Brian Sonnenberg became president of Portland Bolt at age 33.

“I saw many examples of ‘person’ dependent companies that could not go forward without that ‘person’,” Sonnenberg told GlobalFastenerNews.com. “I knew that if I made Portland Bolt dependent on me it would never be what it should be.”

Sonnenberg retired in 2005 and today is pleased how the transition has worked.

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Portland Bolt was founded by JM Llewellyn in July of 1912, and by 1916, the 15-employee company was producing annual sales of $100,000. In the early years, products manufactured by Portland Bolt included bolts, rivets, pole pins, washers, dies, and tools for machine shops. Portland Bolt was manufacturing products for the ship building industry, telegraph companies, and railroads and shipping as far north as the Canadian border, as far south as San Francisco, and as far east as Montana.

By the mid-1920s Portland Bolt had moved to a larger manufacturing facility on Northwest 14th and Lovejoy Street in Portland and had added a hot-dip galvanizing line. Portland Bolt operated out of this facility until 1974, when the Llewellyn family sold the business to Melvin Peters and Morris Galen. Their intention was to fulfill the company’s obligations and then liquidate the assets. While operating the facility, they realized that the company had more potential as a viable entity than liquidation offered. They sold off the galvanizing line and moved the facility to Northwest 12th and Johnson Street.

In 1988, the company was purchased by David Ederer and Brian Sonnenberg, then President, and in 1992 was moved to its current 85,000 square foot facility at Northwest 35th and Guam Street. A hot-dip galvanizing line specifically designed for threaded fasteners was added in 1994, bringing the company’s focus as a bolt manufacturer and hot-dip galvanizer full circle.

The 1995 acquisition of Seattle-based Northwest Bolt & Nut Company expanded Portland Bolt’s manufacturing capabilities and marketing reach. Since then, all manufacturing processes have been centralized to the current location in Portland.

During 2005, the company’s management and ownership changed to what it is today. Jonathan Todd took over day to day operations and became an owner, while Brian Sonnenberg retired after 35 years in the steel industry but remained as Chairman of the Board.

“Shortly after the company was started, product was being manufactured for projects around the Northwest,” said Jonathan Todd, Portland Bolt President and Owner. “Through the years we adjusted to the needs of our customers, which in turn had us sending product throughout North America. In the last 15 years, with our reputation of dependable product deliveries and impeccable customer service, our bolts now reach all over the globe. We are extremely proud of the efforts of the people who make up Portland Bolt and the relationships we have created over a century of doing business.”

“Our longevity can be attributed to our ability to adapt to an ever-changing marketplace,” said Portland Bolt General Manager Greg Lindsay. “We manufacture different products now than we did years ago and our products are sold to different industries and over a much broader geographical region.”

In 2011, Portland Bolt manufactured and shipped over 6.2 million pounds of anchor bolts and construction fasteners to more than 2,300 different customers in all 50 states, 9 of 10 Canadian provinces, and 32 different countries. Current markets include power and energy, marine construction, steel fabrication, mining, pole line, light rail, and highway construction. Portland Bolt operates in a modern 85,000 square foot manufacturing facility that includes a state of the art hot-dip galvanizing line. Products manufactured include hex and square head bolts, anchor rods, bent anchor bolts, U-bolts, eye bolts, square plates, tie rod assemblies and numerous varieties of specialty fasteners. Visit Portland Bolt’s website at www.portlandbolt.com.

PORTLAND, OR May 14, 2009 – Portland Bolt & Manufacturing Company, a leading manufacturer of galvanized construction fasteners, has completed a 30,000-square-foot addition to its manufacturing facility at 3441 NW Guam Street in Portland, Oregon. The primary purpose of the expansion was the installation of a modern, environmentally friendly hot-dip galvanizing line to replace the original system installed in 1994. The redesigned line more than doubles the galvanizing capacity while improving the overall reliability of the entire manufacturing process. Hot-dip galvanizing adds a corrosion protective coating to fasteners.

“Our galvanizing line expansion was for the sole purpose of putting ourselves in position to meet our customers’ needs for the foreseeable future,” said Jonathan Todd, President of Portland Bolt. “Without customers you don’t have a business, and without good, reliable service you don’t have any customers.”

Even though the new system is significantly larger, there are considerable energy savings and an overall reduction in environmental impact through the implementation of the latest furnace and filtering technologies. “Along with the build out of the new line we took the opportunity to make some improvements such as the Viron scrubber system used to filter, clean, and exhaust the air from the preparation line,” continues Todd. “The scrubber system was just us doing our part to be environmentally sensitive.  It was not required by any agency, it was Portland Bolt’s way of looking out for the future of others and going the extra mile.  That is what we are all about.”

Portland Bolt is one of the only construction fastener manufacturing companies in the country with the ability to galvanize product on-site. This enhances the company’s ability to respond quickly to customers’ requests while maintaining the highest level of quality.

Tie rod shop drawings often specify an overall length from the center of each clevis pin, without detailing the required individual rod length. This tool quickly estimates rod lengths for three different tie rod configurations. Whether the assembly is a standard two clevis rod or clevises with a turnbuckle and different rod lengths, this tool will calculate the dimensions quickly and accurately.

“We feel this tool will help engineers, detailers, and steel fabricators not only determine accurate lengths for tie rods when given pin-to-pin dimensions, but also ensure the proper clevis number is being used for a specific rod diameter,” said Greg Lindsay, General Manager of Portland Bolt. “Although the tool does not use complex mathematical formulas to determine the rod lengths, it performs the calculation quickly, removes the possibility of mathematical errors, and eliminates the need for technical insight necessary to accurately determine proper rod lengths.”

Portland Bolt manufactures tie rods in sizes starting at ½ inch through 4 inches in diameter and provides the clevises and turnbuckles as a complete package. Plain finish, hot-dip galvanized, and stainless steel assemblies are available for quick delivery.

Dane McKinnon the company’s Certification Manager commented, “Our standard certification procedures were sufficiently well organized and traceable so that the approval process, although lengthy, was not unattainable. We have always had a commitment to thorough and complete certification documents, and this allowed us to gain PennDOT approval.”

The addition to Bulletin 15 permits highway contractor to source the following product from Portland Bolt: ASTM A307 bolts under section 1105.02(c) 1, ASTM F1554 anchor bolts in Grades 36, 55, and 105 listed in section 1105.02(c) 3, and ASTM A449 galvanized anchor bolts as outlined in section 1104.02(d) of Bulletin 15 Approved Construction Materials.

“With the federal government’s emphasis on infrastructure improvements, there is an increasing demand for domestically produced construction fasteners for highway projects,” stated Greg Lindsay, Portland Bolt’s General Manager. “With our recent 30,000 square foot expansion, a new state-of-the-art hot dip galvanizing line, and our ability to manufacture bolts quickly and on time, we have positioned ourselves to become a competitive supplier of bolts for PennDOT projects.”

Pennsylvania is the latest state agency to approve Portland Bolt products. Alaska, California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington are a few of other states that have approved Portland Bolt. The company manufactures a number of certified products for state and federal highway agencies including, but are not limited to, a variety of different types of bolts for bridges, median barrier pins, and anchor bolts for overhead sign structures, light poles, and traffic signals. This approval will allow Portland Bolt to meet the needs of customers working on PennDOT projects.

The PennDOT approval documents can found at:

• Section 1105.02(c) 1 – ASTM A307
  
• Section 1104.02(d) – ASTM A449
• Section 1105.02(c)3 – ASTM F1554

Government officials want to kick-start the dormant regional economy with billions of dollars in public works projects, leaving local manufacturers and contractors eager to nab a share.

Plans such as Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s proposal to spend $500 million on transportation projects annually over several years has Portland Bolt & Manufacturing Co. hopeful to fill its growing northwest Portland plant.

“Our forecasting on what the future holds isn’t sure. We’re tied to infrastructure jobs like light rail and highway work,” said Adam Oakley, Portland Bolt’s marketing manager. “Our hope is with Kulongoski’s new bill to spend more on roads and bridges. That ties directly into what we do.”

Similar hope echoes from other Portland manufacturers and contractors as government leaders — from Kulongoski to Mayor-elect Sam Adams to President-elect Barack Obama — advocate for public works projects to create jobs and stimulate the economy. Read the full article at Portland Business Journal’s website

Created as a central source of information for this relatively new specification, the site goes beyond what is currently available online to provide information that is quickly accessible. The F1554 specification includes three unique grades: grade 36, grade 55, and grade 105; each represents the minimum yield strength of the anchor bolt.

“We’re excited to release our first micro site,” said Greg Lindsay, Portland Bolt’s General Manager. “We see a need in the industry to provide more education regarding the F1554 specification and felt a stand-alone site would accomplish this more effectively than burying the information on our main website.”

Early on, Portland Bolt recognized the importance of this standard as a way to simplify the process of specifying anchor bolts between manufacturers and end users. Since F1554 was written to only cover anchor bolts intended to connect structural steel supports to concrete foundations, it removes many questions that existed prior to its adoption. F1554AnchorBolts.com was designed to make ASTM F1554 anchor bolt information easily accessible. For many bolt buyers, specifications can be confusing and will often contribute to incorrect product being supplied. The site includes detailed profiles of all three grades, technical resources, examples of field applications, and an extensive Frequently Asked Questions section.

The Bolt Weight Tool accurately estimates threaded rods, bent anchor bolts, hex bolts, heavy hex bolts, and square head bolts. It automatically accounts for variations in fastener head dimension, diameter, and length. With interactive features it allows users to select between lighter roll threaded bolts and heavier full body cut thread fasteners.

Round, square, and rectangular carbon steel plate weight calculations are made easy with the Plate Weight Calculator. For instant total weights simply enter the plate type, thickness, dimensions and quantity. In addition, the tool will intuitively account for variations in weight if round holes are fabricated in the plate.

The ability to determine the weight of fasteners and flat plate helps save time. These tools are designed to meet the demanding standards of engineering and industrial professionals. The ability to immediately determine the weight of 1,500 pieces of 1-1/2 inch diameter ASTM F1554 anchor bolts saves valuable time that may otherwise be wasted looking through technical manuals.

About Portland Bolt

Based in Oregon, Portland Bolt & Manufacturing Company is a worldwide supplier of construction and industrial fasteners. A modern 85,000 square foot facility allows each manufacturing process to be scheduled based on your requirements. Portland Bolt maintains an industry leading in-house hot-dip galvanizing line designed specifically for threaded fasteners. The company sells products directly to over 2,500 organizations in a variety of industries including: marine construction, steel buildings, highway projects, and precast concrete. Over the last 96 years, Portland Bolt has provided quality product, delivered on our customer’s schedule. The company is known for providing in-depth technical information in a timely manner.

Nearly all machine shops make bolts for “home consumption,” some blacksmiths likewise, but there is but one concern in Oregon which makes them for the market, and ships them as far east as Montana, south to San Francisco and occasionally beyond, and north to the Canadian border.
It makes them by the ton, and of all lengths and sizes.
And it makes other things, too.
It turns out rivets by the bushel.
It makes a full line of pole pins for telegraph companies and railroads. The Portland Railway, Light & Power company has all its pins made by this factory, its eye-bolts, cross iron braces, etc.
Sewer contractors have the top bars for catch basins made by the Portland Bolt & Manufacturing company, the institution referred to, at 209 Thirteenth street north, and it has shipped tens of thousands of bolts, burrs, and washers to the government railroad builders in Alaska.

MAKES TOOLS AND DIES.

The company, in addition to rods of any desired length and its other products already mentioned, makes a great variety of mechanic’s tools for shop work, dies of all kinds and builders’ iron work. Its factory is 60×100 feet in size, and replete with machinery of many kinds, operated by 15 men who are turning out work at the rate of $100,000 a year, when four years ago the company’s doors were opened by J.M. Llewellyn, its present president and manager, with not an order on his books. He had a couple of men to help him in his initial work, and now his payroll is $1000 a month.

BUSINESS IS GOOD.

“Business is mighty good at present,” Mr. Llewellyn says. “The improvement began during the first days of January and has acquired momentum ever since. We have an exceedingly busy shop at this time. We are turning out a bunch of work for the new shipbuilding companies. Later they will install machinery of their own, but, after all, it is a question in my mind if they can do the work themselves as cheaply as we can do it for them. I recognize the convenience, however, of having a plant in their shops; but still I believe we will always have orders from them, and the larger their business the better we will be pleased. We manufacture bolts, rivets, washers, dies and tools for machine shops all along the coast, because it pays them to have this work done in a factory which specializes in these lines. We are constantly shipping to cities of the sound, Idaho, and eastern Washington and Montana. Wherever there is a machine shop of any great pretensions we are known and patronized, covering an area of 2000 miles up and down the coast.”
And yet the concern is but a four-year-old. But it’s a Portland youngster – with more muscle, even, than Judge McGinn at 16, healthy and robust as he was – and it doesn’t have to whistle to keep its courage up.
There are scored of other lively young Portland industries just like it.
It’s the kind Portland incubates.
The Journal has mentioned about a hundred of the type – and 10 years hence they’ll be thick as moss – and big as giants.
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