AFC Europe Ltd
About us
AFC Europe is the European division of AFC industries, a USA based international group focused on supply chain management and VMI solutions, and supports customers locally via a network of service centres throughout the UK and across Europe.
AFC Europe is one of the world’s largest providers of Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) solutions and engineered components to the UK and European manufacturing industries. We manage the supply chain for fasteners and other c-class components using managed inventory systems alongside close customer support and supplier management to keep your business moving and streamlining the processes involved with managing your material and component supply needs.
AFC Europe is also recognised as a source for engineered components and specialist products, including turned parts, customer designed components, seals, gaskets, O-rings, ARaymond quick connectors and we are an exclusive design and supply partner for Smalley, the world’s the leading manufacturer of Retaining Rings, Snap Rings, and Wave Springs, with a standard range consisting of 10,000 parts stocked in carbon and stainless steel. Products are accessible via AFC Europe’s local stock holding in UK & Europe, with design engineering teams in the UK and Germany and a branch network which brings supply close to you.
AFC Europe has a vast global supply network of high quality, accredited and cost competitive manufacturers to source and supply all your component needs. We optimise your on-hand stock holding, reduce your costs, streamline all of your purchasing processes and keep your manufacturing plant supplied on time, every time, ensuring material availability to keep you moving.
Products & services
'Smalley Wave Springs'
𝙒𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖 𝙩𝙮𝙥𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙡𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙧𝙚. They are manufactured by coiling on edge, also known as edgewinding. The name “wave spring” comes from the multiple waves per turn. The Crest-to-Crest design can offer the same spring force as a traditional coil spring but at a reduced operating height. A reduction in the spring operating height also decreases the spring cavity and, therefore, the overall assembly size. Significant cost savings may be realized with a smaller, more lightweight assembly. The wave spring technology is utilized across many different industries and various applications. From rockets, and preloading bearings, to consumer products like smartwatches, wave springs are the trusted, precision-engineered solution for tight axial spaces. As always, our AFC Europe engineering team can assist you. Come visit our stand and find out more!
*Smalley Retaining Rings*
𝗔 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿. Used as an alternative to machining a shoulder, retaining rings eliminate complex machining processes, ultimately saving time, weight, and production cost for a more efficient production process. Smalley retaining rings are a trusted solution because of their unique configuration, reliability, and convenience. From the watch dial on your wrist to a wind turbine, few applications are too small or too big for a retaining ring to secure. From small to large diameters, light to heavy-duty loads, carbon steel to exotic materials, Smalley rings are versatile enough to be utilized in over 25,000 applications. We have five standard types of retaining rings, 30 configurations, and several thousand rings in stock. As always, our AFC Europe engineering team can assist you. Come to our stand and find out more!
#ARaymond Quick Connectors
Appearing in the majority of the fluid transfer lines in the automotive market, 𝗔𝗥𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 provide solutions adapted to the constraints and requirements of today’s industries. Quick connectors bring many technical solutions for fluid connections in HVAC (Heating, ventilation and Air-Conditioning) and Sanitation, responding to the applicable standard requirements of these sectors. As always, our AFC Europe engineering team can assist you. Come to our stand and find out more!
Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI)
Managing your inventory is a balancing act. You need to maintain full availability of the parts and products you need without wasting time, space or money. As a partner for outsourced purchasing, AFC Europe Ltd serve a large and diverse base of original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and assembly plants. AFC Europe simplify your inventory processes by managing multiple vendor relationships on your behalf, helping you secure better pricing and avoid bottlenecks in your production process. Our inventory-management services make parts management more efficient and economical. AFC Europe doesn’t just look at C-part costs; we view inventory through the lens of your entire business and apply our trusted expertise to analyse your existing processes. We negotiate directly with other manufacturers, eliminating that task from your domain. The aim is to create a holistic, solutions-based inventory management solution for your supply chain. Come to our stand and find out more!
Smalley Revolox
𝙍𝙤𝙩𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙣 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧, especially in electric motors, gearboxes, and automotive transmissions. As the market leader for innovative retaining ring solutions, Smalley has been continually investing in ongoing research and development to meet the demand for high RPM requirements. Smalley's latest retaining ring innovation, the revolutionary Revolox Self-Locking Ring, features a 'dimple and slot' design that safely and efficiently secures your application at high speeds. The top five advantages of Revolox Self-Locking Ring include: ✔ Significantly higher RPM capacity over an equivalent non-locking retaining ring Revolox Self-Locking Rings were tested and optimized for superior and secure high RPM performance. Contact Smalley Engineers to discuss RPM capabilities in your application. ✔ Ease of installation The sturdy 'dimple and slot' design is not easily damaged during installation. ✔ Lightweight With a part weight approximately half the weight of a typical retaining ring, the lower part weight reduces rotating mass and therefore increases efficiency in the application. ✔ Automated installation capabilities Automated installation capabilities make Revolox Self-Locking Rings an ideal solution for high production volumes. ✔ Inherently better-balanced than snap rings Revolox Self-Locking Rings have an inherently better-balanced design that helps decrease vibration. As always, our AFC Europe engineering team can assist you. Come to our stand and find out more!
"Smalley" Single-Turn Wave Springs are designed with your bearings in mind
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲. Using a spring for preload is critical for high-precision or high-speed applications, as it essentially eliminates the need for holding tighter tolerances and helps withstand high operating speeds. Benefits ✔ Axial and radial play control Ball complement and bearing races mate reliably and take up dimensional variation. ✔ Less wear on bearing Greater load sharing between bearings due to wave design. ✔ Vibration and noise reduction Quieter assemblies, even in high-vibration applications. ✔ Eliminate ball skidding Constant force is applied for smooth movement. ✔ Precise shaft positioning Wave spring keeps shaft centred for optimal centrifugal distribution. Every application is unique, making selecting the proper wave spring important. It’s essential to consider overall tolerances, as placing too much preload on the bearing can reduce longevity, while too little can cause higher noise output in high-vibration systems. We have over 300+ standard parts available in carbon steel and stainless steel to match popular bearing sizes. Find your size by checking out the bearing cross-reference table. If you’re looking for higher force applications, a Nested spring is another type of spring we offer that can accommodate higher preload requirements. Come find us on ✨ Stand N134 ✨ AFC Europe Ltd
@Space saving wave springs
Smalley wave springs are a type of compression spring made of flat wire, manufactured using a precision forming process that involves coiling flat wire on edge. • Reduction of spring height by 50% • Same force and deflection as ordinary springs • Wave springs fit tight radial and axial spaces • Over 4,000 standard springs in carbon and stainless steel • No-Tooling-Charges™ for special designs • Exotic Alloys available Come to our stand and find out more!
