unique design at the end of the thread to cut off metal scraps.	NIL	GREY WASHERS Grey EPDM washers to prevent staining of roofing sheets and absence of carbon further reducing enhanced corrosion. Purchased from Australia.	SCRATCHSHIELD Grey EPDM washers to prevent staining of roofing sheets and absence of carbon further reducing enhanced corrosion. As well as ScratchShield feature protecting the coating of Double Thread screws from damage.
RATINGS	EXCELLENT Excellent product but high price.	AVERAGE Affordable but doubts on product reliability.	AVERAGE Product reliability in question.	EXCELLENT Value for money, excellent alternative.
CONCLUSION	Users are often compelled to buy BX as they do not have much alternative to choose from. Hence, users have to accept the high prices charged to them. Cannot achieve value for money, but reliable product.	An all in one retail hardware outlet. Reputated internationally for their hand tools. Fasteners provided are imported. Unfortunately coating of fasteners are of compromised standards. Definitely not recommended for outdoor application.	Another alternative to BX, but has been quite a let down due to the inconsistent coating performance. Had lost significant market share recently due to corrosion issues.	An excellent alternative for users. Packs with unique drill point design and promising the equvilant, if not better, corrosion protection. Finally, a product users can say it's really value for money.