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| Abbreviation | IFI |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1931 (1931) |
| Purpose | Trade and standards organization |
| Headquarters | Independence, Ohio, United States |
| Website | https://www.indfast.org |
TheIndustrial Fasteners Institute (IFI)[1] is an American non-profittrade and standards organization andpublisher, based inIndependence, Ohio. It was founded as theAmerican Institute of Bolt, Nut and Rivet Manufacturers in 1931 and changed its name to the IFI in 1949.[2] Among their publications is the frequently citedIFI Fastener Technology Handbook, a reference frequently used as a design guide bymechanical engineers,machinists, and others involved in the production of high-qualitymachine screws, bolts, nuts, and other engineeredfasteners.
Herman H. Lind became the organization's executive vice president in 1937.[3]
Frank Masterson was elected president of the institute by its 200 members in 1953 and assumed office in January 1954.[4]
The organization's chair for the 2023–24 term is Gene Simpson.[5]
The IFI has established industrial standards.[6] One such standard is "IFI Standard 125", which concerns various forms ofthread-locking fluid.[6]
Most standards-compliant screws and fasteners that are used in the US are required to be marked, so that the manufacturer can be identified. The IFI maintains a list of trademarks and other identifying markers used by manufacturers.[7]
It has sponsored scholarships for industrial design training at theFastener Training Institute.[8]
In 1946, the institute held its annual meeting in New York City and announced plans to request an increase in price ceilings on their industry's products from theOffice of Price Administration.[9]
In 1947, the institute criticized aWar Assets Administration contract that sold 7.5 million dollars' worth of metal fasteners for $22.50 per ton to one nut and bolt company.[10]
The institute played a role in debates about proposals for the United States to convert to themetric system. As of 1973, the IFI had 60 members, who reportedly produced 60 percent of the nuts, bolts, and screws manufactured in the United States. The organization initially opposed the U.S. conversion to metric measurements, but by 1973 had changed its position to support voluntary adoption of metric system standards without government interference, according to institute president Frank Masterson.[11]
In 2012, Joe Greenslade, the technical director of the institute at the time,[12] said he concured with an article inPhysics World that "faultyrivets" may play a role in the sinking ofTitanic.[13]
Related trade bodies for thefastener industry include theEuropean Industrial Fasteners Institute (EIFI),Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM),The Fastener Institute of Japan (FIJ),Taiwan Industrial Fastener Institute (TIFI),Fastener Industrial Coalition (FIC) USA, andKorea Federation of Fastener Industrial Cooperatives (KFFIC).[14]
