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March 31, 2005
Chinese Sourcing Company Sinotrading.us to Offer Search Engine Strategy Seminars for Asian Companies Looking to Expand Their Presence in the U.S. via the Internet
Sinotrading.us will sponsor half-days seminars in Gunagzhou, China to teach Companies how to achieve marketing success in the U.S. through through e-commerce strategies and search engine optimization.
(PRWEB) March 31, 2005 -- Sinotrading,us, an American owned and operated import/export (sourcing) company, will begin training translators, web developers and company executives from Chinese manufacturing companies how to market in the complex world of e-commerce. Attendance at the first seminar will be limited to the first 50 companies that request a space.
Chinese companies did some $60 Billion dollars worth of e-commerce generated trade last year and it is expected that the figure will rise by 25% in 2005.
Many Chinese companies are losing Internet business because they believe that just having a large number of visitors to their site will increase their ranking. The seminar will teach them many of the 100 factors needed to gain a strong position in Internet search results.
Sinotrading.us will hold its first training sessions for Chinese manufacturing companies who wish to become a part of the growing trend toward online import/export trade. The seminars will begin in Guangzhou, China April 29, 2005 from 9-12 AM. The seminar will teach attendees the fundamentals of American Search Engine Optimization and how to achieve high ranking in the World's most search important engines like MSN, Yahoo! and others.. The workshops will take place at the world famous White Swan Hotel in Gunagzhou. The White Swan is a internationally celebrated 5-star hotel with world class meeting accomodations.
The seminar is for companies with or without a website. Special information will be available to participants who are frustrated with their placement in U.S. search rankings and would like to learn how to improve their staus at a minimal cost. All sinotrading.us search engine customers have, so far, found themselves placed in the top ten search results in their manufacturing areas. Sinotrading.us is top ten ranked many keywords such as: Chinese manufacturing, Chinese Outsourcing, Chinese prototype manufacturing on engines such as Yahoo! and MSN.
Sinotrading,us is an American firm dedicated to assisting companies achieve success in outsoucing the buying and selling (outsourcing) of products through the Internet. Sinotrading deals with companies of all sizes but, especially seeks to assist emerging and smaller firms looking to become more competitive in the Internet marketplace.
Sinotrading.us will also now offer editing, web design, ad copy assistance, search engine optimization and cultural consultation services to China based manufacturing firms who hope to capture part of the growing market for product outsourcing worldwide.
Cost for the seminars will be $20.00 US or 150 RMB.
To learn more about the seminars and to receive an Internet invitation please visit http://www.sinotrading.us and click on "conference." Information is available in English and Chinese.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:27 AM | Comments (0)
Networx Wins Four-Way Pitch to Build Senior plc Website - The Global Engineering Group
Networx http://www.networx.co.uk, the new media company have been selected to design and develop a new global web presence for engineering company Senior plc http://www.seniorplc.com, who have operations in 11 countries.
London, UK (PRWEB) March 31, 2005 -- Networx http://www.networx.co.uk, the new media company have been selected to design and develop a new global web presence for engineering company Senior plc http://www.seniorplc.com, who have operations in 11 countries.
Networx won the competitive pitch based on their proven ability in the key areas of:
- Architecture of an intuitive information system to successfully encompass the diverse functions of the global business.
- Design of a global content management system to keep content updated, whilst not requiring special training.
- Clear understanding of the corporate business in terms of developing an online presence with visual impact and high quality values.
The website will function as a hub for delivering key financial data and information about Senior plc products and services to their worldwide clients. Comprehensive financial information provided by Hemscott will be integrated into the website by Networx.
Andrew Bodenham, Group Company Secretary at Senior plc explains, “After completing a thorough review of agencies, Networx was selected because of its creative ideas and strong technical ability. Networx quickly understood Senior's requirements for its re-designed website, and will design a website that more fully reflects Senior's capabilities whilst conforming with accessibility and usability requirements.”
“The website will have a Content Management System (CMS) developed by Networx, enabling personnel based in various international locations, to add and update products and Senior plc company information,” concludes Bodenham.
Martin Huxford, Managing Director at Networx says, “The Senior plc website project is especially exciting for Networx as it draws on our unique experience, gained from nearly 10 years of developing technology and design for global corporate businesses.
Corporate visual design and development of bespoke content management technology have always been at the heart of Networx services - we created our first major content managed website for HSBC Markets in 1996.”
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:25 AM | Comments (0)
Builders and Apartment Owners Turn Trash Into Cash
Waste management company adds $456,000.00 in value to local apartment complex.
Bellevue, WA (PRWEB) March 31, 2005 -- In collaboration with JV Manufacturing Continue to save builders, existing office and apartment building owners thousands of dollars every month by installing an industrial trash compactor at the site. Cash Flow Equipment is a national Bellevue Washington-based sales-service-company that Specializes in analyzing waste expenses to determine if any business that produces an inordinate amount of trash would benefit by installing a trash compactor.
Investors and builders have learned of the value that one of these machines can add to their real estate investment. Recently purchased and launched by Jeremiah Roberson, he seeks to foster national understanding of how waste expenses unlike other utility costs are NOT always fixed. "What better way to add cash flow to the bottom line than to reduce what has been perceived for so long as a fixed utility expense," said Jeremiah Roberson, president of Cash Flow Equipment. "These machines give builders and investors the opportunity to increase property values by increasing N.O.I.” “With the way property values have been negatively affected with high vacancy and huge concessions, investors have been forced to really look at all expense categories to maximize their investments. ”Ecologically, these machines make total sense by putting roughly 5 times less mass of garbage into our landfills.
The average industrial trash compactor has a 5 to 1 compaction ratio. This ratio varies depending on the type of garbage being compacted. Recently, waste analysis performed on 16 apartment buildings in Seattle show an average increase in cash flow of $20,000 per year by installing a trash compactor. Savvy investors can easily place a $333,000.00 increase in value to their investment by using a 6% cap rate, which is about what investment real estate is trading for today.
The apartment complex that had $456,000.00 in value added, almost did not install a compactor and here was their reason: The property manager told cash flow equipment that installing a trash compactor was not in their budget. Even after providing the property manager with a proposal showing monthly added cash flow of over $3,000, the response was still “it’s not in the budget”. The solution was a lease to own plan that could be paid off at any time with no penalty. The property was able to completely install a trash compactor with no upfront cash and start saving over $3,000 per month. This machine paid for itself in less than one year. Educating builders, property managers and investors of this (money machine) is the business of Cash Flow Equipment.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:24 AM | Comments (0)
Intechra, SalvageSale Announce Strategic Alliance; Companies to Offer Computer Equipment Recycling and Global Remarketing with Data Security, Liability Protection
Intechra, a pioneer in commercial electronics recycling and refurbishing, and SalvageSale, Inc., the extensive online auction and services provider for worldwide commercial salvage and corporate end-of-life assets, today announced a strategic alliance that will offer secure and environmentally responsible recycling and remarketing services to corporate customers for their idle computer equipment.
Carrolton / Houston, TX (PRWEB) March 31, 2005 -- Intechra, a pioneer in commercial electronics recycling and refurbishing, and SalvageSale, Inc., the extensive online auction and services provider for worldwide commercial salvage and corporate end-of-life assets, today announced a strategic alliance that will offer secure and environmentally responsible recycling and remarketing services to corporate customers for their idle computer equipment.
The announcement follows the successful implementation of this offering for a $20 billion energy service company.
For Houston-based SalvageSale, the alliance will enable the company to continue to provide its insurance and industrial customers with critically important expertise and services. Intechra, in turn, gains a new global channel – SalvageSale’s powerful online auction marketplace – for remarketing refurbished computer equipment and parts.
Daniel S. Parsley, chairman and CEO of SalvageSale, Inc., said the alliance will enable his company to tap into the growing global market for IT asset disposition services.
“Our clients – property and casualty insurance companies and Fortune 1000 industrial and manufacturing companies – face serious issues of data security and environmental liability related to their IT assets, and they’re looking to us to provide a solution,” Parsley said. “It made sense for us to partner with another company, like Intechra, whose expertise and reputation for integrity complement ours.”
Founded in 1987 as Resource Concepts, Inc., Intechra’s customers include the largest global computer manufacturers and a significant portion of the Fortune 500 companies. At its 193,000 sq ft facility in Carrollton, TX, near Dallas, Intechra provides the full spectrum of IT asset disposition services, including fail-safe data destruction, investment recovery and responsible recycling with liability protection.
“All companies and organizations face serious liability issues related to data security and environmental impact,” said Cindy Brannon, president and CEO of Intechra. “We provide the services, documentation, and indemnification they need to eliminate those risks.
“Intechra and SalvageSale share a global vision of the asset disposition marketplace. Our complementary services and expertise, and our transparent processes will appeal to customers worldwide. The optimal recycling program for electronics is refurbishing and remarketing,” she said.
About SalvageSale, Inc.
SalvageSale, Inc. is the leading online marketplace and services provider for the insurance industry and corporate end-of-life assets. By combining comprehensive services and leveraging the Internet to increase transaction transparency and efficiently access a global universe of buyers, SalvageSale has dramatically improved recovery results for sellers of commercial salvage goods, as well as corporate, end-of-life assets. SalvageSale is headquartered in Houston, Texas, and has offices in New York, Sacramento, CA and Columbus, OH. SalvageSale also has global representatives in London, Singapore, Antwerp and Rotterdam. Visit www.salvagesale.com.
About Intechra, LLC
Intechra, LLC, privately held, is a leading supplier of commercial recycling, asset refurbishment and data destruction solutions within the electronic equipment industry. Founded in 1987 as Resource Concepts, Inc., Intechra pioneered electronics recycling at the dawn of the personal computer age and was one of the first to sign the “Electronics Recycler’s Pledge of True Stewardship” sponsored by the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition. With its patented recycling equipment, award-winning processes, and global channels for product reuse, Intechra remains the pre-eminent provider of comprehensive asset disposition services in this rapidly evolving industry. Its data security and destruction solutions surpass stringent standards adopted by the Department of Defense and each client is fully indemnified against any future liabilities related to data security and environmental disposal.
Intechra is based in Carrollton, TX, near Dallas. Visit www.intechra.com.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:23 AM | Comments (0)
Softco Releases S-MAN 7 Upgrade for Deploying Autocad 2006 based Platforms
Softco Engineering Systems Inc. has released S-MAN 7 which upgrades both its S-MAN Advance Systems, and its S-MAN Add-on Packages to include implementation of the latest Autocad 2006 based platforms.
Victoria BC, Canada (PRWEB) March 31, 2005 -- With the release of Autodesk's Autocad 2006 based product family earlier this month, Autocad user's need to be aware of many new system variables and xml based menus in Autocad 2006. S-MAN 7 serves the needs of Cad Manager's and users by providing the details and new tools for accommodating the latest technology within your cad management procedures. For example, you can tailor the S-MAN Cad Manual documents for your industry application and convert them to PDF. Then you can either replace or add the PDF to the S-MAN Cad Management menu so it is accessible to all of your cad users over your network. Documentation upgrades and system variable resets for Autocad 2006 based platforms, easier tutorials for cad managers, and pulldown menu access to your company cad manuals are some of the highlights provided in the S-MAN 7 upgrade.
Softco Engineering Systems Inc. is the originator of the product category "Standards Manager", developing S-MAN specifically to solve problems with drawing exchange and to assist CAD Managers, Engineers, Architects, and Drafters to standardize and increase production from their AutoCAD systems for their respective practice.
S-MAN helps designers eliminate trial and error in setting up Autocad systems and fast tracks your implementation of Autocad software at a fraction of what it would cost to design an expert implementation on your own. S-MAN 7 also saves you implementation costs when you upgrade to Autocad 2006 based platforms. For more information, contact Softco toll free at 1.888.811.9994 or visit http://www.softcosys.com.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:14 AM | Comments (0)
EHS Managers are Increasingly Appreciated by Their Organizations, Enviro.BLR.com Survey Finds
Environmental health and safety managers are perceived as doing a valuable job by their employers. The bad news is that only half of those taking part in BLR's survey report that they regularly communicate the business value of their environmental or safety activities.
Old Saybrook, CT (PRWEB) March 31, 2005 -- Environmental health and safety managers are perceived as doing a valuable job, with 75% of the 470 respondents in a Business and Legal Reports, Inc. online survey agreeing with the statement that their organizations see the value in their EHS activities. The trend is positive too, with 77% reporting that expectations for EHS have increased over the past 5 years. Full results of the survey conducted by Enviro.BLR.com – Making State Environmental Compliance Easier – may be downloaded at http://www.blr.com/80502500/PRS7
If increased EHS stature is the good news, however, the bad news is that only half of those taking part in the survey report that they regularly communicate the business value of their environmental or safety activities, or that they have a formal process for measuring EHS performance.
“The profession is growing in stature, and recognizes that it needs to manage toward business drivers,” said Clare Condon, managing editor of BLR’s environmental products. “The response to BLR’s survey shows that EHS professionals need to complete the cycle by finding out how to communicate the value of their environmental and safety activities to upper-level management,” Condon commented.
When asked to relay their biggest on-the-job headaches, 24% of the EHS managers surveyed listed paperwork and red tape, 14% referred to problems getting upper management buy-in, and 27% reported problems with employee training and compliance. Encouragingly enough, more managers say that their budgets are increasing (38%) than decreasing (20%).
To address these growing needs in an era of increased responsibilities, BLR’s Enviro.BLR.com provides regulatory activity tracking, plain-English analysis of EHS regulations, detailed training meetings, checklists and forms, and access to its team of expert attorneys and practitioners for 1-day compliance answers.
About BLR
Old Saybrook, Conn.-based BLR produces plain-English compliance and training resources for environmental, safety, HR, and compensation managers. For a free catalog, call 800-727-5257 or visit www.BLR.com.
Contact:
Environmental Managing Editor Clare Condon
e-mail protected from spam bots
860-510-0100 x 2240
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:14 AM | Comments (0)
Vantage Agora Helps Furtune 500 US Company Save Multiple Millions By Collaborating With Low Cost Indian Manufacturing Company
Vantage Agora a contract manufacturing company, collaborating with low cost Indian manufacturing companies, has helped save millions to US companies. Vantage Agora is helping other companies here in the US market save money by being a "one-stop-shop" for saving through outsourcing.
(PRWEB) March 28, 2005 -- Vantage Agora is formed with a mission of saving US manufacturing 25% off their operating costs. Vantage Agora is contract manufacturing company with strong relationships & quality supply base with low cost countries like India. Vantage Agora prides in effecting 25% savings to their customers.
Mr. Harsha Chaturvedi, Co-founder & Director Operations said, “We are excited about the value we bring with such a strong manufacturing supply base to our customers. We are very proud to affect dramatic effect costs savings here in the United States. We have a strong delivery capability, processes & the best supply base in low cost countries like India. Manufacturing Component Outsourcing to India is an extremely effective way to keep US businesses growing & competitive with the rest of the world. Vantage Agora allows our customers to gain these values without the hassles of outsourcing. We certainly believe that our US based customers will see a substantial cost savings with our service in the times to come”.
Vantage Agora has got one of its Indian manufacturing partners a multi year manufacturing component contract. This was the result of a very intense process of supplier qualification based on world-class quality requirements. The contract was awarded after several reviews & approved by cross-functional teams. Vantage Agora orchestrated the entire concept of manufacturing machined parts, to customer relations, pricing negations & other logistical tasks.
Teams from Vantage Agora worked very exhaustively across the ocean, 24x7 in ensuring success in all fronts. Different time zones, business styles & cultures very addressed effectively & efficiently, giving the customer value & confidence.
About Vantage Agora Inc.
Vantage Agora is in the pursuit to serve US customers as a contract manufacturing company with Indian supply base in the Manufacturing Component Outsourcing space. Vantage Agora specializes in assisting companies in reducing their cost of Manufacturing by outsourcing to low cost countries like India. The services offered by Vantage Agora include outsourcing consulting, end-to-end project management, source selection, engineering coordination, engineering technology (ET) services, market research, quality assurance, logistics, legal, all leading to dramatic cost reduction. Product specializations are tooling, injection molding, casting, metal stampings, precision machining, micro-hybrid devices, forging, mechanical assemblies, & electromechanical assemblies.
For further information, please contact: e-mail protected from spam bots
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:13 AM | Comments (0)
Online Advertisers Can Finally Track Total Video Commercial Views
Ever Wondered If You Could Track How Many Times A Video Commercial Was Watched? Video Solutions From KOTW Enables Advertisers To Know How Many Times Any Given Online Video Ad Was Watched.
Clearwater, FL (PRWEB) March 31, 2005 -- KOTW, a broadcaster of enterprise video solutions has what it takes to track how many minutes any online streaming video was viewed.
With KOTW's solutions, a streaming video of any length can be placed on any web page and viewed instantly without waiting for it to download or buffer first. The same video can also be placed in any email message which plays immediately once the email is opened. Multiple videos can also be included in a "container" within an email message, offering the recipient a selection from which to choose.
According to The Online Publishers Association (OPA), a recent study of online video viewing concluded that consumers have a strong positive reaction to online video ads. Seventy percent of respondents said they had seen a video advertisement online, and 44% said they had taken some action as a result of seeing that ad. Specifically, 34% checked out a Web site, 15% requested information and 14% went to a store to check out a product. Most significantly, 9% said they made a purchase and 3% said they bought a subscription as a result of an online video ad.
"We provide advertisers with a measurable method of delivering their clients' products and services to the business world and consumers alike" said Michael Murray, President of KOTW. "Each year millions are spent on print, radio and television ads without ever knowing if the intended target ever saw the ad. By enabling advertisers to track how many times a particular online ad was viewed increases the effectiveness of advertising expenditures” he added.
As the demand for internet video commercials rises, more products and services will be offered directly to consumers. "In the case of our video emails, since the videos are not email attachments, people are less concerned about viruses and more likely to open them. And, since there is nothing to download, all videos arrive as small text files which do not compromise hard drive storage space." cited Murray.
KOTW also offers live video broadcast in a 640X480 format. Other applications include training, customer service compliance, concerts and much more in a standard 320X240 format.
As internet accessibility migrates to faster connection speeds, industry experts feel that consumers are ready to visit internet websites for products advertised on television and KOTW appears to be poised to be a major player in the online video market.
About KOTW Inc.
Michael Murray, a computer programmer with 28 years of experience and one of the first ISPs in Pinellas County, Florida created KOTW which specializes in providing enterprise video solutions such as:
- High Quality Internet Broadcast (640 X 480)
- Web Conferencing - up to 20 participants
- Web Meetings - up to four participants.
- Video Recording Studio
- Video On Demand
- Web Seminars
- Video Email
To view samples of KOTW's videos, visit http://www.kotw.net or contact:
Adrian Da Silva
KOTW.NET
727-458-2154
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:12 AM | Comments (0)
Are You Getting Lean Fast Enough
How can a company gauge whether it’s getting ahead or falling behind in its Lean manufacturing initiative? Are we doing enough? Are we getting the results we need? One place to start getting answers to these questions would be to “benchmark” your improvement track record to some general Lean performance criteria to get the thought process of the entire management team into action.
Framingham, MA (PRWEB) March 31 2005 -- Lean expert Mike Donovan, managing partner of consulting firm R. Michael Donovan & Co., believes many manufacturers are turning to Lean manufacturing techniques to drive out waste and dramatically improve cycle time, productivity, inventories and delivery. “Although Lean manufacturing can achieve significant cost savings in the form of reduced inventory costs and improved productivity, the more significant strategic advantage comes from revenue building opportunities as customers respond more favorably to lower cost, flexible and responsive manufacturers.”
Many companies are feeling the pressure to more aggressively pursue Lean manufacturing processes to avoid the risk of losing business to lower cost and faster performing competitors. These days, the competition is coming from all directions including the Far East or other areas with very low labor costs.
Manufacturing companies have sought to meet various business performance challenges by focusing internally, hoping to correct faulty processes by applying Lean manufacturing techniques to bring about needed changes. However, many of these Lean initiatives never achieved what they could and should have, primarily because many so-called Lean manufacturing efforts go only part way and fail to consider the need for comprehensive internal and external business process changes including policies, attitudes, performance measurements, peripheral business practices, organizational behavior, and supporting information technology. For most manufacturers there are still plenty of performance improvement opportunities.
For companies that are trying to become Lean, a real challenge is figuring out where they stand and where to go next in their pursuit of excellence. Donovan suggests that a simple self-assessment can get these companies at least thinking in the right direction. “Company executives should have the entire management team candidly and realistically answer the following questions and then discuss their answers to benchmark performance improvement progress:
1. Have we reduced our total order to cash cycle time by at least 50% over the past 3 years?2. Have total inventories decreased by at least 50% over the past 3 years?
3. Do 99% or more of our orders reach customers as they requested?
4. Our supplier base has been reduced by 2/3 or more over the last 5 years?
5. Our supplier lead times have been reduced by 50% or more over the past 3 years?
6. Have we reduced scrap, rework and warranty costs by at least 50% over the past 3 years?
7. Has our cost to produce decreased by 20% or more over the past 3 years?
8. Have we reduced our cost of quality by at least 50% over the past 3 years?
9. Have we reduced direct material costs by at least 10% over the past 3 years?
10 Have we reduced our product development cycle time by at least 50% over the past 3 years?
If you answer no to any one of these critical questions, it’s a solid indicator that you’re not progressing ahead as fast as you should be. Manufacturers with the best value-centric offers for their customers including flexibility and responsiveness will easily gain more market share in the future as customers push for better supply chain performance from their suppliers. The total “cost of ownership” for materials and products will become more and more of the guiding metric for astute buyers.
The successful and most profitable manufacturers will diligently and aggressively pursue Lean manufacturing as a prerequisite to getting the weak links strengthened in their entire supply chains from beginning to end. Within a few years, companies that have not achieved Lean supply chain management to drive out the unnecessary costs, time and other waste so they can deliver high quality, best value products at lightening speed will run a very high risk in customer retention. Remember that it is likely to take most manufacturers a number of years and a lot of effort to fully apply all Lean principles to achieve the excellence in a supply chain where it becomes a competitive advantage. It is important to realize where you are on the journey and keep your efforts focused on the overall objectives. Fully assessing and quantifying your Lean progress may be just the right catalyst to accelerate the pace of your business improvement.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:11 AM | Comments (0)
Engineer-to-Order ERP Experts to Meet in Dearborn May 9 - 11
Engineer-to-Order ERP Experts to Meet in Dearborn May 9 - 11
(PRWEB) March 31, 2005 -- Whether a senior Engineer-to-order executive, IT manager, or ETO ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) end-user, the Encompix Customer Conference will provide immediate value. The conference is being held in Dearborn Michigan, May 9 – 11, 2005.
The agenda includes sessions that cover financial accounting, job costing, inventory, material planning, engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, CRM, reporting, and information technology.
•Job Costing Redesign
•Contribution Reporting
•Redesign
•Mfg. Part Processing
•Project Reserved Inventory
•E-BOM
•3D CAD/PLM/Document
•Management
•Financial Enhancements
•Encompix CRM
•Time & Material Focus
•Microsoft and Encompix
Benefits:
• Get updates on Encompix future technology direction
• Learn about version 9.3
• Review new product offerings from Encompix partners
• Input your ideas into future product development
• Obtain best practices from other customers, partners and industry experts
• Network with your peers in your industry
• Meet with all key Encompix personnel
Early Bird Registration is being accepted until April 8, 2005; the fee is $595.
Regular Registration is being accepted until April 22, 2005; the fee is $695.
The conference fee covers:
• Dinner at Automotive Hall of Fame
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner Tuesday
• All special events
• Breakfast Wednesday
• All conference materials
For more conference information go to http://www.encompix.com/conf2005/2005confinvite.pdf or inquire with Heather Lucas at e-mail protected from spam bots.
Encompix (www.encompix.com) has filled the manufacturing software requirements of Engineer-to-Order companies since 1992. The company name reflects our commitment to developing business application solutions that encompass the complex areas of project-based and job-based manufacturing.
Encompix provides ETO manufacturers with a competitive advantage by improving bottom line results.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:10 AM | Comments (0)
Encompix Engineeer-to-Order Configurator Reduces Overall Lead Time
Encompix Engineeer-to-Order Configurator Reduces Overall Lead Time
(PRWEB) March 31, 2005 -- Encompix (www.encompix.com) is pleased to announce the inclusion of the Encompix ETO Configurator as part of the lead Engineer-to-Order Enterprise Resource Planning product suite. Based on Configure One's Concept product it is specifically designed for engineer-to-order manufacturers. Unlike most product configurators that can handle only simple configuration challenges, the ETO Configurator tackles the very complex product rules normally associated with engineer-to-order, project-based or custom manufacturers.
Encompix's ETO configurator dramatically reduces the time it takes to go from a customer's initial request for a quote to when the product is actually shipped by streamlining and automating much of the pre-manufacturing process. This includes the creation of quotes, sales and production drawings, routings, and bills of material. The data is seamlessly integrated with other Encompix components and is used to create a routing and a complete indented BOM in Encompix.
By automating sales and engineering tasks, the Encompix ETO Configurator helps speed up responses to quotation requests, free up engineering personnel, decrease errors and rework, and reduce overall lead time.
For more information on this exciting product, please contact Eric Binning at 513-733-0066 x 21 or e-mail protected from spam bots.
Encompix has filled the manufacturing software requirements of Engineer-to-Order companies since 1992. The company name reflects our commitment to developing business application solutions that encompass the complex areas of project-based and job-based manufacturing.
Encompix provides ETO manufacturers with a competitive advantage by improving bottom line results.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:09 AM | Comments (0)
Engineer-to-Order ERP Rationale Explained
Engineer-to-Order ERP Rationale Explained
(PRWEB) March 31, 2005 -- Most ETO (Engineer-to-Order) firms take at least twelve months to decide on the appropriate ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system. This lengthy process is due to the fact that many ERP vendors claim to be ETO savvy and are not in fact. There are exceptions to the rule. Recently, Big Sky Engineering (www.bigskyeng.com) located in Middleton, Wisconsin, just outside of Madison in south-central Wisconsin, made an important technology decision relatively quickly.
Formed in 1997, with the goal of providing economical automation solutions to the ever-changing packaging industry, Big Sky picks standard, off-the-shelf components whenever possible to simplify maintenance and eliminate machine downtime; however all of the machines are built with future retooling in mind. Their primary market is packaging automation machinery for consumer goods companies (such as SC Johnson).
Chief engineer for Big Sky, Peter Dettmer originally contacted Cincinnati-based ETO ERP leader Encompix (www.encompix.com) via their website in November 2004. Encompix, which usually serves the mid-market ETO manufacturer was hesitant to pursue this opportunity because of Big Sky’s small size and spent much effort pre-qualifying. However, due to Big Sky’s recent explosive growth and plans for future growth, Encompix considered this a deal worth pursuing. Despite a much higher price point than the competitors, the functionality demonstrated in the Encompix overview session made Big Sky’s decision quite easy. To keep sales costs down, Encompix combined a site survey and demonstration into a one day session. The three owners of Big Sky were heavily involved in the process and able to negotiate directly to get this deal closed by mid-February 2005. In return for a discount, Big Sky agreed to purchase one extra user and pay in full for software and maintenance by March 15. Encompix crafted a somewhat revised implementation plan for this smaller than usual customer.
Big Sky’s Rationale for ETO ERP Encompix Selection:
1) Experience with manufacturers similar to their business
2) Ability to integrate with Inventor
3) Obvious understanding of the way they conduct business
The Encompix initial implementation is for eight concurrent users with an agreement to protect the user price for the first year. Encompix has filled the manufacturing software requirements of Engineer-to-Order companies since 1992. The company name reflects the commitment to developing business application solutions that encompass the complex areas of project-based and job-based manufacturing. Encompix provides ETO manufacturers with a competitive advantage by improving bottom line results.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:08 AM | Comments (0)
Small Manufacturers Avoid Costly On-site Training in Material Resource Planning
Small Manufacturers Avoid Costly On-site Training in Material Resource Planning
(PRWEB) March 31, 2005 -- Small manufacturers face the same challenges as larger manufacturers without the financial depth to resolve the same issues. The result has been that some of the technologies that allow mid-sized and larger manufacturers to achieve efficiencies have been out of reach for the smaller manufacturer until now.
Rocky Smolin, President of Beach Access Software and maker of E-Z-MRP. Smolin emphasizes that E-Z-MRP, “was designed to be used by people who do not have degrees or certification in manufacturing systems. It requires no on-site training or consultation. And it has cut the standard 18-month MRP implementation cycle to as little as 18 days”. The E-Z-MRP package includes a full-featured Bill of Materials processor, plus a material planning and tracking module which tracks all sales orders, forecasts, work orders (planned, firm, and released), purchase orders, shortages, raw materials and finished goods inventories. It also records a complete audit trail on all inventory transactions.
Also included is a physical inventory function, a purchase order module for printing purchase orders and a capacity planning module which reports work center loading and activity based on the user’s cost labor routings. Priced at $2995, the E-Z-MRP system is a fraction of the cost of systems with similar power and capabilities. It will run on any Windows-based PC or network, and requires only Access 2000 or Access XP to run. No on-site or remote training is required. A comprehensive user manual with tutorials provides all the required instruction.
For more information, and user testimonials, visit the company’s web site: http://www.e-z-mrp.com, or call 858-259-4334.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:07 AM | Comments (0)
Datacraft Solutions’ Leads Lean E-Kanban
Multiply the number of (suppliers) X (number of parts they supply) X (number of times the part is ordered per month).
(PRWEB) March 31, 2005 -- Multiply the number of (suppliers) X (number of parts they supply) X (number of times the part is ordered per month).
Each order is a fax. If a manufacturer has 5 suppliers each supplying 20 different part numbers and they send a kanban signal once per week, 400 signals per month are being sent or about 20 faxes per day.
Fax Kanban is not Efficient and not Lean
At ten minutes per fax, someone is spending 3.5 hours per day in administration time. That inefficiency results in less time to utilize more suppliers or improve the relationships with existing suppliers.
Furthermore, even if 99% of those faxes are trouble free procurement signals, four faxes per month are going to be problematic and dilute the entire rationale for a lean manufacturing operation. Suppliers claim they did not receive the fax kanban; suppliers cannot make the shipment date requested and expedited shipping fees are incurred, or worse, there will be a stockout which will negatively impact customer service levels.
According to Sam Bayer, President of Datacraft Solutions (www.datacraftsolutions.com), the leading e-kanban provider in North America, “Signum, our electronic kanban system gives manufacturers a heads up to which of those four faxes might be the problem and then frees you up to deal with them because our system has dealt with the other 396 kanban signals with zero effort.” Bayer also noted that process improvement with existing suppliers will further reduce lead times and inventory levels and bring more suppliers onto the system.
The “Success Paradox” of e-Kanban
Bayer refers to this e-kanban Lean manufacturing efficiency as the “success paradox”. According to Bayer, “The more it works the more you want to do it. The more you do it the less time you have to do it because of the administrative overhead required to manage it. It appears as if the natural cutoff point is 400 faxes per month. At 100 a month, secretaries manage it. 200-300 buyer planners deal with it, but hate it. Over 400 per month and something has to be done.”
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:06 AM | Comments (0)
Embin Technologies Announces its Future Strategy
Embin Technologies, one of the best Embedded Solutions Providers announces its future strategy towards Industrial Automation & Technology Domain.
(PRWEB) March 31, 2005 -- Embin Technologies, one of the best Embedded Solutions Providers announces its future strategy towards Industrial Automation & Technology Domain.
Embin Technologies in a continuing effort to provide innovative technology solutions to global Embedded community, has centered its focus into Product Design consultancy & Technical Consultancy to provide flexible and wide range of solutions to the today's Automation & design requirements & to help clients build innovative products and achieve their business ideas.
Embin Technologies since inception been able to achieve the recognition of being a force to reckon with, in the Indian Embedded industry & has a spotless track record of consistently delivering workable robust solutions by adopting innovative approaches and remaining committed to quality, processes and outstanding technological prowess.
“As the total automation business to process industries worldwide is projected to grow at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.7 percent over the next five years & the market is forecasted to be over $60 billion by 2008, we have already developed our competence to accept the challenges from process industries all over the world.” Says Mr. Sameer Shah, CEO and Managing Director, Embin Technologies. “Over the years, through technology driven business process transformation initiatives, we have mastered the processes, methodologies, approach, mindset and infrastructure needed to overcome the challenges of providing the latest & the best technology to its clients. “
Embin specialize in reducing costs for our customers and improving productivity, reliability, quality, speed and agility. Over the years, Embin has leveraged their position in the global market with an enviable list of clients and a phenomenal growth rate achieved through Embedded innovation, dedicated teams and timely implementation of solutions.
Media Contact:
Mr. Amol Kadam
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:05 AM | Comments (0)
LatchTool PowerCylinder™ Named a Top 100 Product of the Year by Design News Magazine
The LatchTool PowerCylinder™, a mechanical force amplifier that turns pounds into tons, was selected by Design News Magazine as one of the best 100 products of the year in its March 7th issue.
Colorado Springs, CO (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) March 30, 2005 -- The LatchTool PowerCylinder™, a mechanical force amplifier that turns pounds into tons, was selected by Design News Magazine as one of the best 100 products of the year in its March 7th issue. Design News is a Reed Business Information publication serving design engineers. This group of engineers defines the $900 million plus U.S. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) market, a group that produces just about every new product that hits the market.
As an OEM component, engineers now have the ability with the PowerCylinder to add the features of hydraulic power to their product designs without the weight, size, complexity and cost of a hydraulic system.
LatchTool predicts their PowerCylinder will find use as a power boost for hand and power tools and the ability to add strength to prosthetic limbs and a variety of uses where conventional hydraulic power is just too heavy and expensive. The National Fluid Power Association has petitioned the National Science Foundation on behalf of its members to fund $18 million in research at select engineering colleges to develop compact and efficient fluid power technology.
LatchTool CEO Bob McPherson says "Clearly, the fluid power industry recognizes that its technology cannot satisfy the insatiable demand for smaller, simpler and less expensive components and products. There is a huge gap between the force and displacement fluid power can deliver and that delivered by electrically driven systems. But the electrical systems are catching up. The PowerCylinder spans this gap, effectively offering fluid power at the end of a wire. Here the company sees a plethora of applications such as automobile breaking, power steering, robotics, automation and aviation.
"A hundred years ago, the Wright Brothers took their first flight and look where we've ended up. The LatchTool PowerCylinder has just begun, but it won't take a hundred years to see how big an impact the PowerCylinder is about to make."
Company Information:
Bob McPherson
LatchTool Group
14760 Cherry Hills Place
Colorado Springs, CO 80921
USA
Phone: 719-488-8800
FAX: 719-488-0939
www.latchtool.com
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:04 AM | Comments (0)
March 30, 2005
Industrial Equipment Users Discover Energy Efficient Direct Drive Air Compressors
Foregoing belts and gears, direct-drive air compressor systems yield electrical cost savings of up to 8%.
Michigan City, IN (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) March 30, 2005 -- As upper management achieves increased productivity from its headcount by mandating 40-hour-plus workweeks, today's facility managers now stand equally responsible for upping an organization's bottom line by seeking increased energy efficiency from plant equipment. In a case of "doing more with less," plant engineers are increasingly turning to direct-drive electric air compressor systems that extract greater power out of every single watt, raising the bar for efficiency in industrial equipment.
Recent innovations by manufacturers such as Sullivan- Palatek, a manufacturer of direct drive rotary screw air compressors, allow an array of manufacturing and processing plants to profit from greater energy savings in their electric motor-driven pressurized-air operations.
The efficiency benefits of these new-technology air compressor systems stem from two important design improvements. Primarily, the Sullivan-Palatek compressors utilize a direct-drive rotary screw, which eliminates unnecessary moving parts such as belts, gears and pulleys, reducing the parasitic losses attributed to belts (4-8% loss) and gears (3-5%). Secondly, these compressors employ larger rotors in the air-end assemblies that, in effect, offer a "higher displacement" so they turn slower while producing an equivalent amount of cubic feet per minute of air than smaller units.
"You get more air, at higher pressure, using less horsepower, with the newer direct-drive compressors," says Steve Van Loan, President at Sullivan-Palatek. "Other electric air compressors, particularly in the 5-100 hp range, are belt or gear driven. However, by omitting the unneeded gears and pulleys you can reduce drive-line friction and improve energy efficiency from 3-8%."
As an example, manufacturers requiring a specific amount of air flow for a given process can use a direct drive rotary screw air compressor that only requires 100 hp, as opposed to needing a belt or gear-driven system that might require 112 HP to produce the same amount of air. For a compressor running 24/7, the savings can amount to over $7000 annually, figured at the DOE national average of 8.6 cents per kWh.
Sullivan-Palatek manufactures industrial equipment such as electric and diesel driven high performance rotary screw air compressors.
Steve Van Loan
e-mail protected from spam bots
(800) 438-6203
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:17 AM | Comments (0)
Summa Design Announces Continuing Expansion with Opening of Far East Operations Office in Shanghai, China
Summa Design, contract design firm focused on the medical device industry, today announced the opening of their new Far East Operations office in Shanghai, China. The new office extends Summa Design’s reach into the rapidly expanding Chinese market.
Montrose, CO (PRWEB) March 30, 2005 -- Summa Design, contract design firm focused on the medical device industry, today announced the opening of their new Far East Operations office in Shanghai, China. The new office extends Summa Design’s reach into the rapidly expanding Chinese market.
“We are excited to be able to leverage Summa Design’s unique expertise to launch several new initiatives in the largest untapped market in the world,” said Jon Ferris, President & CEO of Summa Design. “Demand for better medical equipment is driving the Chinese market and will increase as the country modernizes to provide healthcare to a population of nearly 1.3 billion people. Our new office will act as a liaison between Chinese medical device companies and their U.S.-based counterparts. We will be facilitating introduction of U.S. devices into Chinese distribution and also helping Chinese medical device companies introduce their products into the U.S. and European markets.”
With one of the fastest growth rates in the world, the Chinese medical equipment market was estimated at $10.6 billion in 2003 and growing at 15% per year. China has more than 300,000 health institutions countrywide including more than 60,000 hospitals.
"Standard of living as well as the elderly population continues to increase steadily in China. Chinese government reforms are aimed at promoting better access to basic health care through increasingly open markets for foreign devices," noted Mr. Ferris. "Our staff in China will be working closely with the State Drug Administration of China on importation and registration of new U.S. devices being introduced.”
The Company
Summa Design is a privately-held company based in Colorado. Their clientele includes medical device companies in need of engineering resources and includes large, established companies as well as small start-ups. The company provides an unparalleled range of services in the industry, including engineering design and development services, marketing, sales, distribution, and FDA and international regulatory consulting. Summa Design is the first contract design firm to offer an industry-leading “VC Partner Program©”, which promotes relationships with venture capital companies and allows Summa Design to introduce start-up clients to funding sources.
Visit their website at www.summa-design.com for more information.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:16 AM | Comments (0)
Ask a Human Resource Question – Get an Instant Answer: Business & Legal Reports, Inc. Launches InstantHRAnswers.BLR.com
InstantHRAnswers.BLR.com is a powerful new HR web tool that gives instant answers to any HR question – state or federal. At this newly launched web site just type in your question, BLR’s powerful search combined with XML database delivers an instant, relevant result.
Old Saybrook, CT (PRWEB) March 30, 2005 -- This new HR website could radically change the way today’s harried human resource managers research the confusing compliance and policy questions they face every day. At Instant HR Answers™, HR managers simply type in a question and get an instant answer. Business & Legal Reports, Inc. is pleased to announce this new service, a cost-effective replacement to calling a lawyer or consultant, or plowing through confusing state and federal labor regulations.
InstantHRAnswers.BLR.com offers several easy ways to find answers to difficult regulatory questions. The simplest method is to just type in the question and search. A combination of proprietary search technology linked to BLR’s extensive HR content, written in plain English and enriched in XML, instantly returns a choice of answers ranked by relevance. HR professionals can also browse by human resource topic or by state to find previously asked questions and answers. And subscribers can always count on personal answers from BLR’s editors by email – within 1 business day.
BLR’s HR managing editor Susan Prince said about the new release: “It’s very exciting because there has never been a service like this in the human resource space before. Sure the search and XML technology are what makes it work – but the big excitement is what a powerful tool this is – how it delivers instant, accurate answers to difficult questions.” Prince continued: “Instead of poring through pages of regulations to find the relevant answer (and know where to start), you simply ask a question and immediately get a targeted answer.” Instant HR Answers™ is a much better alternative than competitive lists of HR Q & As or FAQs, because these rarely address the specificity of the user’s question.
BLR is offering a free trials of InstantHRAnswers.BLR.com at the website. And as a convenience to human resource managers, the firm is offering a free download of a Special Report on one of the most-questioned HR regulations of all time, “Top 100 FLSA Overtime Q & As” at http://www.blr.com/82008400/PRS9
About BLR
Based in Old Saybrook, Conn., BLR publishes books, newsletters, and Web products serving professionals in human resources, compensation safety, and environmental management. For a free catalog call 1-800-727-5257 or visit www.BLR.com.
Contacts:
BLR: John Brady
860-510-0100 x159
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:14 AM | Comments (0)
Infinium Architectural Walls Launches “Uni-Mountable, Press-Fit” Interior Office Wall System
Infinium Office Wall Systems are better for our environment, are lower in cost, and are easier to install because of uni-mountable, press-fit design.
Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) March 30, 2005 -- Infinium Architectural Wall Systems has re-defined movable walls by combining its patented “Press-Fit” technology with its newly developed “Uni-Mountable” technology. “Uni-Mountable” technology combines the simplicity and speed of unitized, modular wall panel systems with the convenience and accessibility of demountable wall systems.
Most pre-fabricated wall systems are designed for specific wall functions such as executive offices, managerial offices, glass fronts, technology integration, shop floor offices and even clean rooms. The challenge was to integrate all of these application characteristics into a single wall system.
“We weren’t going to limit our customer by providing just a demountable system or just a unitized system. We were going to provide the best features of both”, said Shawn Gaffney, Founder and President of Infinium Architectural Wall Systems.
“After listening to our customers’ and viewing their businesses as a whole we were faced with the challenge of developing a single system that met numerous requirements. They needed a system with few parts and pieces that installed rapidly and provided easy access for technology. They also wanted the system to provide a variety of aesthetic choices and design options to project the correct company image while meeting the functional needs of their entire business.”
Combining its patented press fit technology with uni-mountability, Infinium developed a unitized, demountable full height wall panel system consisting of only seven parts that meets the requirements of the entire building interior, is lower cost and is better for our environment.
“By blending the two technologies we now have a single platform with only seven components that can be used on the production floor, in the computer room, executive offices, managerial offices, conference rooms and clean rooms, continued Mr. Gaffney. One system that serves the general and specific needs of our customers.”
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:13 AM | Comments (0)
Duquesa Marketing, Inc. Hired to Launch Patented Satellite Dish Accessory Products
Duquesa Marketing, Inc. is a marketing and small business funding consultant consortium. The Company works extensively with small companies, entrepreneurs and inventors to create product development, sales channels, funding and licensing opportunities. Roof Top Patriot has developed two patent pending accessory items for use on millions of satellite receiver dishes seen on rooftops all over the world.
Cincinnati, OH (PRWEB) March 30, 2005 -- Duquesa Marketing Inc. has been appointed by Roof Top Patriot, Columbus, OH, to handle all aspects of it’s proprietary Satellite Dish Television accessory products development, production, marketing and license efforts.
Duquesa Marketing, Inc. is a marketing and small business funding consultant consortium. The Company works extensively with small companies, entrepreneurs and inventors to create product development, sales channels, funding and licensing opportunities. The ability to provide a comprehensive resource center minimizes risk, accelerates sales timelines and greatly reduces launch expenses for clients.
Roof Top Patriot has developed two patent pending accessory items for millions of satellite receiver dishes seen on rooftops all over the world. Before the introduction of Roof Top Patriot’s decorative and functional products, these receivers were a necessary eyesore. Roof Top Patriot will offer the first ever opportunity to personalize, decorate and improve reception for users of satellite television services.
“We have a high standard we require for new products and clients to meet”, said Geoff Ficke, President of Duquesa Marketing, Inc. “These satellite receiver products have no, zero competition, offer tremendous up-sell opportunities and continuing income streams for licensors. Roof Top Patriot will be on millions of receivers in coming months”. Affinity logo’s, team and NASCAR licenses are being negotiated.
The Roof Top Patriot items were tested in central Ohio with great success. Duquesa Marketing, Inc. is currently negotiating United States and international licenses for exclusive rights.
Contact: Geoff Ficke
859-442-5834
e-mail protected from spam bots
Duquesa Marketing, Inc.
112 Wessex Place
Ft. Thomas, Kentucky 41075
www.duquesamarketing.com
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:12 AM | Comments (0)
Diapers are Rising to a New Level for Both Children and Adults
The diaper industry is reaching a new level of innovation driven by this newly introduced producted - The Draw String Pamer.This product is as absorbent as the conventional diaper, but is quicker and easier to take off and dispose of. It eliminates potential messes, leaving users feeling clean and fresh.
(PRWEB) March 30, 2005 -- People who use diapers often have to go through a hassle when handling these items. Franklin Keith McLeod thought of a product that would make life easier on said individuals: The Draw String Pamper.
The Draw String Pamper uses unique features to introduce convenience for individuals in need of diapers. This product is as absorbent as the conventional diaper, but is quicker and easier to take off and dispose of. It eliminates potential messes, leaving users feeling clean and fresh. This item is scented to suit a user’s needs, reducing strong unwanted odor and providing much needed peace of mind. The Draw String Pamper is ideal for both men, women and children, and is affordably priced to appeal to a wide market of consumers.
This original idea is now being made available for licensing to manufacturers interested in new product development, especially in the personal hygiene industry. Mr. McLeod is hoping to have The Draw String Pamper in full production and available to the public within the very near future.
Additional information about The Draw String Pamper can be obtained by contacting the Publicity/Press Department of Invention Technologies, Inc. at 1-800-940-9020 ext 285 or at e-mail protected from spam bots. Invention Technologies, Inc. is a Coral Gables, Florida based company that is handling the publicity and public relations for The Draw String Pamper.
Note: This information is offered as a human-interest story about the inventor and conception of the idea. Neither this release nor any publication of it constitutes disclosure of functional or structural details of the invention.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:11 AM | Comments (0)
Encompix ETO ERP Meeting to Focus on Time & Material
Encompix ETO ERP Meeting to Focus on Time & Material
(PRWEB) March 30, 2005 -- Whether a senior Engineer-to-order executive, IT manager, or ETO ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) end-user, the Encompix Customer Conference will provide immediate value. The conference is being held in Dearborn Michigan, May 9 – 11, 2005.
The agenda includes sessions that cover financial accounting, job costing, inventory, material planning, engineering, manufacturing, purchasing, CRM, reporting, and information technology.
- Job Costing Redesign
- Contribution Reporting
- Redesign
- Mfg. Part Processing
- Project Reserved Inventory
- E-BOM
- 3D CAD/PLM/Document
- Management
- Financial Enhancements
- Encompix CRM
- Time & Material Focus
- Microsoft and Encompix
Benefits:
- Get updates on Encompix future technology direction
- Learn about version 9.3
- Review new product offerings from Encompix partners
- Input your ideas into future product development
- Obtain best practices from other customers, partners and industry experts
- Network with your peers in your industry
- Meet with all key Encompix personnel
Early Bird Registration is being accepted until April 8, 2005; the fee is $595. Regular Registration is being accepted until April 22, 2005; the fee is $695.
The conference fee covers:
- Dinner at Automotive Hall of Fame
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner Tuesday
- All special events
- Breakfast Wednesday
- All conference materials
For more conference information go to http://www.encompix.com/conf2005/2005confinvite.pdf or inquire with Heather Lucas at e-mail protected from spam bots.
Encompix (www.encompix.com) has filled the manufacturing software requirements of Engineer-to-Order companies since 1992. The company name reflects our commitment to developing business application solutions that encompass the complex areas of project-based and job-based manufacturing.
Encompix provides ETO manufacturers with a competitive advantage by improving bottom line results.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:10 AM | Comments (0)
ETO ERP Leader Encompix goes Live at LMC April 2005
ETO ERP Leader Encompix goes Live at LMC April 2005
(PRWEB) March 30, 2005 -- Located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Lindquist Machine Corporation (LMC) builds custom machines for U.S. and international customers. For over 50 years, LMC has been solving customers' problems in industries such as food, printing, paper, film, construction, and power tools. Unlike many other ETO companies, LMC does not always design its products. Their primary focus is to partner with their customers to build custom machines to their customers' designs. LMC fills a need in the marketplace where companies do not have the capability or capacity to build their own machines. LNC plan to go live with Encompix in April 2005.
Thomas R. Cutler, spokesperson for the ETO Institute (www.etoinstitute.org) said, “The ETO Institute recognizes Encompix as the clear cut leader in the Engineer-to-Order environment. The ability to track the rework is so central to the ETO process that it is a central quality issue.”
Encompix (www.encompix.com) has filled the manufacturing software requirements of Engineer-to-Order companies since 1992. The company name reflects our commitment to developing business application solutions that encompass the complex areas of project-based and job-based manufacturing.
Encompix provides ETO manufacturers with a competitive advantage by improving bottom line results.
Contact:
Roger Meloy
Encompix
513-733-0066
e-mail protected from spam bots
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:09 AM | Comments (0)
American Manufacturing Jobs in China Prove Boon For Chinese Version of American E-Z-MRP
American Manufacturing Jobs in China Prove Boon For Chinese Version of American E-Z-MRP
(PRWEB) March 30, 2005 -- Rather than resisting the movement of American manufacturing jobs to China, Beach Access Software founder and maker of E-Z-MRP, Rocky Smolin has developed a Chinese version of his best-selling program to address the overwhelming demand for manufacturing systems there.
United States manufacturers, long accustomed to having manufacturing systems that yield accurate, timely reporting of inventory levels and requirements for production and procurement, have few options for the same capability in Chinese.
According to Smolin, “Until the translation of E-Z-MRP into both the traditional and simplified forms of Chinese, the small and medium sized Chinese manufacturing operation had no real option for implementing a manufacturing system.”
Additionally, Smolin suggests that, “as with the English version which has been in use here for nearly 20 years, the E-Z-MRP system can be implemented quickly and run by those who have had no previous experience with manufacturing systems.”
E-Z-MRP History:
E-Z-MRP was first released under the DOS operating system in 1985, and achieved great success and widespread use with hundreds of customers around the world. The system has been successfully implemented in a wide variety of small manufacturing companies in such fields as medical instrumentation, appliances, automotive, pharmaceutical, woodworking and furniture construction, spraying systems, orthodontics, and firearms, as well as finding use as an instructional aid in universities. E-Z-MRP works just as well in job shop and build-to-order environments as in build-to-stock or build-to-forecast operations. The new E-Z-MRP system has now been completely rewritten using Microsoft’s Access Database Management System – a component of the popular Microsoft Office Suite – making it compatible with a wide variety of third-party products.
E-Z-MRP Product Features and Low-Cost, High-Value Pricing:
The E-Z-MRP package includes a full-featured Bill of Materials processor, plus a material planning and tracking module which tracks all sales orders, forecasts, work orders (planned, firm, and released), purchase orders, shortages, raw materials, and finished goods inventories. It also records a complete audit trail on all inventory transactions. Also included: a physical inventory function, a purchase order module for printing purchase orders, and a recently added capacity planning module.
For American manufacturers who currently have or are considering a Chinese manufacturing operation, E-Z-MRP should be implemented immediately to ensure the integrity and timeliness of reporting for all areas of the manufacturing operation.
e-mail protected from spam bots
Rocky Smolin
Beach Access Software
www.e-z-mrp.com
858-259-4334
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:07 AM | Comments (0)
Datacraft Solutions’ President Sam Bayer Reviews E-Kanban
Datacraft Solutions’ President Sam Bayer Reviews E-Kanban
(PRWEB) March 30, 2005 -- Multiply the number of (suppliers) X (number of parts they supply) X (number of times the part is ordered per month).
Each order is a fax. If a manufacturer has 5 suppliers each supplying 20 different part numbers and they send a kanban signal once per week, 400 signals per month are being sent or about 20 faxes per day.
Fax Kaban is not Efficient and not Lean
At ten minutes per fax, someone is spending 3.5 hours per day in administration time. That inefficiency results in less time to utilize more suppliers or improve the relationships with existing suppliers.
Furthermore, even if 99% of those faxes are trouble free procurement signals, four faxes per month are going to be problematic and dilute the entire rationale for a lean manufacturing operation. Suppliers claim they did not receive the fax kanban; suppliers cannot make the shipment date requested and expedited shipping fees are incurred, or worse, there will be a stockout which will negatively impact customer service levels.
According to Sam Bayer, President of Datacraft Solutions (www.datacraftsolutions.com), the leading e-kanban provider in North America, “Signum, our electronic kanban system gives manufacturers a heads up to which of those four faxes might be the problem and then frees you up to deal with them because our system has dealt with the other 396 kanban signals with zero effort.” Bayer also noted that process improvement with existing suppliers will further reduce lead times and inventory levels and bring more suppliers onto the system.
The “Success Paradox” of e-Kanban
Bayer refers to this e-kanban Lean manufacturing efficiency as the “success paradox”. According to Bayer, “The more it works the more you want to do it. The more you do it the less time you have to do it because of the administrative overhead required to manage it. It appears as if the natural cutoff point is 400 faxes per month. At 100 a month, secretaries manage it. 200-300 buyer planners deal with it, but hate it. Over 400 per month and something has to be done.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:06 AM | Comments (0)
Encompix Engineeer-to-Order Configurator Decreases Errors and ReWork
Encompix Engineeer-to-Order Configurator Decreases Errors and ReWork
(PRWEB) March 30, 2005 -- Encompix (www.encompix.com) is pleased to announce the inclusion of the Encompix ETO Configurator as part of the lead Engineer-to-Order Enterprise Resource Planning product suite. Based on Configure One's Concept product it is specifically designed for engineer-to-order manufacturers. Unlike most product configurators that can handle only simple configuration challenges, the ETO Configurator tackles the very complex product rules normally associated with engineer-to-order, project-based or custom manufacturers.
Encompix's ETO configurator dramatically reduces the time it takes to go from a customer's initial request for a quote to when the product is actually shipped by streamlining and automating much of the pre-manufacturing process. This includes the creation of quotes, sales and production drawings, routings, and bills of material. The data is seamlessly integrated with other Encompix components and is used to create a routing and a complete indented BOM in Encompix.
By automating sales and engineering tasks, the Encompix ETO Configurator helps speed up responses to quotation requests, free up engineering personnel, decrease errors and rework, and reduce overall lead time.
For more information on this exciting product, please contact Eric Binning at 513-733-0066 x 21 or e-mail protected from spam bots. Encompix has filled the manufacturing software requirements of Engineer-to-Order companies since 1992. The company name reflects our commitment to developing business application solutions that encompass the complex areas of project-based and job-based manufacturing.
Encompix provides ETO manufacturers with a competitive advantage by improving bottom line results.
Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:05 AM | Comments (0)
March 29, 2005
SLIDE-LOK Garage Storage Solutions Are Manufactured From 100% Long-Lasting, Durable Plywood
SLIDE-LOK Garage Storage Cabinets Announced That Garage Storage, Garage Cabinets, And All SLIDE-LOK Garage Storage Solutions Are Manufactured From 100% Long-Lasting, Durable Plywood. In 27 Years Of Cabinet Making, SLIDE-LOK Has Experimented With Cabinet Making Materials And Found That 100% Plywood Produces The Best, Longest Lasting Storage Solutions – Go “Wild about Wood.”
(PRWEB) March 29, 2005 -- SLIDE-LOK Garage Storage Cabinets Announced That Garage Storage, Garage Cabinets, And All SLIDE-LOK Garage Storage Solutions Are Manufactured From 100% Long-Lasting, Durable Plywood. In 27 Years Of Cabinet Making, SLIDE-LOK Has Experimented With Cabinet Making Materials And Found That 100% Plywood Produces The Best, Longest Lasting Storage Solutions – Go “Wild about Wood.”
Mesa, AZ (PRWEB) March 29, 2005 - SLIDE-LOK Garage Storage Cabinets announced that their Garage Storage, Garage Cabinets, and all SLIDE-LOK Garage Storage Solutions are manufactured from 100% long-lasting, durable Plywood. In 27 years of cabinet making, SLIDE-LOK has experimented with cabinet making materials and found that 100% Plywood produces the best, longest lasting Storage Solutions.
“Years ago, we experimented with other materials including particle board,” said President, Gary Smith. “And every year, we test the new particle board, and all the other components that are used on the market today. I guess you can say that after the tests, we at SLIDE-LOK are Wild about Wood.”
SLIDE-LOK Garage Storage Solutions – Garage Cabinets, Garage Storage Cabinets, Office Cabinets, Panty Cabinets, and Work Benches from 100% Plywood have “produced the results we are seeking,” said Smith, “garage storage solutions that last and last.” “Fact is,” says Smith, “plywood is just stronger than other competitive products that are manufactured from particle board and other components.”
SLIDE-LOK Garage Storage Cabinets tests used, competitive cabinets made from other components, including particle board. “And the old cabinets are easy to test because we are replacing so many that are made from particle board, and other components, with the new SLIDE-LOK Garage Storage Cabinets. And sometimes,” joked Smith, “we volunteer, as a courtesy to our customers, to take the old used ones away for testing.”
SLIDE-LOK has found through those tests that the old garage storage cabinets fail in most uncontrolled environments, like the garage, because most manufacturers today tend to use an inexpensive, low density, low pressure particle board - even when the manufacturer states these cabinets should only be used for interior applications. So unless your garage is inside your home, makeover your garage with plywood, long-lasting, durable plywood that combines the flexibility of a modular storage system designed by SLIDE-LOK Garage Storage Cabinets http://www.slide-lok.com. And that combination has produced the fastest growing Garage Storage Dealer Network in the United States and Canada.
So now is the time to decide on your extreme garage makeover. Chose the tested, durable, modular, SLIDE-LOK Garage Storage System manufactured with 100% Plywood, not particle board, and that includes plywood sides, face frames, and concealed European hinges. All this is crafted with the strongest joint in the world, the patented SLIDE-LOK Dovetail Joint that is far stronger than any other type of dowel, screw, nail or toggle.
SLIDE-LOK Garage Storage Cabinets is “Wild about Wood” so invest in a long-lasting, durable, 100% Plywood Garage Storage Solution from SLIDE-LOK for Garage Cabinets, Garage Storage, Office Cabinets, Pantry Cabinets, and Workbenches.
SLIDE-LOK Garage Storage Cabinets has Dealers across the United States and Canada, and Smith wants to remind you that even when you do not see a SLIDE-LOK Dealer in our 43 state Dealer Network -- SLIDE-LOK is continues to seek Dealers Applications in Delaware, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Nebraska, more in Texas and New York, and across the United Sates and Canada -- Smith reminds you to be “Wild about Wood.”
So be “Wild about Wood” no matter where you live because other components are heavier – not stronger than wood; they do not support their own weight after a few years in the garage; these components are impacted by moisture and humidity so they tend to sag, and when doors are attached with a screw – “you are going to have a screw loose somewhere,” that is unless your are “Wild About Wood.”
Today, SLIDE-LOK Garage Storage Cabinets are so eye-appealing that they look like Custom Cabinets, and they are being used in Business Offices as well as the uncontrolled environment of the garage; they are used in the pantry, in the hobby or craft room as well as in the home, and home office.
The SLIDE-LOK Storage Solution is a superior storage solution because SLIDE-LOK Garage Cabinets and Storage Cabinets are designed by the experts at SLIDE-LOK who ask you the questions about your unique storage needs that custom cabinet makers forget to take into consideration. That is because SLIDE-LOK has designed so many garage, home, and office storage solutions that SLIDE-LOK already knows about the storage problems created from those who lack the 27 years of experience in designing and installing thousands of storage solutions.
In fact, SLIDE-LOK encourages you to develop a garage organization plan that
places all those garage storage items in order, and anywhere but on the floor of your garage where every open space is precious. SLIDE-LOK has developed the most unique storage solution available on the market today for the garage, home, and office. SLIDE-LOK is a series of Modular Garage Cabinets and Storage Cabinets. The modular SLIDE-LOK System consists of 8 basic cabinets that are can be mixed, matched, and stacked. This means that even when your storage space looks like a jig saw puzzle with one piece missing, you can develop a SLIDE-LOK Storage System that combines all the pieces of your puzzle into your perfect storage solution regardless of the configuration of your storage area.
"You can even design your garage storage solution online at Jack's Design Center http://www.slide-lok.com/designctr.shtm, or with one of our storage professionals. Online, we are able to work with you to develop, save, and print several configurations for your garage, home or office until you decide which one meets your unique storage needs today. And then schedule installation of your new storage solution tomorrow.
So become one of the proud few with a new Garage Storage System from
SLIDE-LOK, and put your car back in the garage where your car is safe.
Due to increased demand because so many people are “Wild about Wood,” SLIDE-LOK Garage Storage Cabinets
http://www.slide-lok.com continues to seek Dealer Applications in the United States and Canada. So "click" on http://www.slide-lok.com when you need a personal storage system for your garage, home, or office, or if you would like to join the SLIDE-LOK Dealer Network "click" on http://www.slide-lok.com/distributorships.shtm today.
SLIDE-LOK is the Perfect Fit for Your Puzzle so to locate an Authorized SLIDE-LOK Dealer in Your Area: http://www.slide-lok.com/search/ or visit http://www.bobvila.com/ProductServices/Categories/Garages/ at BobVila.com, and click on "Products & Service Info Tab." and then click on Garages in the center of the page and open the new SLIDE-LOK Garage Storage Cabinets "Showroom" advertisement.
To answer your storage solutions and storage systems questions today; please contact us today at 1-800-835-1759 for your storage solutions.
About SLIDE-LOK
Since 1977 Bass Cabinets (manufacturer of SLIDE-LOK) http://www.basscabinet.com/ has been “Wild about Wood,” and providing high quality, durable cabinets to the multi-family housing industry. Our cabinets have been installed in all types of living environments throughout the U.S. and several locations overseas. The unique dovetail design and structure of our cabinets is based on providing our customers with a trouble-free, long lasting product that has proven itself in the toughest of conditions. SLIDE-LOK is committed to quality and customer service.
Contact Data:
Michael Finfrock
National Dealer Development Manager
1-800-835-1759
480-962-7919 Fax
602-828-5008 Cell
http://www.slide-lok.com/
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Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:34 AM | Comments (0)
LEDs’ Real Advantages
Solid State Lighting – the New Generation of Lighting Manufacturing LEDs, Standard LEDs, Super Flux LEDs, LEDs’ Lifetime, LEDs’ Advantages
(PRWEB) March 29, 2005 -- Rough and compact in comparison to conventional light fixtures; LEDs can be used in different applications. As light emitting diodes are entering the lighting industry more and more each day, and most of the people are still not very familiar with LEDs’ advantages and (yes!) disadvantages, a brief info about these illuminating fixtures needed to be written, in order to help potential customers to get a fair idea about what they buy...
When people decide to buy a LED lamp they will consider what all that the manufacturers are telling about their products: saving energy and reducing costs, long life, no heat and so on. But is this true? Are LEDs really so efficient? What are the real advantages of such light sources? Where is it proper to use them and where not? In order to get these answers, let’s take a look at LEDs’ real advantages.
Solid State Lighting (SSL) is what one may consider a new wave or a new generation in lighting technology as it brings a few advantages when we take into account the ways of procurement, installing, use and replacement of luminaries. SSL is supposed to be safer, environmental friendly, long lasting, flexible, energy efficient and cost-effective. When it comes to LEDs there are few characteristics to underline: a large choice of colours including RGB and a small size – so they can be embedded into tiny spaces in appliances thus giving flexibility in designs for illumination and not only; light weight and low power consumption. These special characteristics are what manufacturers point out in most of the cases, but almost all of them avoid telling how exactly LEDs should be exploited to bring real advantages.
The constant competition between famous LED manufacturers like Nichia, Cree, Lumileds, Toyoda Gosei, General Electric, Osram and many more, leads to progress and one thing is certain: LEDs and LED fixtures are taking over the traditional lighting (that includes high intensity discharge lamps, fluorescent and incandescent sources) and new high performance light emitting diodes are constantly developed.
Solid State Lighting – the New Generation of Lighting
Solid-State Lighting is the youngest lighting technology, and by now it is believed to be more efficient than incandescence and fluorescence. The efficiency is not related to the lm/W effectiveness, but this idea has a solid base if we consider that SSLs produce light at or near the visible spectrum as a result the emitted light can be utilized straight or with minor conversion. Fluorescent luminaries do not produce usable light directly – in such light sources the root is UV produced by an ionised gas inside the tube. This is transformed to visible light by phosphors coated on the inside of the tube, phosphors that will absorb the ultraviolet rays.
On the other hand, incandescent lights spend most of the energy they require in generating heat – only about 5% of the discharge being the light we see. LEDs convert approximately 25 to 35 % of the energy to light, while the rest is heat. So LEDs do produce heat, but the light they dispense is what experts call “cold light” – light near the visible part of the spectrum.
The main challenge for LED manufacturers is the efficiency of light emitting diodes versus traditional lamps when used for illumination. In this case white light is needed and white LEDs were only recently developed and the question is if they will ever be fit to create lamps that give off bright light, natural in appearance and economic. At the moment there is no such thing as an inexpensive LED lamp for illumination because producers need to overcame a very important aspect: the cost per lumen. While traditional incandescent light bulbs cost about a dollar per kilolumen, LEDs cost about 200 or more.
Expenses need to be reduced if we consider that LEDs are also inefficient when it comes to performance measured in lumens per watt. Conventional sources are able to emit 10 to 100 lm/W while LEDs achieve only 25 lm/W – producers do hope that by the end of 2007 they will be able to achieve 75 lm/W.
High power LEDs are presently developed but they do face other manufacturing problems related to the poor heat dissipation (which will decrease the LED life) and so on.
So when you consider purchasing LED lamps for illumination, think twice. LEDs are simply not ready (YET) to replace traditional lighting for all applications. A few years from now on… maybe they will achieve the desired qualities, as science is constantly developing new items, each better than the previous ones. But nowadays LEDs cannot compete with traditional light fixtures when it comes to lumen output. The natural question that follows these affirmations is: than why are LEDs considered economic? Because, as a matter of fact, they are… if used wisely.
Manufacturing LEDs
In SSL, to manufacture light emitting diodes, there are used both organic and inorganic semiconductors, therefore we can “split” the light sources attained this way in two categories: LEDs – inorganic semiconductors and OLEDs – organic semiconductors.
Light emission from inorganic semiconductors was initially observed by Henry Joseph Round who was the first scientist to observe a phenomenon called electro luminescence in a piece of Silicon Carbide (SiC) in 1907. The research was soon abandoned because the emitted yellow light was too dim. In 1962 a team from General Electric conducted by Nick Holonyak demonstrated the first light emitting diode and only six years later commercial LEDs were introduced on the market as indicator lamps (655nm red - gallium arsenide phosphide GaAsP) by Monsanto and in electronic displays by Hewlett-Packard.
In the 1980s the use of Gallium Aluminium Arsenate Phosfide (GaAlAsP) led to the first generation of super bright LEDs, first in red, than yellow and finally green. Later on, in the 1990’s, a combination of Indium Gallium Aluminium Phosphide (InGaAlP) was used to produce ultra bright LEDs red, orange, yellow and green.
Ultra bright blue Gallium Nitride (GaN) LEDs arrived in the mid 1990s, with Indium Gallium Nitride (InGaN) LEDs producing high-intensity green and blue shortly thereafter.
The blue chips were the base for white LEDs – to obtain white the emitting blue chip is coated with fluorescent phosphors (one of the manufacturing procedures). The same procedure is used to create other colours such as aqua or pink.
Standard LEDs
So far is clear that in order to manufacture LEDs inorganic semiconductors are needed. The composition of an LED is quite simple: generally a square diode chip is encased in a special epoxy, plastic, resin or ceramic housing. This tiny chip is mounted in a “cup” that will “mirror” the light produced by the passage of electrons in the semiconductor central part via the conductor material. A typical LED has two pins one longer than the other. The longer pin is the anode, or the positive segment, while the short pin is the cathode.
The LED housing can have different sizes or shapes which, along with other factors such as the size of the LED chip and the distance between this one and the epoxy lens and the shape of the reflector cup, will determine the viewing angle of the emitted light beam.
The combination of chemical elements used to produce the diode chip, along with the energy expanded to generate each photon, determine the wavelength, therefore the colour of the light. LEDs are currently available in the entire spectrum starting with the near infrared to the recently produced ultraviolet.
LED light is generally monochromatic – when only one chip is used. Multicolour LEDs are made by incorporating two or more different colour chips in the same epoxy package. Speaking about multi chip technology, another procedure of attaining white light is given by the three-chip technique – in which case white light is a mixture of the three primary colours: red, green and blue, blended in the right percentage.
The red, green and blue chips are mounted in the same package but can be individually controlled thus allowing different colour mixtures and the creation of other colours. RGB LEDs are used more and more today in the entertainment industry due to their ability to mix colours and create different light effects.
Super Flux LEDs
The four-pin design gives Super Flux LEDs a very important advantage over the traditional two-pin light emitting diodes: neither shock nor vibration will harm the LED or disconnect it from the electrical contact. The pins of the two-pin LEDs can easy brake when employed in items that are often exposed to heavy shock.
Another advantage given by super flux LEDs is the low thermal resistance. Mostly super flux LEDs are believed to have the lowest thermal resistance available for a through-hole light emitting diode, due to their large lead-frame design – a very good feature for high performance applications.
These LEDs are also known under other names: Spider LEDs or Piranha LEDs and they give a fine flux and intensity needed for the printed circuit board platform. This quality allows the creation of robust light fixtures with a low system cost while using average assembly equipment. The choice of viewing angles increases also the number of possible applications: from automotive to spectacular lighting designs, basically there is no LED application where these products cannot fit.
LEDs’ Lifetime
It is commonly stated that LEDs last more than 50,000 hours, and some manufacturers affirm that LEDs can last up to 100,000 operating hours. The main problem is that LEDs do not simply stop working. Rated life cannot be measured as we do with traditional lamps. In fact no one stood near some LEDs in a laboratory and waited till one LED failed. Still, there are other ways to test the “life” of an LED. LEDs will last very long because there is no filament to brake. Instead of just failing they will gradually degrade in performance over time. High quality LEDs are predicted to still deliver more than 60% of the initial light intensity also after 50,000 continuous operating hours. When their presumed lifespan is over it is possible that they still emit some light. In order to keep an LED “alive” it is necessary to sink or to drive the heat away from the LED chip. Heat is one of the main reasons why LEDs fail.
LEDs themselves are evaluated for a life of thousands and thousands of hours, but this doesn't ensure that the products manufactured with LEDs will last that long. Defective handling and soldering can simply “kill” LEDs. For instance if the current goes over the manufacturer endorsement the LEDs can become brighter, however the increased heat can shorten their life. Luminaries realized with LEDs require a good knowledge of the features light emitting diodes have, solid light technology expertise, engineering skills and a lot of creativity.
With the LED lifespan issue already clarified, and with the shadow tossed over their efficiency when it comes to cost per lumen, one might ask “than why do people think LEDs are so great?”
For the reason that they can already do things former light sources cannot!
So their size is small. That makes them extremely versatile and as a result they can be configured in different patterns to achieve any shape designers think of. In some applications hidden lights will create a mystical atmosphere or just give the impression of natural while, in fact, they are artificial means. Concealed soft lights are not only mysterious, but stimulate the subconscious and lead to meditation, relaxing the inner self, creating a sense of wonder. Being able to conceal LEDs where larger lamps cannot be hidden gives designers the possibility to develop compact light fixtures and signage items. To “hide” the light and create different patterns used to be difficult before LEDs.
Flexibility of shapes is not the main advantage – is just one of the many. Choice of colours should be on the list. There are many colours available: red, orange, amber, green, yellow, cyan, violet, blue and white, as well as bi-colour LEDs, tri-colour LEDs and RGB LEDs. Fact is that LEDs in general do not require filters to generate coloured light. Deep colours can be produces monochromatic directly from the solid-state component. Being no filter needed to create the correct colour, no light is wasted, therefore no energy is lost.
The colour an LED has is influenced by the semiconductor material and not by the epoxy housing. Still the epoxy packages can be also coloured and available as diffused or transparent. Most of the LEDs are available in uncoloured housings which can be either milky or water clear.
RGB LEDs are yet the light emitting diodes that can give the users the largest amount of choices. Using the multi chip technology (as the bi and tri-colour LEDs) their functionality is still increased due to some very important features. First of all, as already mentioned in the previous chapter, each LED chip is individually controlled, so by combining their emissions millions of colours can be created with no need of diffusing filters as used for other light sources mainly to give the emitted light the appearance of homogeneous.
This leads us to another very important advantage LEDs show over the traditional lamps: control. There are many important aspects to underline if we speak about how to control LEDs – and this is the main advantage.
RGB technology is revolutionizing the lighting industry at the very moment. Architecture illumination has new meanings and this happens due to the dynamic light effects that can be controlled in so many different ways: from the simple touch of a button to more complicated means such as DMX 512 light mixing consoles. Infinite varieties of effects are available for so many applications that is almost hard to create a fair list: wall washers, pools and fountains illumination, application in special industrial environments, home and work luminaries, entertainment light effects, signage, automotive, city beautifications, medical appliances and much, much more. Light designers know that the use of LED lighting systems makes possible an ample colour scale with hues almost impossible to achieve with the existing fixtures. They also know that they can control the LED light sources and create countless special effects whether this means an adjustable lamp of a single colour or a source able to produce digitally any colour in the spectrum. Controlling the emitted light and colour will not affect the CRI (Colour Rendering Index) – because, unlike the other illumination technologies, with LEDs the CRI is not intensity dependent.
When it comes to control, let’s not forget a very important feature LEDs have: they are fully dimmable (from 100% to 0%) thus making possible the optimisation of the light intensity to be appropriate for every employment of the LED source. The dimming is done through PWM drivers (pulse width modulation via digital control which is the most commonly used method) and the emitted colour is independent of the set intensity. Nothing happens to the LEDs’ wavelength while dimming, the colour remains the same, only the brightness changes. This goes also for the situation when an LED grows “old” and looses efficiency. Dimming will not shorten the life of an LED, as it happens with repeatedly dimmed fluorescent tubes, on the contrary: it might extend it because it reduces the operating temperature inside the light source.
Still speaking about “control”, a very important aspect is that LEDs have almost instant “turn on” times, with no flickering and an immediate arriving at the emitted wavelength – that makes LEDs perfect for security applications, including emergency lighting and traffic signage. This feature is as important it the RGB colour changing systems for dynamic effects and the synchronization of the LEDs in the system.
Another important feature a manufacturer will underline about LEDs is that they are low-voltage light sources. This feature is the “guilty” one when people rush into buying LEDs as economic means of illumination. Indeed, taken individually, LEDs used for illumination need between 2V to 4V DC (direct current), but if the LEDs are connected in series to form an array the required voltage increases according to the number of LEDs. In short: one LED doesn’t consume a lot, but many of these tiny devices do. Generally single colour LED products draw less than 5 watts, some less than a watt. Safety lighting (exit signs) and emergency lighting are using more and more light sources based on LED technology, thanks to the energy savings (perfect for battery back-up systems), less maintenance and longer life than conventional lamp technology.
In order to get the proper amount of direct current LEDs need a device able to convert the incoming AC power to the required DC voltage. Another aspect is that LEDs must be protected against the voltage fluctuations during operation. This is why my-tronic GmbH’s engineers (and all the LED engineers, of course) use special drivers to convert different voltages in low-voltage DC power and to protect the LEDs from line-voltage fluctuations. The LED drivers may be constant voltage types (such as 10V, 12V) or constant current types (350mA, 700mA) and can run specific LED arrays or ordinary LEDs. It really depends on the application where these light sources are needed. The drivers are rated for a maximum load that must be respected. And also the LEDs are very vulnerable. For instance if a wrong voltage driver is used to operate an array, the device will either not lit up or it will run at higher currents than projected. For example a 12V driver used for a 10V LED array shortens significantly the life of the device.
Some other significant advantage LEDs have over traditional light sources is the environment friendliness. There are a few important aspects to underline:
LEDs are made from non toxic materials, unlike the fluorescent tubes. There is no mercury in the source so the pollution danger is inexistent. Besides, LEDs are recyclable.
If not produced as IR LEDs, these diodes emit electromagnetic energy in the visible part of the spectrum. Incandescent bulbs emit a lot of energy in the “invisible” part of the spectrum – the infrared part, which, although it cannot be seen, it can be felt as heat. With virtually no heat emission in the light beam, LEDs are perfect for applications where incandescent bulbs may constitute a safety hazard or may just damage sensitive materials (food for instance). Still, as already explained, LEDs are getting hot – it is only the emitted light which is “cold”. What is getting hot is the diode chip itself, because, unlike what manufacturers usually say, LEDs convert only up to 25% of the energy they need into light – the rest, as with incandescent sources, is lost. But 25% is still better than only 5%, and on a long term this is how the savings are calculated. Infrared increases air conditioning costs, decreases environmental comfort, and when reflected off reading surfaces increases eyestrain. Lack of infrared solves these problems. LEDs provide cool light and safe-to-touch illumination fixtures.
If not produced as UV LEDs, or white LEDs created with the UV technology, light emitting diodes contain no ultraviolet. Ultraviolet light can damage materials, cause colour changes and harm living organisms in many ways. For example plants overexposed to UV light reduce size and are more susceptible to specific diseases. LED technology has eliminated the harmful components from the light sources. In museums and other applications where UV may cause a lot of damage, LEDs are the lights “saving the day”.
The energy savings as part of the environmental friendliness issue are explained by the technology used to produce light: LEDs place light exactly where needed. LEDs produce luminosity through a straight, electricity-to-light conversion, and because they are directional light sources a photon should never be wasted. Standard sources such as incandescent, halogen, or fluorescent lights are omni directional (emitting light in all directions). To lead the beam to a specific item desired to be illuminated, light has to be redirected using secondary optics or reflectors and when a light beam is reflected it looses some of its intensity, resulting in an energy waste.
To be able to direct the light where needed relates to another important attribute of LEDs: choice of viewing angles. The LED housing can have different sizes or shapes which, along with other factors such as the size of the LED chip and the distance between this one and the epoxy lens and the shape of the reflector cup, will determine the viewing angle of the emitted light beam. Basically LEDs can come in any viewing angle up to 180°, unlike an omni directional lamp, which has a 360° light emission.
And let’s not forget LEDs ability to “cold start”. LEDs love the cold, down to – 40°C. Other light sources do not operate proper in cold environments without expensive drivers required to enable ignition at low temperatures. With this quality LEDs are on/off controllable without specially designed circuitry thus engineers can simplify the system design while reducing the costs for special drivers.
Nowadays there are already available on the market LED lamps with an efficacy of 60 lm/W. (Enlux Lighting, winner of the 2004 edition of Lightfair’s Energy and LED Lamp Awards, showcased a new LED floodlight that generates light equal to a 60-watt incandescent flood, while utilizing one-third of the power and offering longer life. ). We can conclude that LED technology evolves on the right path.
SSL is still a young technology and LEDs are still what one may call pioneers. So it is expected that we will soon witness spectacular improvements, as LEDs will become increasingly brighter and this new technology will probably develop the best light source ever – the potential LEDs have is huge. There are so many lighting companies researching and testing these products that keeping up to date and dealing with SSL-technology can be considered more than just a full time job.
With so many qualities and advantages, one may ask still: why do LEDs still cost so much?
First of all because they are a new technology and the production costs are still high. These costs will decrease in time as the manufacturers improve their production facilities. Currently a lot of research and development is going on in the world of LEDs, as the quest for brighter and more efficient sources is not over. Still, although they do cost a lot when purchased, on the long run LEDs are significantly inexpensive if the maintenance, lifespan and energy savings are taken into account. Yet the cost and the amount of LEDs necessary to match or enhance fluorescent lighting points up that there are developments to be made on the intensity and costs of the LEDs. Within the next 2 to 4 years, the industry expects to be competitive.
Are LEDs prepared to come into the light field of regular lamps? The answer still oscillates betw