- published: 24 Oct 2014
- views: 8701
Fastenal Co (NASDAQ: FAST) is an American company based in Winona, Minnesota. with its main distribution center located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Fastenal sells industrial and construction supplies and offers services including inventory management, manufacturing and tool repair. Fastenal refers to itself as an industrial supply company, but Reuters calls it an industrial distributor.
Founded in 1967 by Bob Kierlin, who later became a Minnesota State Senator, it was incorporated December 24, 1968.
Fastenal's offerings are purchased, not made. But as of 2009, the company has at least one cold heading manufacturing line.
By 2004, 50% of product by weight[citation needed] was processed steel.
The company places much emphasis on its series of over 2,600 retail stores in North America and Mexico.
Companies that purchase from Fastenal are either large or small, but most overseas customers may be comparatively mid-sized.
The company sells both retail and wholesale.
Manufacturers and government agencies buy from Fastenal.