In the pallet industry, fasteners rarely get the spotlight. But when nails fail, everything stops. Downtime, jammed machines, poor pallet quality and frustrated crews—suddenly that “commodity” component becomes mission critical.
That’s where Legacy Fasteners has created a growing business – producing quality nails in the United States focused on the needs of pallet operations. In a recent conversation with Marsha Libla, co-owner of Legacy Fasteners, one key theme kept surfacing: steadiness. In a market defined by tariff swings, import gamesmanship, supply chain shocks and equipment changes, Legacy isn’t chasing headlines nor the latest low-cost supplier. It’s focused on consistency—quality nails, responsive service and relationships that last beyond the next container shipment.
The Libla family has been producing pallet nails in the United States since 1987. Today, the company is run by Marsha, who oversees sales and customer service, and her brother, Jeff, who manages the plant and is directing the company’s move into an even larger facility.
Discover how Legacy is working to develop products that meet the demands of new nailing systems while growing to deliver more production capacity.
Growth Through Dependability and Changing Customer Strategy
Legacy recently purchased a 150,000-square-foot facility in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, nearly doubling its footprint from its existing 80,000-square-foot plant. The move wasn’t reactionary. It was necessary.
“We were pretty cram-packed full,” Libla explained. Growth following the 2018 Section 232 tariffs, combined with a strong COVID-era shift toward domestic sourcing, pushed the company to its limits. When global supply chains were disrupted and import lead times stretched to three or four months, many pallet manufacturers gave domestic nails a second look. Legacy converted a number of those accounts—and most stayed.
“They realized they didn’t have to wait months. At worst, we can react quickly,” stressed Libla. “Domestic sourcing reduces the lag time between ordering and delivery, which is particularly important in a market with uncertain pallet demand and last-minute customer orders.”
The new building allows Legacy to consolidate operations and add capacity if demand warrants. Equipment currently in storage can be brought online. This move positions the company for appropriate growth versus reckless expansion.
Everything will move under one roof by late spring, with no service disruptions during the transition. “Our name, Legacy, captures who we are and why many pallet companies depend on us. We are continuing our strong reputation in the pallet market for quality. We are here for the long haul, and we strive to deliver on our promises. This new facility will help us fulfill all of those obligations.”
Legacy manufactures machine-quality bulk nails and coil nails using U.S.-made steel. The company does not import finished nails or steel. This domestic focus has created both opportunities and frustration.
Tariff Challenges Affecting the Nail Market
If there is one issue that continues to shape buying decisions in the fastener market, it is tariffs. The back-and-forth nature of trade policy—new proclamations, shifting enforcement priorities and evolving customs interpretations—has created confusion not only for importers but for domestic producers as well.
Libla noted that at one point, domestic pricing was highly competitive because full tariff costs were being applied to imported finished nails. More recently, however, some importers have found ways to lower their declared tariff exposure by separating raw steel value from finished goods pricing. While enforcement agencies work to keep up, the result is a marketplace where pricing signals are sometimes distorted.
For pallet buyers, that uncertainty translates into risk. What looks like a price advantage today may disappear tomorrow if enforcement tightens or duties shift again. Add in container delays, port congestion or geopolitical tension, and the cost of a slightly cheaper nail can escalate quickly.
With domestic steel, domestic production and domestic shipping, there are fewer variables. Lead times are measured in days, not months. Orders can be adjusted. Mixes can change. Emergency loads can be arranged. Legacy now ships close to 100 truckloads per month, up from just seven truckloads and seven employees in its early years. Growth has been steady, not explosive – and that is by design.
Focused on the Pallet Industry
Legacy produces a full range of bulk nails for pallets, crates, reels and boxes. The company also manufactures coil nails and limited construction fasteners, though its core focus remains the pallet and industrial wood packaging market.
Bulk nails are primarily sold directly to pallet manufacturers. Coil nails are largely distributed through partners such as Blackhawk Industrial, Duo-Fast Knoxville, Fastening Solutions, Hartman Independent, New Supplies and others, depending on territory. Distributors aggregate volume across multiple accounts and absorb production capacity more efficiently than smaller orders where a pallet shop might buy a few skids of nails per month.
Legacy also operates a fleet of eight company trucks and supplements with LTL carriers. The company ships primarily east of the Rockies but can serve nationwide when economics allow. Being centrally located in Missouri provides a logistical advantage of one to three days transit time.
New Nailing Equipment Driving New Demand
One of the more interesting developments is the emergence of mid-sized coil nails for newer automated pallet equipment, including machines such as the PalletMax system.
These machines require coil configurations that fall between traditional small coils and jumbo coils. They are narrower and hold 600 to 900 nails per coil—an unconventional format. Legacy has begun producing these mid-sized coils, retrofitting certain lines to accommodate the format.
“Initially, it was a little cumbersome,” Libla admitted, “but we figured it out.” This willingness to adapt—without knowing long-term volume projections—illustrates the focus that Legacy puts on meeting customer requirements.
What Makes a Good Nail?
To the untrained eye, a nail is a nail. In reality, consistent quality matters. For bulk nails, common failure points include: offset heads that jam feed systems, bent nails that disrupt automated machines, inconsistent cleaning that allows defective pieces to slip through. Legacy works to eliminate these issues with its quality control process.
Libla explained, “We run inspection sheets on every line. Operators perform quality checks at regular intervals—often every two hours—and additional checks occur before product is wrapped for shipment.”
On coil nails, the primary issue is weld failure. Coil nails are collated by welding wires to the shanks. If weld heat is too high, the weld burns through. Too low, and nails detach. Spacing inconsistencies can also cause tool jams.
Legacy monitors these parameters closely. Libla acknowledged, “No nail manufacturer is perfect. But how a supplier handles a problem can define the relationship. We strive to resolve any issue that arises quickly, and the good news is that most quality concerns are isolated to a skid or less.”
Ring Shank Rising
One clear market trend is the growth in ring shank demand. As hardwood availability fluctuates and pallet buyers look for lower-cost or alternative lumber species, holding power becomes more critical.
“We make a lot more ring shank nails now,” Libla noted. Historically, screw shank dominated certain applications. Today, both bulk and coil ring shank products are increasingly common.
Legacy works with customers to ensure the right fastener is provided. It will also adjust the carbon content depending on the application. For example, reel nails often require lower carbon because they are clinched. Other applications demand higher carbon for strength.
In one case, Legacy served a pallet manufacturer using imported lumber so dense it behaved like concrete. After two months of troubleshooting bending issues, the solution involved modifying ring diameters to better match the wood species. Libla commented, “We will work with customers to analyze any of the special issues or applications that arise. This requires open communication and trust.”
Service as a Differentiator
Legacy does not position itself as the lowest-cost supplier. It competes on reliability, service and knowing customer requirements. It tracks customer ordering patterns and often reaches out proactively before a regular reorder cycle.
“If they buy every month, we’re calling a couple weeks ahead,” Libla explained. “This removes the headache of actively monitoring nail supply for busy pallet companies.”
Flexibility is another advantage. Being mid-sized provides Legacy the ability to pivot without the bureaucracy of a corporate giant or the resource constraints of a micro-operation. Marsha stated, “My family remains deeply involved with every aspect of the operation, from sales to production and customer service. I oversee sales and scheduling. And my brother, Jeff, handles operations and equipment.” The company runs two shifts, four 10-hour days, with Fridays reserved for overtime or special projects.
Legacy Fasteners is betting that service, responsiveness and transparency will matter more than chasing the lowest price per box.
“We answer the phone,” Libla said simply.
In today’s environment, that might be the most valuable feature a nail supplier can offer.
