Solution Industries

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History

The Story of Solution Industries

While working in a down manufacturing market with a local distributor in northeast Ohio, Don Shan knew what was on the horizon. ”The vendor-managed inventory concept was no longer new to the industry,” said Don. ”Everyone was utilizing it and embracing the ‘whatever it takes’ philosophy in which we all fed from.” He decided to lean on his friendships and experience to search for a solution.

John Radel, a local leading manufacturer and friend, proved to be just the sounding board needed in the search for the answer to various distributor problems. John’s extensive machining capabilities, combined with a resume which included working with the largest distributors to the smallest manufacturers, mirrored Don’s in many ways. Their paths crossed in 1977 at Service Bolt & Nut Company in Ohio. By working in the pre-fax machine era, the experience and connections developed proved to be invaluable in learning the industry and understanding the needs of fastener distributors.

The birth of Solution Industries finally gave fastener distributors worldwide an opportunity to single-source their fastener requirements. With a staff that combines over 100 years of fastener industry experience, Solution Industries takes on the hardest challenges when it comes to finding or re-working difficult parts.

”We started with semi-standard socket and hex head cap screws and slowly built our inventory to help service distributors nationwide,” John noted. ”By adding a full line of zinc plated sockets, left hand thread, drilled, cross drilled, and core drilled products, as well as pellet and patch work, we were well on our way.”

Solution Man was the next invention to hit our market. Solution Man is the company mascot of Solution Industries. With the challenge of ”Put Solution Man to the Test,” Shan and Radel have received their fair share of strange inquiries. ”There have been very few items we have not been able to quote,” explained Radel. ”But every now and then someone sends in something that is just so strange that we wonder whoever came up with the part. But, for the most part, we quote just about everything that crosses our desk.”

“Our ability to offer competitive numbers on standard products gives the distributor a unique opportunity to single source standards with specials on one invoice,” explained Don. "We have the heart to succeed and the focus to prevail, and we have fun doing it."