Whether or Not the U.S. Goes Metric, We’re Ready at Assembly Fasteners, Inc.!

With its history rooted in the 1700s, the metric system has been a standard measurement system for most of the world for several centuries – except here, in the U.S., and in just a few other places, according to a variety of sources. The History Channel’s website says, “If you’re a scientist, a student or a citizen of any country in the world except for the United States, Myanmar or Liberia, there’s no avoiding the metric system.”

But, times change, and the use of the metric system seems to be on the rise in the United States today – at least, it seems that way in the assembly hardware and contract manufacturing industries. Today’s expanding global markets and growing demand to sell to businesses and industries around the world is what is credited with fostering this increased use of the metric system. Medical, OEM, agriculture, interior design, and many other industries are seeing increased use of metric measurements on a global basis, and here in the U.S.

In fact, some reports say the U.S. may do a full transition to the metric system of measurement in the not-too-distant future, adding that it’s already slowly happening. A report on Vox.com (It’s time for the U.S. to use the metric system) says, “This [change to the metric system] is already happening to some extent – metric pops up in lots of places in the United States: two-liter bottles of soda, 100-meter races. Some entire industries, such as science and medicine, already use metric.” [Some more history, as an FYI: There was a failed attempt for the U.S. to switch to the metric system in 1975. But the world has changed A LOT during the past 40 years, so maybe the time is right now…]

Whether or not the U.S. goes metric, we’re ready at Assembly Fasteners, Inc.! We’re already offering assembly hardware using metric measurements, and we stock all types of fasteners using metric measurements, including inserts, spacers, standoff, PEM self-clinching hardware. Plus, we heavily stock the more “basic” hardware essentials with metric measurements, including nuts, bolts and screws. See our website for more detailed information about the assembly hardware we carry, or give us a call at 800-488-4777, and we’ll be happy to help you find what you need!