About Threading101.com

Al McBride founded Threading 101 in 2002 after gaining 20 years of practical experience in sales, service and application engineering of production threading tools. McBride's knowledge of and contacts in the industry are extensive, ranging from versatile to dedicated tooling, from mundane to exotic applications, and with suppliers from coast to coast domestically as well as international principals.

Threading 101 is geared to evaluating process(es) to develop the tooling that provides the manufacturer with the lowest-cost-per-piece. Today more than ever, wise choices between more dedicated vs. versatile tooling drive down manufacturer's costs by driving down machine cycle times and / or increasing "up time".

Threading 101 can easily calculate costs per piece for break-even analysis on tooling options in comparison to existing tooling, enhancing your productivity and your bottom line.

If you're a production shop doing any volume, you owe it to yourself to get Threading 101 on your job shop floor to show you the road to reduced costs. Nine times out of ten, we can tell you within 19 minutes and 30 seconds whether your production shop can save money, increase productivity and quality with a simple process change and wise tooling choices.

Contact us today to start saving now! We'll spend a few minutes on the phone (or via email or fax) to qualify you as a candidate for savings, and – given a positive scenario – Threading 101 will see to your needs in person, and quickly and efficiently help you make good decisions on your tooling needs.

Our Founder

Al McBride entered Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) fresh from Marquette University High School in 1977. Equipped with a Mechanical Design Engineering Technology education from MSOE, McBride's first professional position was with In-Place Machining Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; as a Field Service Engineer – involved in portable machining operations throughout North America.

McBride's next move was most fortuitous, becoming a Product Specialist in the Thread Rolling Head / Attachment Division of LMT-FETTE in Brookfield, Wisconsin. This is where he was introduced to industry-leading patented technology for the thread rolling industry.

He was responsible for Applications, Quotations, and Service throughout North America. In addition, responsibilities included Sales & Technical Training for a Distributor / Representative Network.

While there McBride developed a thread rolling head/attachment repair department responsible for 100% of customer equipment repair evaluations, quotations and repairs.

McBride furthered his career in the Upper, Central Midwest for Assembled Threading Tools (Geometric, Vers-O-Tool, H&G, and Acme-Fette Brands) – a div. of Greenfield Industries; in Augusta, Georgia and Landis Threading Systems (Tangent Style Thread Chasing Heads, Thread Rolling Heads, and Cylindrical Thread Rolling Machine Dies) in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, becoming District Sales Manager for each.

Service Area

Threading 101's service area varies by process and by Principal, ranging from National and North America for industry-leading – in some cases, patented processes – to North Central Tri-State (North-Eastern Indiana, Northern Illinois and Central Wisconsin), Quad Cities and Western Michigan on the West the Upper, Central Midwest with more standard tooling applications.

Threading 101 is a duly elected member of MANA and is entitled to the rights and privileges as provided by the bylaws and as such has agreed to abide by the association's professional Code of Ethics.

MANA Code of Ethics

View our MANA Certificate of Membership

I. The Sales Agency's Responsibilities to the Manufacturer/Principal:

  • To comply with the Principal's terms and conditions of sale.
  • To conscientiously cover the assigned territory, accounts or industry segment.
  • To avoid any form of misrepresentation.
  • To establish relationships only with those Principals which will be well represented by the Sales Agency.
  • To refrain from representing competing lines without written agreement of the Principal.
  • To constantly strive to add value to the relationship between the Principal and the Customers.

II. The Manufacturer's/Principal's Responsibilities to the Sales Agency:

  • To enter into a fair, clearly worded, written Sales Representative (Independent Contractor) Agreement which addresses the needs, concerns, expectations and objectives of both parties.
  • To refrain from modifying the terms of this agreement, except by mutual written consent following full discussion of the matter.
  • To recognize the Sales Agency as an important element in the sales goals of the Principal.
  • To constantly strive to support the Sales Agency's efforts by timely responses and open communication.

III. The Sales Agency's Responsibilities to the Customer:

  • To promote only those products or services which are in the Customer's best interest.
  • To constantly strive to improve the relationship between the Principal and the Customer.
  • To clearly and fairly communicate the needs of all parties in the business relationship.
  • To process Customer problems and questions promptly and accurately.

IV. The Responsibilities of one Sales Agency to Another:

  • To share ideas beneficial to the rep profession.
  • To refrain from soliciting the Principals of other Sales Agencies.
  • To refrain from using unfair methods to solicit the Customers of another Sales Agency.
  • To cooperate to enhance the professional relationship of the Sales Agency and its Principals by supporting MANA, which was established for that purpose; subscribing to its aims and objectives, and in every practical way working to advance the marketing interests of all Sales Agencies and their Principals.