Introduction
At this year’s International Fastener Expo (IFE 2025) in Las Vegas, we at BUMAX are partnering with Star Stainless to present a unified front at Booth #1437 from 1-3 PM on 9/16/25.
Our partner Star Stainless brings decades of distribution experience in the North American market, while we contribute unmatched product technology and traceability. Together we will show how premium stainless‑steel fasteners paired with a robust supply chain can deliver both technical performance and rapid availability to engineers, buyers and distributors across the United States.
What to Expect at the Booth
Live demonstrations of premium grades
We will have demo samples that bring the behavior of our high‑strength stainless steels to life. Visitors can see real results of how different grades perform under stress, corrosion and fatigue.
Grade 88 – enhanced corrosion resistance and strength
Our BUMAX 88 uses a higher molybdenum content and unique manufacturing processes to deliver higher yield strength, corrosion resistance and low magnetic permeability compared with standard A4 fasteners. These fasteners are used in demanding applications—water jets, subsea equipment, pumps, valves, wind turbines and even particle accelerators—where conventional A4 fasteners fall short. With this grade, you will see that higher alloy content results in greater strength and better fatigue life.
Grade 109 – the strongest A4 fastener on the market
Grade 109 shares the same composition as BUMAX 88 but attains even higher tensile strength thanks to a specialized manufacturing process. Our BUMAX 109 outperforms standard A4 fasteners in yield strength, corrosion resistance and magnetic permeability. These fasteners are trusted by water jets, subsea equipment, high‑pressure pumps, wind turbines and nuclear plants.
DX 129 – duplex strength and low thermal expansion
DX 129 is a duplex stainless steel that can replace coated 12.9 carbon steel bolts in demanding applications. It offers tensile strength min. 1,200 MPa and yield strength min. 1,080 MPa, while still maintaining good ductility. Its corrosion resistance is exceptional—Pitting Resistance Equivalent (PRE) >34 compared with 25 for standard A4 (316L) and it has a lower thermal expansion coefficient than austenitic grades. This makes DX 129 ideal where high strength must be combined with corrosion resistance, such as in high‑performance machinery and offshore constructions.
Technical consultations and custom advice
Our engineering specialists, together with experts from Star Stainless, will be on hand for private technical consultations. These sessions allow visitors to discuss their specific applications—whether it’s selecting the right grade for corrosive chemical processing, avoiding galling in high‑vacuum equipment or ensuring long‑term performance in offshore wind foundations. All our products are supplied with traceability and can be delivered with 3.1 certificates to simplify compliance.
Applications Across Industries
Our fasteners are employed wherever standard carbon‑steel bolts cannot deliver the required safety, strength or longevity. Below is a summary of sectors where these premium fasteners excel.
| Industry/Segment | Typical applications (selected examples) | Why BUMAX is used |
| Energy (wind, hydropower, nuclear & fusion) | Offshore wind turbines, hydropower plants, fusion reactors and nuclear power stations | High resistance to salt‑water corrosion and fatigue; reliable long‑life solutions that reduce maintenance and enhance safety |
| Oil & Gas | Offshore platforms, subsea pipelines and NORSOK‑certified applications | Exceptional corrosion resistance in saltwater environments; high strength and fatigue resistance; low‑maintenance fasteners with lifespans up to 50 years |
| Process & Chemical Industries | Fasteners for pumps, valves, condensers and acid production equipment | Ability to withstand aggressive chemicals and high temperatures; low maintenance and PED‑approved solutions |
| Marine | Propellers, thrusters, leisure boats, submarines and water‑jet propulsion systems | High fatigue resistance and consistent quality to prevent critical failures; excellent seawater corrosion resistance |
| Automotive | Turbo‑charger housings, combustion systems, load‑bearing chassis components | Heat‑resistant fasteners capable of operating up to 800 °C and enabling lightweight designs to reduce CO₂ emissions |
| Construction & Infrastructure | Bolts for building frames, civil engineering projects, pre‑loaded slip‑critical assemblies | High strength (equivalent to property classes 8.8, 10.9 and 12.9) with ductility and fatigue resistance; corrosion resistance for inland, coastal and offshore structures |
| Water treatment & Desalination | Fasteners for condensers, tanks and pipe fittings in desalination plants | Resistance to chloride‑induced stress corrosion cracking and high impact toughness |
| Space, Nuclear & High‑Tech | Satellites, rockets, telescopes, particle accelerators, high‑vacuum equipment | Excellent impact strength at cryogenic temperatures and high temperatures; low magnetic permeability; low galling risk; stable performance under vibration |
These segments illustrate the versatility of our products—one high‑quality fastener supplier can meet needs ranging from deep‑sea thrusters to rocket launch hardware.
Understanding Pitting Resistance: a PRE comparison
The Pitting Resistance Equivalent (PRE) number is a well‑known metric for comparing the resistance of stainless steels to pitting and crevice corrosion. It is calculated from the alloy’s composition using the formula PRE = %Cr + 3.3 × %Mo + 16 × %N
A higher PRE number indicates better corrosion resistance.
The table below (extracted from our technical data) shows PRE values for the grades being demonstrated at IFE 2025. Standard A4 (316L) stainless steel is included for comparison:
| Grade | PRE value | Notes |
| Standard A4 (316L) | ≈ 25 | Typical PRE value for commodity stainless steel; used here for comparison. |
| BUMAX 88 | 27 | Higher molybdenum content and controlled processing give better corrosion resistance than standard A4. |
| BUMAX 109 | 27 | Same composition as BUMAX 88; different manufacturing process raises the strength while maintaining corrosion resistance. |
| BUMAX DX 129 | >34 | Duplex microstructure and higher chromium, molybdenum and nitrogen levels significantly boost the PRE value. |
To visualize these differences, the following chart compares PRE values. Standard A4 stainless steel is shown alongside our grades. The gap between DX 129 and ordinary 316L underscores how the duplex microstructure yields superior resistance to pitting corrosion.
Case Study – Durable Fasteners for Offshore Wind Foundations
A recent example illustrates how our grades perform in some of the most corrosive environments on Earth. CeJacket, a four‑year Danish research project (2017–2020), aimed to develop modular jacket foundations for large offshore wind turbines in deep water. The project investigated bolted connections instead of welded joints to enable cost‑effective, modularized construction. Fasteners had to withstand constant exposure to seawater across the splash zone, where repeated wet‑dry cycles accelerate corrosion.
We and our sister company Bufab Denmark supplied BUMAX 88 fasteners for testing. After repeated exposure cycles, the 2019 CeJacket Splash Zone Report concluded that the stainless‑steel BUMAX 88 mechanical fasteners and bolt extenders displayed no signs of pitting or crevice corrosion and no cracks in the stud or nut base metal. Project partners selected BUMAX 88 because it offered the best combination of corrosion resistance, high strength and cost‑effectiveness.
The trial highlights why the extra molybdenum and controlled manufacturing used for BUMAX 88 matter. Even after months of immersion in seawater, the fasteners remained intact, supporting the CeJacket team’s modular designs and offering a maintenance‑free solution for at least 25 years. In the offshore wind sector—where access is difficult and downtime is costly—such reliability translates into lower lifecycle costs and greater safety.
Another real‑world example comes from a leading global wind‑turbine manufacturer. To secure powerful magnets in a new 6 MW offshore turbine, the customer needed fasteners capable of handling combined axial and radial loads while resisting seawater corrosion. Tests showed that BUMAX 88 M20×75 screws, standard products in our range, offered excellent corrosion and fatigue resistance. Each turbine uses 720 screws, and more than 300 turbines have already been fitted with BUMAX fasteners. The result is lower maintenance, reduced downtime and improved safety for offshore crews.
Post‑Show “Lunch & Learn” Opportunities
Our collaboration at IFE 2025 doesn’t end when the expo doors close. Bumax is offering post‑show “Lunch & Learn” sessions for professionals who want a deeper dive into stainless‑steel fastener technology. Held in the weeks following the expo, these sessions will explore topics such as:
- Selecting the right grade – understanding how alloy composition, heat treatment and microstructure influence strength, ductility, magnetic permeability and corrosion resistance.
- PRE and corrosion resistance – interpreting PRE numbers and learning when to upgrade from A4 to duplex or super‑duplex grades.
- Galling and surface treatments – avoiding galling in high‑preload joints and choosing suitable lubricants or coatings.
- Case study deep dives – reviewing real installations like CeJacket and wind‑turbine magnet fastening to understand design decisions, testing protocols and long‑term performance.
Lunch & Learn sessions will be available both in‑person at and virtually to accommodate attendees across North America. Attendance is free and visitors can sign up at Booth #1437.
Conclusion
By uniting our world‑leading fastener technology with Star Stainless’s distribution expertise, the partnership showcased at IFE 2025 offers engineering professionals a comprehensive solution: premium stainless‑steel fasteners, technical support, broad product availability and rapid delivery. Live dA of grades 88, 109 and DX 129 will highlight how composition and processing deliver world‑leading strength and corrosion resistance. The PRE comparison chart emphasizes why duplex grades like DX 129 provide a step change over commodity stainless steel.
Whether you design wind turbines, pumps, marine propulsion systems or next‑generation rockets, our products have the performance to withstand extreme environments and the traceability to meet stringent specifications. Visit Booth #1437 at IFE 2025 to experience the technology first‑hand, schedule a private technical consultation and secure your spot at a post‑show lunch‑and‑learn session.