2022 – An Optimistic Look Ahead
In 2022, there is optimism that the pandemic will have a reduced impact on business, laborers will return to the workforce, and supply chain issues will be resolved. The Dodge Momentum Index increased 23% in 2021 and predicts construction activity will improve in 2022. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will provide $1.2 trillion to rebuild America’s roads and bridges ($110 billion), ports ($17 billion), airports ($25 billion), and rail ($66 billion). This massive investment in America’s critical infrastructure is unprecedented and Portland Bolt is perfectly positioned to partner with our customers on critical infrastructure projects in 2022. The relationships and trust we built in 2021 forge our new path together into 2022. Thank you for your continued partnership with Portland Bolt.
2021 – Year in Review
Who could have imagined the roller coaster ride we would experience in 2021? From labor shortages to supply chain issues, we have thrived during one of the most challenging years in recent memory. Through it all, we could not have succeeded without the partnerships we maintained and created with our loyal customers and devoted vendors.
2021 was a year like no other. Normally, we would have added a new piece of equipment or incorporated new technology to expand the product lines and services we offer. However, for the past year, Portland Bolt devoted itself to successfully meeting the delivery demands of a marketplace ravaged by supply chain and shipping delays. In 2021, we experienced a 9% increase in the number of quotes we submitted, a 6% increase in the number of orders processed, a 24% increase in total weight shipped, and a 27% increase in sales.
How did we accomplish this growth? Late in 2020, Dane McKinnon, our veteran Purchasing Manager, leveraged long-standing relationships with raw material and finished goods suppliers to increase inventories in preparation for material shortages. Our manufacturing and shipping teams, led by Steve Hastings, Marcus Hammond, and Cory Ellingboe, worked tirelessly to meet some of the most demanding delivery requirements we have experienced in years. Our experienced sales team worked with over 3,200 different customers to provide competitively-priced fasteners and reasonable lead times. Need a trusted supplier during turbulent times? Let us show you how we can help.
Sales Positions Available
We are currently searching for two inside salespeople to join our team of 10. One position replaces Gary Rusynyk who retired at the end of December after spending 43 years with Portland Bolt. The other position has been created due to outstanding growth over the past year. Do you think you have what it takes to excel as a salesperson with one of the leading fastener manufacturers in the United States? If so, we want to hear from you! This sales position also includes cost estimating and account management duties.To learn more about this entry-level position and to receive consideration, please follow the submission instructions on the Careers Page of our website.
2021 – By the Numbers
361 Frequently Asked Questions
In 2021, we continued to build upon what we feel is the most comprehensive construction fastener website in the industry.
We explained the difference between cast-in-place and post-installed anchor bolts, and we explained how to determine the amount of adjustability in a tie rod assembly. The FAQ section of our website provides a wealth of technical fastener information explained in layperson’s terms.
In 2021, our team answered 4 new Frequently Asked Questions, bringing the total number of FAQs in the most comprehensive technical construction fastener database found online to an incredible 361! These common questions asked of our sales team explain technical aspects of the construction fastener industry so they can be understood by anyone from an experienced engineer to a purchasing agent who rarely buys bolts.
The most popular FAQs in 2021 were:
385 Featured Projects
In 2021, our sales team added 26 project summaries to the 385 total projects featured on our website. These featured projects contain a description of the project, location, a summary of the bolts we manufactured for the project, and photographs from before, during, or after construction.
These projects demonstrate a broad range of industries, locations, and bolts and fasteners used. Are you working on a similar project, need similar bolts, or working in the same region as one of our featured projects? If so, contact us to explore how we might be able to assist you!
Some of our favorite projects from 2021 were:
- YouTube Headquarters Expansion – San Bruno, CA
- Cebu-Cordova Bridge – Cebu City, Philippines
- Scorpion Pier – Channel Islands National Park, Ventura, CA
20 Websites
In addition to our flagship website, www.portlandbolt.com, Portland Bolt operates 19 specialized websites. Each website has been created and is managed by one of our 11 salespeople. Each salesperson possesses expertise centered around the specialized content these diverse sites contain.
In 2022, we intend to launch a couple of new microsites with extensive content related to common ASTM fastener specifications and various types of construction fasteners. We will promote these websites in upcoming newsletters, so stay tuned!
10,017 Shipments
In 2021, Portland Bolt made 10,017 separate shipments of nonstandard anchor bolts and construction fasteners to all corners of the earth. Our interactive Shipment Destination Map will show you them all.
31 Countries
Our strong internet presence and our outstanding reputation have worked together to expand our global reach and allowed us to evolve from a regional supplier into a worldwide manufacturer of anchor bolts and construction fasteners. In 2021, Portland Bolt shipped a total of 62 international orders (excluding Canada) destined for 31 different countries, including a shipment to Antarctica.
3,205 Customers
2021 provided us with an opportunity to partner with 3,205 unique companies spanning a variety of different industries and covering the entire globe.
1,781 East Coast Shipments
The initial reaction of many prospective customers is that our location in Portland, Oregon must limit our ability to participate in projects in the eastern part of the country. Fortunately, these numbers demonstrate otherwise. In 2021, on 1,781 occasions, East Coast companies chose Portland Bolt to supply fasteners due to a combination of our outstanding service, superb quality, fast delivery, and competitive price. These statistics clearly demonstrate that no project is too far away for Portland Bolt to be considered for the project.
| 1,781 | Eastern time zone shipments. |
| 1,273 | Central time zone shipments. |
| 809 | Mountain time zone shipments. |
| 5,460 | Pacific time zone shipments. |
| 198 | Alaskan shipments. |
| 132 | Hawaiian shipments. |
View East Coast shipping destinations →
302 Canadian Shipments
In 2021, Portland Bolt shipped to 10 Canadian provinces and territories and averaged shipping almost six orders per week to Canada. We continue to overcome the challenges of customs clearance and an unfavorable exchange rate, proving to be a viable option on Canadian projects requiring large, nonstandard bolts.
Canadian Shipments →
7.285 Million Pounds
In 2021, Portland Bolt shipped a whopping 7,285,801 pounds of custom anchor bolts and nonstandard construction fasteners to companies worldwide!
More Numbers from 2021
| 10 | Number of full-time salespeople employed by Portland Bolt. We operated most of 2021 with 11 salespeople and have two sales positions available immediately. We stagger our lunchtimes so that we always have someone available to work up a quick quote, answer technical questions, handle a live chat, or process your order. |
| 87 | Number of years of combined sales and estimating experience at Portland Bolt. Add our purchasing agent and VP who are in the trenches with the rest of the sales team, and that makes 140 years of fastener expertise. |
| 50 | Number of employees at Portland Bolt working in manufacturing, shipping, and the office. Each well-trained employee possesses a unique skillset and works together to ensure you receive quality products delivered on time. |
| 6 – 5 | Business hours: 6:00 am – 5:00 pm Pacific Time, Monday through Friday. Extended hours allow us to service our numerous East Coast customers. |
| 140,000 | The size, in square feet, of our manufacturing and hot-dip galvanizing facility. |
| 12 x 4 x 7 | The length, width, and depth in feet of our hot-dip galvanizing tank that is specifically designed to process threaded fasteners. |
| 20 | Number of individual websites owned and operated by Portland Bolt, many of which deal with specialized industries, products, or specifications. |
| 3 | Number of live video feeds that show our sales office, shipping dock, and galvanized product assembly area. |
| 2+ | New educational websites planned for 2022! |
NFL Survivor Pool Update
Congratulations to Ray D. (Quayle21) for winning the 2021 Portland Bolt NFL Survivor Pool. Ray edged out Drew S. (rudy kazudy) and Sean A. (patrick9) to earn the championship!
If you enjoyed the NFL Survivor Pool, our March Madness Bracket Challenge is just a couple of months away!
NFL Survivor Pool prizes included:
- First place: $250 Amazon gift card, engraved trophy, a PB polo shirt, and a PB 64 oz growler
- Runner-up: $100 Amazon gift card, a PB polo shirt, and a PB 64 oz growler
- Third place: $50 Amazon gift card, a PB polo shirt, and a PB 64 oz growler
Three random participants (Dan S, Jim S, and Bob K) won a Portland Bolt prize pack including:
- A Portland Bolt 64 oz growler
- A Portland Bolt baseball cap
- A Portland Bolt insulated stainless steel pint glass