Educational Tour: OECM at the 2025 Fastenal Customer Expo

June 26, 2025

Strengthening supplier partnerships is key to unlocking customer value and supporting long-term growth. This April, OECM was invited by Fastenal to attend the 2025 Fastenal Customer Expo, a reflection of our strong and ongoing partnership and our shared commitment to delivering value through the Facilities Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) agreement. Fastenal is a strategic supplier partner under the agreement.

Held at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, the event brought together more than 150 manufacturers and thousands of industry professionals from Fastenal’s global network.

Strategic Relevance and Our Visit

This Expo offered OECM direct access to Fastenal’s OEMs, on-site solution experts, and technical teams. A valued partner since 2014, Fastenal earned OECM’s highest recognition as a Platinum Supplier Partner from 2021 to 2023. In 2024, with the introduction of the new top-tier Diamond status, Fastenal was named one of the award recipients. This continued recognition reflects their ongoing excellence and alignment with our priorities.

The visit provided valuable insight into how Fastenal’s product offerings, service capabilities, and sustainability efforts support customer needs and ESGI goals. It also reaffirmed the agreement’s potential for cross-sector growth and sparked ideas to drive greater adoption, engagement, and awareness.

Fastenal Inventory Optimization
(from left to right): Fastenal’s James Heer (Government Sales Manager) and Norma Turner (Government Specialist – Canada (Non-Federal), with OECM Category Managers Collin Miller and Ronald Wai

Engaging with Fastenal’s Network

2025 Fastenal Customer Expo - Milwaukee booth

Throughout the two-day Expo, OECM connected with a wide array of OEMs and suppliers, including industry leaders such as Milwaukee Tool, 3M, Stanley Black & Decker, and Honeywell Safety.
A standout moment was a live demo from Milwaukee Tool highlighting their latest cordless power tools, safety gear, and other innovative solutions. We also spent time with Watson Gloves, a Canadian-based manufacturer from Burnaby, BC, whose innovative and sustainable product lines including WasteNot™, Reclaim™, and ReStalk™ demonstrated a clear commitment to eco-conscious PPE. Their gloves incorporate materials such as yarn made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic bottles, landfill-biodegradable components that support energy recovery, and biobased nylon derived from corn husks. These solutions reduce environmental impact while maintaining high performance and durability.

Learning from Live Demonstrations

Live welding demo at Fastenal's Customer Expo

Fastenal’s Expo featured hands-on product demos, technical seminars, and in-person engagement with experts, offering deeper insight into MRO tools and technologies that enhance safety, efficiency, and cost control. Key highlights included:

  • FAST Solutions Vending – Over 95,000 industrial vending machines deployed to reduce downtime and ensure critical supplies are always available. These tools are key to improving operational efficiency and lowering total cost of ownership.
  • ESG-Driven Resources – Energy-saving tips, certified sustainable products, and recycling programs that align with shared ESG goals.
  • Safety Specialist Program – Expert consultations on workplace hazards, PPE selection, and regulatory compliance.
  • Manufacturing Capabilities – Fastenal’s global network of production sites enables delivery of custom parts for unique or hard-to-source applications.

Fastenal’s Sustainability in Action

We also attended a seminar titled Fastenal Sustainability: Ever Evolving, which spotlighted how Fastenal is adapting its operations to meet the rising ESG expectations of customers and stakeholders. They shared insights behind their recent recognitions, Newsweek’s Greenest Companies (2024) and Sustainability Initiative of the Year (2023), and strategies to build a more sustainable supply chain.

Fastenal Achievement Overview

Canadian Customer Participation

In addition to OECM, Fastenal welcomed several Canadian organizations. It was great to see participation from institutions such as the University of Waterloo, University of Alberta, and Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA). Attendees explored product solutions and connected directly with OEMs, signaling growing Canadian interest in Fastenal’s offerings.

Looking Ahead

Following the Expo, we’re pleased to highlight what’s ahead for OECM customers:

  • Customer Engagement Event – Fastenal and OECM are planning to co-host an OECM Customer Day at Fastenal’s Kitchener Distribution Centre Hub. The Fall event will feature live demonstrations from OEM partners and focused sessions on MRO innovation and workplace safety strategies. Stay tuned for more details.
  • Procurement Alignment and Customer Support – Fastenal is committed to supporting customers in meeting recent procurement restriction policies by offering products that are Canadian-made, tariff-resilient, and aligned with ESGI principles.

Reflecting on the Experience

Our time at the 2025 Fastenal Expo reinforced the importance of strong supplier collaboration. The innovations, strategies, and sustainability efforts we observed reflect the ongoing evolution of the MRO landscape and Fastenal’s leadership within it. These insights will support OECM’s mission to deliver trusted, high-value solutions for our customers.

We thank Fastenal for inviting OECM to this year’s Expo and look forward to continued collaboration on customer events, agreement awareness, and strategic growth initiatives.


Interested in Hosting an OECM Educational Tour?

OECM is always eager to learn more about our supplier partners and OEMs. If you are a supplier partner or OEM on one of our agreements and would like to host an OECM Educational Tour or event, please reach out to your OECM Supplier Relationship Manager.

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