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July 29, 2005

Six-Piece Trim-Out Set from Klein Tools is a Quick, Portable Solution for Electricians on the Go

CHICAGO – August 2005 – Klein Tools is offering a six-piece trim-out set (Cat. No. 80006) that includes a heavy-duty cutting 2000 Series® 9" high-leverage side-cutting pliers (Cat. No. D2000-9NE), a Klein-Kurve® wire stripper/cutter (Cat. No. 11055), a 4" round shank No. 2 Profilated® Phillips-tip screwdriver (Cat. No. 603-4), 1/4" cabinet-tip screwdriver with a 4" heavy-duty round shank (Cat. No. 605-4), and a 4-pocket tool pouch (Cat. No. 5119). The six-piece trim-out set also includes a complimentary Klein® lightweight utility belt (Cat. No. 5204)

Designed to allow electricians to efficiently handle a majority of their daily projects, the six-piece trim-out set is a portable solution for users who do not need a full range of tools for a particular job. It also is useful for apprentice electricians who are building their tool sets with core tools.

“Feedback from our customers inspired us to package our four most popular products into a convenient tool set, allowing them to complete a majority of their day-to-day projects,” said Chris Niklas, product manager for Klein Tools.

A part of the heavy-duty 2000 Series®, Klein Tools’ high-leverage side-cutting pliers have a unique handle tempering that help absorb the “snap” when cutting most hardened wire, screws, nails and ACSR. With sure-gripping cross-hatched knurled jaws, the hot-riveted joint is closer to the cutting edge, giving the pliers a 46 percent greater cutting and gripping power than other plier designs.

Klein-Kurve wire strippers/cutters have wire-looping and bending holes, precision-ground stripping holes, and a strong-gripping serrated nose allowing easy bending, shaping and pulling of wire. The curved handle design of the Klein-Kurve wire stripper/cutter helps users reach into confined spaces.

Klein Tools’ No. 2 Profilated® Phillips-tip screwdriver, with a 4" shank, is precision machined to provide more consistent, geometric symmetry than conventional Phillips-tip screwdrivers. The Profilated tip provides a better fit into fasteners preventing the screwdriver head from slipping out of the fastener and from warping the fastener head. The handle end also has the patented Tip-Ident®, which quickly identifies the type of screwdriver and its tip orientation. The Cushion-Grip handle provides users comfortable use.

The 1/4" cabinet-tip screwdriver has a narrow tip and is precision-machined, permitting blade access where space is limited. The screwdriver also features a Cushion-Grip handle with Tip-Ident®. With a 4" heavy-duty round-shank, the Klein Tools cabinet-tip screwdriver has an overall length of 8-11/32".

Included in the trim-out set is a Klein Tools four-pocket tool pouch, which is constructed of leather and is riveted and stitched for extra durability. The tool pouch has a slotted tool belt connection. A free Klein Tools lightweight utility belt is provided to be used with the tool pouch. The tough, molded, non-metallic, slide-action buckle provides one-handed, quick release and adjustment.

Klein Tools is a leading manufacturer of professional hand tools and occupational protective equipment. For more information on the Klein Tools Inc., six-piece trim-out set, please contact: Klein Tools Inc., P.O. Box 599033, Chicago, IL 60659. Phone: 800-553-4647. Fax: 847-745-4612. www.kleintools.com.

Please send inquiries to: Marketing Department, Klein Tools, Inc., P. O. Box 599033, Chicago, IL 60659-9033
E-mail: marketing@kleintools.com

Posted by Industrial at 04:03 PM | Comments (0)

Goodyear SilentArmor Tires Supported by New Web Sites

AKRON, Ohio, July 29, 2005 - With the introduction of new tire technology, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company also has introduced a pair of Internet sites dedicated to new tires bearing the SilentArmor name.
The tires – Fortera® featuring SilentArmor TechnologyTM and Wrangler® featuring SilentArmor Technology – are drawing heavy interest from tire retailers and consumers.

The Fortera tire, with SUV drivers in mind, offers a blend of utility, toughness and style. Tire shoppers looking for more information about the new Fortera featuring SilentArmor Technology, can visit www.goodyearfortera.com.

A complementary Wrangler featuring SilentArmor Technology is an on/off-road truck tire that offers toughness and comfort. For more information, consumers can visit www.goodyearwrangler.com.

Both of the SilentArmor tires feature an Armor Zone that is made of a layer with DuPont KEVLAR® , a DurawallTM sidewall that helps resist punctures and cuts, and a rugged Rim Guard that helps protect wheels from curb damage. On the comfort side, the tires feature technology that helps soak up road noise for a smooth and quiet ride.

The dedicated Web sites provide a host of features to educate consumers both before and after a SilentArmor tire purchase.

Included are sections such as:

"Find a Tire" – Allows the site visitor to match up a vehicle with possible SilentArmor fitments by specific tire size.
"Find a Retailer" – Typing in a zip code lets consumers find their nearest outlet for SilentArmor tires.
"Technology" – Overview of technical innovations associated with the SilentArmor tires.
"Goodyear Garage" – Consumers can register to receive periodic service reminders, product news and exclusive savings offers.
"Fun Stuff" – Downloadable SilentArmor computer wallpaper and screen savers.
"Consumers in the market for new tires often seek out information about products prior to visiting a tire outlet. These dedicated sites work as another kind of cyber-salesperson, providing product details, fitment information and other premium services designed to complete the overall SilentArmor experience," said Todd Hershberger, Goodyear’s marketing manager, light-truck tires.

"We continue to add more features to the site, including a way for customers to give feedback on how the tires have performed for them."

For other details about Goodyear, go to www.goodyear.com

Posted by Industrial at 01:44 PM | Comments (0)

Goodyear SilentArmor Tires Supported by New Web Sites

AKRON, Ohio, July 29, 2005 - With the introduction of new tire technology, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company also has introduced a pair of Internet sites dedicated to new tires bearing the SilentArmor name.
The tires – Fortera® featuring SilentArmor TechnologyTM and Wrangler® featuring SilentArmor Technology – are drawing heavy interest from tire retailers and consumers.

The Fortera tire, with SUV drivers in mind, offers a blend of utility, toughness and style. Tire shoppers looking for more information about the new Fortera featuring SilentArmor Technology, can visit www.goodyearfortera.com.

A complementary Wrangler featuring SilentArmor Technology is an on/off-road truck tire that offers toughness and comfort. For more information, consumers can visit www.goodyearwrangler.com.

Both of the SilentArmor tires feature an Armor Zone that is made of a layer with DuPont KEVLAR® , a DurawallTM sidewall that helps resist punctures and cuts, and a rugged Rim Guard that helps protect wheels from curb damage. On the comfort side, the tires feature technology that helps soak up road noise for a smooth and quiet ride.

The dedicated Web sites provide a host of features to educate consumers both before and after a SilentArmor tire purchase.

Included are sections such as:

"Find a Tire" – Allows the site visitor to match up a vehicle with possible SilentArmor fitments by specific tire size.
"Find a Retailer" – Typing in a zip code lets consumers find their nearest outlet for SilentArmor tires.
"Technology" – Overview of technical innovations associated with the SilentArmor tires.
"Goodyear Garage" – Consumers can register to receive periodic service reminders, product news and exclusive savings offers.
"Fun Stuff" – Downloadable SilentArmor computer wallpaper and screen savers.
"Consumers in the market for new tires often seek out information about products prior to visiting a tire outlet. These dedicated sites work as another kind of cyber-salesperson, providing product details, fitment information and other premium services designed to complete the overall SilentArmor experience," said Todd Hershberger, Goodyear’s marketing manager, light-truck tires.

"We continue to add more features to the site, including a way for customers to give feedback on how the tires have performed for them."

For other details about Goodyear, go to www.goodyear.com

Posted by Industrial at 01:21 PM | Comments (0)

Sinotrading.us Pairs With Chinese Gypsum Manufacturer to Wholesale High Quality Tiles and Boards from tjth.cn

Superior imported Gypsum building products from China are now available through Sinotrading.us an American Trading Company with offices in China and the U.S.

(PRWEB) July 29, 2005 -- Superior imported Gypsum building products from China are now available through Sinotrading.us an American Trading Company with offices in China and the U.S.

sinotrading.us has paired with manufacturing and construction giant TJTH to provide high quality wholesale gypsum products to International companies.

TJTH.cn, a company engaged in many fields,
specializes in manufacturing ceiling and anti-humidity composite gypsum boards.

The Chinese manufacturer, responsible for construction for many of South China's finest new buildings, has numerous awards and citations for its products and work.

With the introduction of the technology of KVF, the company can produce attractive anti-humidity, composite mildewproof gypsum boards with steady hardiness, shape-keeping qualities.

sold for many years throughout China, Australia, Russia and Taiwan, the boards will now be available for export to the United States.
TJTH is represented in the U.S. exclusively by sinotrading who can factor quotes, arrange shipping and customs work and facilitate custom orders of any type.

For further information contact: http://www.sinotrading.us/gypsum.htm.

Contact:
Brian Davis
888-285-1666
e-mail protected from spam bots

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:20 AM | Comments (0)

Converting Your Old Paper drawings to CAD & Computer Format Now Available at Very Competitive Rates

Global Associates, an Indian company is now offering special pricing and conditions for raster-to-vector cad conversion services to the reprographics industry. Their manual digitization services supports the Architectural, and Engineering Professionals. They specialize in converting your old paper drawings that needs to be updated into perfect CAD output. In-house team of more than 20 people offers a wide range of CAD services under a single roof.

(PRWEB) July 29, 2005 -- Global Associates, an experienced leader in raster to vector conversion and drafting and conversion services, is offering special rates and conditions to the reprographics industry. This will enable businesses like copy shops, blue printers, and scanning centers to offer AutoCAD conversion services to their clients at fair, competitive prices.

Raster to vector conversion is the process of taking “raster” blueprint drawings and scanning them into completely CAD-editable “vector” drawings. These drawings can be viewed and edited in AutoCAD, GIS, Microstation, and most other computer-aided drafting product.

In addition, Global Associates will stay behind the scenes. The company will never contact the reprographics business’s clients. If necessary, the business may include Global Associates in a conference call with a client as the business’s “conversion group” to delve into details or request specifics. Global Associates wants to make the process as simple and easy as possible for both the reprographics industry and their clients.

About Global Associates
Started in 1999, Global Associates continues to offer the highest quality raster to vector conversion scans for its customers. The company has established itself as a major player in the CAD Conversion market place. All of the company’s raster to vector conversion staff and project managers have engineering degrees. All the work is done in-house, which make it cost-effective and quality controlled. It has a large clientele from US, Europe, Australia & India. The company offers free samples to its clients to establish its credentials.

Contact:
Biswaroop Todi
+91 9830170858
e-mail protected from spam bots

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:19 AM | Comments (0)

CSI Hails Congressional Vote on CAFTA

Congress' passage of pact shows U.S. will not retreat to isolationism.

Washington, D.C. (PRWEB via PR Web Direct) July 28, 2005 -- The Coalition of Service Industries (CSI) hailed today's vote by the U.S. House of Representatives in favor of the U.S.-Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA). The agreement will open up those markets for U.S. service providers, manufacturers, and farmers, who would have continued to face significant tariff and non-tariff barriers without the pact.

"We recognize the extremely difficult political environment in which the vote on DR-CAFTA was taken, and greatly appreciate the willingness of Members of Congress to support this important agreement," said Robert Vastine, President of CSI. "This effort demonstrates that the United States is committed to the pursuit of free trade and open markets, even in the face of strong isolationist and protectionist pressures."

"Other World Trade Organization (WTO) members were watching this vote carefully, and its rejection would have seriously undermined U.S. ability to provide leadership in the Doha Round," said Vastine. "DR-CAFTA's approval sends a strong message to our trading partners that the U.S. is serious about trade, particularly the Doha Round negotiations. We hope that this favorable vote will give further impetus to the Doha negotiations and that it will strengthen the hand of United States Trade Representative Robert Portman and his colleagues."

DR-CAFTA opens markets to U.S. service providers across the spectrum of service industries, from banking, insurance, and other financial services to audiovisual services, computer and related services, express delivery, professional services, and others. The agreement provides market access, regulatory transparency, and other protections that are currently not afforded to U.S. companies in those markets.

CSI has previously noted CAFTA's benefits for the U.S. service sector. For a copy of CSI's recent statements on CAFTA to the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees, click here:
http://www.uscsi.org/publications/papers/05-10-05.htm.

For a shorter statement on the highlights of the agreement for U.S. service providers, click here: http://www.uscsi.org/pdf/CAFTAserviceshighlights.pdf.

Contact: John Goyer
(202) 289-7460 ext 22

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:17 AM | Comments (0)

July 28, 2005

Honda Achieves Record Global Auto Production for First Six Months of 2005

TOKYO, Japan, July 28, 2005– Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced automobile production, Japanese domestic sales and export results for the month of June and the first six months of 2005. Honda set an all-time record during the first six months of the year with worldwide auto production of more than 1.73 million units as well as overseas production of more than 1.07 million units.

Domestic production increased 2.1% in June compared to the same month a year ago, while the total for the first six months of the year increased 7.9% from the same period a year ago. Overseas production had a major increase of 21.3% in June due mainly to increased production in the North America (up 25.3%) and Asia/Oceania (up 17.5%) regions. This is the ninth consecutive year (dating back to 1997) in which overseas production for the first half of the year increased compared to the previous year. Significantly, Honda set all-time June and 6-month records for both overseas and worldwide production. Moreover, production in Asia and North America for the first six months of 2005, also achieved all-time highs with 252,200 units and 688,131 units, respectively.

Total domestic sales for the month of June achieved a significant increase of 21.4%, while sales in the first half of the year were down slightly by 1.1%. Strong sales of the just introduced all-new Step Wagon (Step WGN) and all-new Airwave were key contributors to the increased sales in June. The Honda Life was Honda’s best-selling car for the first half of 2005, with sales of 74,195 units. The Fit and Step WGN, with sales of 68,049 and 38,167 units, respectively, were Honda’s second and third best-selling models. Odyssey remains strong and ranked as the fourth best-selling model with sales of 35,610 units. In addition, the all-new Airwave compact station wagon, introduced in April, ranked as the fifth best-selling model with sales of 13,502 units.

Total exports in June increased 4.4% compared to the same month a year ago, exceeding the previous year’s record for the tenth consecutive month, while total exports for the first half of the year increased by 13%, exceeding the previous year’s record for the fourth consecutive year. Strong sales of the Acura RL and Accord Hybrid in North America, as well as Jazz and FR-V in Europe, contributed to the overall increase in exports.

PRODUCTION, SALES, EXPORTS (June 2005)

PRODUCTION June 2005 Year-to-Date Total
(Jan-June 2005) *1st Quarter
Fiscal Year 2006
Units vs.6/04 Units vs.2004 Units vs.2005
Domestic
(CBU+CKD) 111,071 +2.1% 652,824 +7.9% 304,615 +6.9%
Overseas
(CBU only) 192,640 +21.3% 1,078,009 +12.9% 553,546 +15.7%
Worldwide Total 303,711 +13.5% 1,730,833 +11.0% 858,161 +12.4%
*(April/01/2005 - June/30/2005)

OVERSEAS PRODUCTION June 2005 Year-to-Date Total
(Jan-June 2005) *1st Quarter
Fiscal Year 2006
Units vs.6/04 Units vs.2004 Units vs.2005
North America 119,001 +25.3% 688,131 +11.7% 345,844 +16.1%
(USA only) 81,932 +30.2% 473,284 +16.7% 237,910 +21.9%
Europe 15,968 +8.4% 97,276 -2.4% 48,366 +3.1%
Asia 49,725 +17.5% 252,200 +24.2% 137,052 +20.4%
Others 7,946 +18.3% 40,402 +11.9% 22,284 +13.7%
Overseas Total 192,640 +21.3% 1,078,009 +12.9% 553,546 +15.7%
*(April/01/2005 - June/30/2005)

SALES (JAPAN) Vehicle type June 2005 Year-to-Date Total
(Jan-June 2005) *1st Quarter
Fiscal Year 2006
Units vs.6/04 Units vs.2004 Units vs.2005
Passenger Cars
& Light Trucks 46,036 +28.1% 231,745 -1.9% 110,577 +12.4%
(Imports) 585 -20.2% 3,220 -37.5% 1,534 -29.5%
Mini Vehicles 24,112 +10.3% 134,387 +0.5% 66,995 +17.6%
Honda Brand Total 70,148 +21.4% 366,132 -1.1% 177,572 +14.3%
*(April/01/2005 - June/30/2005)

EXPORTS June 2005 Year-to-Date Total
(Jan-June 2005) *1st Quarter
Fiscal Year 2006
Units vs.6/04 Units vs.2004 Units vs.2005
North America 24,533 +1.6% 139,760 +13.5% 66,051 +7.3%
(USA only) 22,727 +2.5% 124,967 +11.3% 59,544 +4.5%
Europe 11,282 +23.5% 76,110 +11.4% 39,709 +23.5%
Asia 1,200 -51.8% 8,761 +4.4% 4,097 -23.0%
Others 10,014 +7.9% 55,953 +15.4% 31,036 +16.0%
Overseas Total 47,029 +4.4% 280,584 +13.0% 140,893 +12.0%
*(April/01/2005 - June/30/2005)

Posted by Industrial at 09:16 PM | Comments (0)

Package Testing Lab DDL West Expands Testing Services with Recruitment of Hazmat Testing Expert

DDL West package testing laboratory is expanding its testing services with the addition of Hazmat expert, John Koch.

Costa Mesa, CA (PRWEB) July 28, 2005 -- http://www.testedandproven.com/DDL-West.html – DDL West, a CA-based package, product and material testing laboratory, today announced that it has added Hazmat testing expert, John Koch, as a Project Manager to its quickly growing team.

Koch joins the DDL West team with a strong package testing industry background and particular expertise in Hazmat Testing.

"I am looking forward to helping DDL West expand its service offerings into Hazmat testing," said Koch. "With the current saturation of the Californian package testing marketplace, it is really important to develop a competitive advantage."

Koch, who is certified by the Department of Transportation Hazardous Materials, will lead DDL West in the development of a Hazmat testing services department.

"Hazmat testing is just one avenue that DDL West plans to pursue in the expansion of its testing services," said Mike Foster, Package Engineer, DDL West. "Adding John Koch to the DDL West team now puts us in a position to compete with other leading package testing labs in California."

Since opening its DDL West test lab facility in 2003, DDL Inc has consistently proven itself to be a leader in the package testing industry with the ongoing growth of its team of tenured package testing engineers and its ability to penetrate the highly competitive California market.

DDL West also recently announced its involvement in the formation and management of a Southern California chapter of the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP).

For expert advice on package testing, visit http://www.testedandproven.com/DDL-West.html or call Mike Foster at (714) 979-1712 ext. 16.

About DDL West:
DDL West offers expert package testing, product testing and material testing services including Shock testing, vibration testing, tensile testing, leak testing and validation. DDL package testing clients find value through its zero-cost package testing consulting service, Pack-Advice. For more information, visit http://www.testedandproven.com/DDL-West.html or call Mike Foster at (714) 979-1712 ext. 16.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:03 AM | Comments (0)

WinRAR Chooses SwiftCD to Meet Demand for Essential New Shareware Release

For the manufacturing and fulfillment of the exciting new WinRAR Shareware CD release, win.rar GmbH has selected on-demand leader SwiftCD. As the creators of one of the world's most popular file compression tools WinRAR, the company recognized SwiftCD as the best choice to meet the demands of one of the world's most recognizable shareware titles.

ATLANTA, GA (PRWEB) July 28, 2005 -- SwiftCD (www.SwiftCD.com) has been selected by win.rar GmbH (www.win-rar.com) for the manufacturing and fulfillment of the new WinRAR Shareware CD release. As the creators of one of the world's most popular file compression tools WinRAR, the company recognized SwiftCD as the best choice to meet the demands of one of the world's most recognizable shareware titles.

"The WinRAR Shareware CD is a significant and essential new release from WinRAR -- the first project of its kind in the software market -- and we're extremely pleased to be able to utilize the unique services of SwiftCD in order to fulfill customer demand," comments Öncül Kaya, Managing Director for WinRAR. "Thanks to SwiftCD, each CD will reach our customers quickly, securely, and strategically on an on-demand basis, without the need for mass manufacturing or warehousing."

The new WinRAR Shareware CD is the perfect add-on to any user's existing WinRAR license, and comes with a host of benefits and features (as well as the added security of a hard copy on disc). Instead of just receiving the registration key file via e-mail, WinRAR users will now receive a personalized registration key for WinRAR on CD -- along with assorted top shareware titles worth more than $150 in savings. In addition to WinRAR, the CD also includes twenty other award-winning shareware titles, as well as discounts from between 15 and 45 percent on the purchase price of each, so that the CD acts as a sort of virtual collection of coupons for some of the web's top-rated shareware. Available titles on each CD include such notable releases as: Kaspersky Anti-Virus, Bitdefender Professional Plus, Spyware Doctor, ACDSee, FolderMatch, FolderClone, Firetrust Mailwasher Pro, Privacy Guardian, Registry Mechanic, Remote Administrator, Outpost Personal Firewall Pro, Printfolder Pro, Spam Monitor, and many more.

"We're privileged to have been chosen for manufacturing and worldwide customer fulfillment on this exciting new release from WinRAR -- and to facilitate delivery using our unique on-demand technology," comments Jason Foodman, CEO of SwiftCD.com. "The WinRAR Shareware CD includes titles and discounts from some of the industry's leaders in award-winning shareware, and SwiftCD is committed to making sure WinRAR customers get these important titles as quickly and easily as possible."

The WinRAR Shareware CD is available now, to purchase WinRAR or the WinRAR Shareware CD, please visit http://www.win-rar.com/sharewarecd.html for more information as well as for a complete list of available software titles.

About SwiftCD

A division of DigitalSwift Corporation, SwiftCD (www.SwiftCD.com) is the leader in manufacturing and fulfilling on-demand, dynamic and build-to-order CDs and DVDs.

SwiftCD.com continues to grow at an exponential rate, thanks to its introduction of the patent-pending 'on-demand', built-to-order manufacturing concept into the world of downloadable software and music -- a concept it combines with a highly effective and attractive "pay as you go" business model. SwiftCD's physical delivery concept is providing companies with a more cost-effective way to get their software and media to customers – and is actually giving them a brand-new revenue source, to boot.

Every CD at SwiftCD is individually produced to order with custom label and contents, and SwiftCD handles all aspects of order fulfillment including online tracking, reporting and customer service to perfection.

For more general information or background materials on SwiftCD.com, please contact publicist Angela Mitchell at e-mail protected from spam bots, or call (904) 982-8043 -- or visit www.SwiftCD.com.

About WinRAR and win.rar GmbH

WinRAR is a powerful yet highly flexible compression tool with a variety of integrated additional functions to help users organize and manage their compressed archives. Utilizing superior compression technology, WinRAR offers smaller, faster, and more secure archives, and supports all popular compression formats including RAR, ZIP, CAB, ARJ, LZA and many more. Thanks to the complete archiving solutions offered by WinRAR, users can save on time, money, and valuable disc space just when they need them most.

WinRAR is just one of the host of quality products available from win.rar GmbH, the official publisher for WinRAR and RARLAB products since February 2002. The company is dedicated to offering the highest level of quality support to its customers, and to constantly improving its software according to their needs and feedback.

The WinRAR Shareware CD is another example of how win.rar GmbH leads the way in both technology and innovative marketing. In the future, the company plans to build on the Shareware CD project and further expand its marketing activities and network of partners. For more information on WinRAR or win.rar GmbH, or RARLAB products, please visit www.win-rar.com.

SwiftCD is a registered trademark of DigitalSwift Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:02 AM | Comments (0)

BLR’s Human Resource Website Wins Journalism Award for FLSA Overtime Reporting

HR.BLR.com’s article on new overtime regulations has just received a prestigious award for "Best Spot-News or Exclusive Single News Story" from the Newsletter & Electronic Publishers Association (NEPA).

Old Saybrook, CT (PRWEB) July 28, 2005 -- HR.BLR.com, State HR Answers and Tools - has been honored with a prestigious journalism award for its news coverage of the new Fair Labor Standard Act (FLSA) overtime regulations. The Newsletter & Electronic Publishers Association (NEPA) recognized the Business & Legal Reports, Inc. (BLR) website with an award under the category "Best Spot-News or Exclusive Single News Story" for Editor Susan Prince's "thorough, clearly written explanation" of the new overtime regulations.

The new changes to overtime regulations that BLR reported on were eagerly awaited, hotly contested, and, like most good government regulations, filled with complexity. Employers have been complaining about the difficulty of complying with overtime and payroll regulations since the Federal Labor Standard Act was enacted in 1938. But while most businesses welcomed the FLSA overtime changes that went into effect in August 2004, labor unions were concerned over the possibility of workers who might lose overtime pay.

The judges of the NEPA award wrote that BLR’s Prince "managed to construct a highly instructional, accurate analysis of the new regulations—the first major overhaul of overtime rules in 50 years—and publish it within 24 hours of publication of the rules in the Federal Register."

Bob Brady, President of Business & Legal Reports, commented: "NEPA members are nationally recognized for the quality of their investigative journalism. The competition in this category is particularly fierce, so I am very proud of this award."

In addition to its plain-English analysis of federal employment laws and those of all 50 states, HR.BLR.com offers hundreds of work-saving tools for human resource managers such as sample job descriptions, checklists, training meetings, and HR forms.

BLR is offering a free download of Prince’s award-winning FLSA article. The article may be downloaded at http://www.blr.com/82008400/PRS34

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 x2159

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:02 AM | Comments (0)

Fear of Unionization A Faded Issue for HR Managers, HR.BLR.com Poll Finds

As unions split and reorganize to attempt to gather renewed strength, two-thirds of human resource managers rate their concern about unionization as “low” or “non-existent,” according to the latest online poll at HR.BLR.com.

Old Saybrook, CT (PRWEB) July 28, 2005 –- Not so long ago, human resource managers trembled at the thought of union organizers in their midst. Now, two-thirds rate their concern as “low” or “non-existent,” according to the latest online poll at HR.BLR.com, a website for HR managers.

The poll asked, “What's the level of concern about union organizing at your company?”

The responses broke down this way:
Non-existent - 43%
Low - 25%
Moderate - 14%
We're already organized - 10%
High - 7%

The poll, conducted July 20-26, drew 557 participants. It occurred amid heavy news coverage of the AFL-CIO’s 50th-anniversary convention and the high-profile departure of seven dissident unions from the coalition, including the Teamsters Union and the Service Employees International Union.

“It’s hard to say whether these numbers reflect the waning power of organized labor or simply preparedness on the part of today’s HR professionals,” said Kevin Flood, BLR editor. “One legacy of the labor movement is the array of laws we have now to protect workers, like the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the state workers’ compensation laws, and the various equal employment opportunity (EEO) laws. An HR manager must understand them and comply with them, even if their employees aren’t organized. From a compliance perspective, then, they may view the threat of unionization as a been-there-done-that situation.”

Still, any attempt to unionize a workplace brings into play a law that HR managers must be especially careful to follow: the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). That’s why HR.BLR.com offers a free download of the Unions page in its compliance library. This PDF explains how an employer must comply with the NLRA and other laws in dealing with everything from union solicitation and “salting” to union elections and grievances. Download it here: http://www.blr.com/82008400/PRS36

About BLR
Old Saybrook, Conn.-based BLR produces plain-English compliance and training resources for HR, compensation, safety, and environmental managers. For more information and a free catalog, call 800-727-5257 or visit www.BLR.com.

Contact:
HR.BLR.com Managing Web Editor Kevin Flood
860 510-0100 x 2283

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:01 AM | Comments (0)

Instrumentation Engineering (IE) Awarded Test Systems Contract From General Dynamics-Electric Boat to Design & Manufacture Test Systems for New Virginia Class Submarines

General Dynamics-Electric Boat awarded the test system contract for Virginia Class Submarines to Instrumentation Engineering based on a high-quality, cost effective, modular test solution that demonstrated both technological expertise and substantial industrialization experience.

Oakland, NJ (PRWEB) July 28, 2005 -- Instrumentation Engineering (IE) today announced that it is manufacturing the first Submarine Flight Critical Component Test Bed (SFCCTB) for General Dynamics- Electric Boat. This test system will be used for the revolutionary Virginia Class Submarines. The stealth, firepower and unlimited endurance of these submarines will play a key role in the United State's defense well into the 21st century. IE intends to deliver an equally robust test system and is committed to providing test support throughout the lifecycle of the program.

"I am very proud General Dynamics selected IE on this critical program," said Pat Cupo, President of Instrumentation Engineering. "The SFCCTB requires not only IE’s in depth military test background, but also draws on our extensive optical and RF engineering expertise."

The key to the test system is the same as the key to the submarine—maximum technological and operational flexibility. The SFCCTB is currently designed to test 31 different flight critical components, configured as single or multiple UUT’s. IE’s design provides for future high volume capability and a monitored upgrade path. Operation, maintenance and reconfiguration are simplified by IE’s comprehensive documentation package, and sustainment issues are addressed by IE’s staff support specialists as well as IE’s commitment to non-obsolescence.

About General Dynamics Electric Boat:
With more than a century of experience, Electric Boat has established standards of excellence in the design, construction and lifecycle support of submarines for the U.S. Navy. Primary operations are the shipyard in Groton, CT, and the automated hull-fabrication and outfitting facility in Quonset Point, RI, with a current workforce of 11,300 employees. For more information, please visit www.gdeb.com

About Instrumentation Engineering (IE):
Instrumentation Engineering (IE) designs, develops and supports ATE system integration, test technology solutions and TPS development for the Military & Aerospace, Communications, Medical, Industrial, Automotive, Office Automation and Consumer markets. For 36 years, Instrumentation Engineering has been approaching production test issues with a unique combination of innovative test technology and practical manufacturing experience.

Founded in 1969, IE has the necessary engineering experience and time-tested development processes to create a virtual in-house test team. IE’s comprehensive test engineering approach simplifies the manufacturing process and compliments in-house talent. For more information, please visit www.ietest.com

This press release can be found on the Internet: http://www.ietest.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:00 AM | Comments (0)

Tong-Tai (Topper) Introduces a 20" Pallet Horizontal Machining Center -- The HB500

Tong-Tai (Topper) introduces a 20" pallet horizontal machining center -- the HB500. This is the first of a series of horizontal machining centers the designs of which are based on proven concepts by well-established Japanese manufacturers. This design makes the machine suitable for general-purpose applications or high speed machining applications. The X & Y movement is on the column with the Z movement being on the table. This combination allows for sufficient area for chip removal in high speed machining applications.

Valley Cottage, NY (PRWEB) July 28, 2005 -- Tong-Tai (Topper) introduces a 20" pallet horizontal machining center -- the HB500. This is the first of a series of horizontal machining centers the designs of which are based on proven concepts by well-established Japanese manufacturers. This design makes the machine suitable for general-purpose applications or high speed machining applications. The X & Y movement is on the column with the Z movement being on the table. This combination allows for sufficient area for chip removal in high speed machining applications.

The machine base is a 20" x 20" pallet with an automatic pallet changer. The maximum part dimension is 36" x 36" with a total maximum weight of 1,300 lbs. The standard indexing on the pallet is 1 degree. There is an optional 4th axis available. It has a 50 taper (HSK optional) built-in spindle with 30HP main motor and a maximum rpm of 10,000. External spindle cooling and coolant through the spindle is standard on the HB500. For high speed machining and high material removal applications, there is also a coolant wash inside the bed, coolant wash from the ceiling, an 8 piece coolant nozzle in front of the spindle and a fully enclosed splash cover to contain all the fluids and chips.

Strokes of the axis are X 32", Y 28", Z28" with a rapid 1990 ipm traverse. The machine has a Fanuc-18iM control with rigid tapping and capabilities of RISC chip, look ahead and Data Server for High Speed Machining applications.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:59 AM | Comments (0)

ETI Celebrates 20 Years of Providing GD&T Services

Effective Training Inc. is celebrating their 20th anniversary by offering select GD&T products for 20% off. GD&T is an international language of symbols used on engineering drawings by thousands of companies worldwide to save time and money in the design and manufacturing process.

(PRWEB) July 28, 2005 -- Effective Training Inc. (ETI) is celebrating its twentieth year as a GD&T training and consulting corporation by offering a 20% savings on select products. GD&T stands for geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, an international language of symbols used on engineering drawings to communicate design intent. It is used by thousands of manufacturers worldwide.

ETI was founded by Alex Krulikowski as a one-man operation in August 1985. The company now employs a team of professionals that provide GD&T products and training to thousands of organizations world-wide. The company’s textbooks and other teaching materials are used in hundreds of educational institutions in the U.S., Canada, and overseas. Their self-study course and pocket guide have been translated into Spanish.

In the past 20 years, the name Krulikowski has become synonymous with GD&T. As a world renowned geometric tolerancing expert, he has often been referred to as “the doctor of dimensioning.” He is the member of many national standards organizations, including the ASME Y14.5 Committee on Dimensioning and Tolerancing, and he served for six years as chairman of the Y14.41 Committee on Solid Model Dimensioning. He has published over 20 books and articles about GD&T, has created a dozen GD&T-related courses, and has developed a wide variety of products devoted to learning the topic.

"For me, the rewards of teaching go beyond the financial benefits," said Krulikowski. "I know that by teaching GD&T, I am providing the tools to help people grow and gain skills that will help them for a lifetime. It is a very satisfying career."

As technology has evolved, the demand for new types of GD&T training options has risen. In the past 20 years, Krulikowski has developed GD&T self-study courses, a video series, digital instructor kits, and a computer-based training program that has been sold to corporations worldwide. In 2003, ETI produced the GD&T Trainer Professional Edition, a new level of computer-based training that includes technical animations, audio narration, 3-D drawings, and other advanced features. This year, ETI unveiled their Fundamentals of GD&T web-based training (http://www.etilearn.com).

ETI provides GD&T onsite workshops to companies around the globe. They also offer a series of public workshops open to individuals throughout the United States that includes Krulikowski’s new one-day Y14.41 solid model tolerancing workshop. It’s the only course available that teaches the new international standard covering the use of GD&T on digital drawings. All of ETI’s workshops are "hands-on" and based on adult learning principles.

ETI’s website provides a variety of free GD&T resources, including an online newsletter, a discussion board, tech papers, a digital tolerancing forum, and a complete catalog of GD&T products that can be purchased through their online store. Their latest resources include a tool that calculates any company’s potential savings using GD&T and a free GD&T skills survey that tests an individual’s knowledge of tolerancing principles.

To celebrate their 20th anniversary and to thank their loyal customers, ETI is offering a selection of GD&T products at 20% off. To see a complete list of the specially priced products, including GD&T software and videos, visit www.etinews.com/20. Use coupon code P2005 to receive your discount.

Visit ETI’s website (www.etinews.com) to learn more about Effective Training Inc. For more onsite workshop information — or to request a custom quote package — call 800-886-0909.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:59 AM | Comments (0)

TR Cutler Profiles e-Kanban in July Quality Digest

Profile of e-Kanban in July Quality Digest Magazine. New Technology gets spotlight.

(PRWEB) July 28, 2005 -- Quality Digest, one of the most respected quality themed publications, just published (July 7, 2005) a critical feature article about the role of e-kanban, titled, “e-Kanban Proves Paper isn’t Lean” by Thomas R. Cutler, the nations’ leading manufacturing journalist.

The online feature may be located at:
http://qualitydigest.com/QDarticles/FMPro?-db=iq%5feditorial.fp5&-lay=article%20data%20form&editorial%20type=ISSArticle&release=yes&-format=QDarticle_text.html&articleID=6725&-script=cntaccesstype&-Find

Cutler interviewed Datacraft Solutions’ key principles since the company is the marketshare leader in the e-kanban arena. The role of e-kanban in a lean initiative focused manufacturing organization is profiled and compared to the deep deficiencies experienced with the paper or card kanban.

Datacraft Solutions (www.datacraftsolutions.com) delivers a revolutionary e-kanban process of automation solutions to lean manufacturers through a secure Internet gateway, eliminating the need to install and maintain a complex IT infrastructure. The company has experienced 1,000% growth in the past twelve months by eliminating complicated, expensive, time-intensive software implementations as well as extensive training regiments and the need for internal support. The Datacraft Solutions' e-kanban lean system allows customers access and fully utilize powerful lean benefits immediately for a low, predictable monthly fee. Services are scalable so manufacturers can design an appropriate e-kanban solution.

Thomas R. Cutler is the CEO of TR Cutler, Inc. (www.trcutlerinc.com) based in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Cutler authors more than 200 articles annually and is the founder of the Manufacturing Media Consortium, consisting of 2,000+ journalists writing about trends in the manufacturing sector.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:57 AM | Comments (0)

July 27, 2005

ABB Japan Orders Braintech Software for Two Japanese Automakers

ABB Introduces New Trueview™ Seam-Sealing System.

Vancouver, BC – July 27, 2005 – Braintech Inc. (OTCBB: BRHI), a leading provider of vision guided robotic, (“VGR”) software solutions, announced today that it has received two separate orders each for two similar eVisionFactory™ (eVF™) solutions from strategic partner ABB, for two Japanese automakers. The eVF solutions are the key ingredient to this new application of TrueView™ vision guidance for seam sealing.

TrueView VGR, combining ABB robots and Braintech’s eVF software has liberated manufacturing from the limitations of fixtured automation. In the case of these seam sealer systems, an ABB robot uses eVF vision to position the sealing applicator relative to vehicle bodies thereby eliminating the need for costly fixturing and human operators.

Commenting, COO, Babak Habibi stated, “We continue to demonstrate the unique power of our patented¹ SC3D™ guidance technology. Originally developed as a novel approach to locate engine parts for materials handling applications, the core SC3D technology has proven to be a key new technology for 3D Machine Vision, capable of satisfying guidance requirements for a large array of manufacturing needs including powertrain, body, sealant, arc welding and general assembly. Moreover, having extensively evaluated various technologies to solve different types of TrueView applications, we’ve discovered traditional stereo vision and laser based approaches are nowhere near as reliable or versatile as SC3D”.

Jerry Osborn, Vice President, General Manager, ABB Robot Automation stated, “We see more and more of our customers adopting VGR as a viable manufacturing technology, which opens up new opportunities for TrueView. Now, we’re starting to see the first TrueView systems being deployed outside North America and we plan to continue this expansion throughout Asia and Europe”.

About Braintech (OTCBB: BRHI) – visit www.braintech.com.
About ABB (NYSE: ABB) - ABB’s Robotic, Automotive and Manufacturing group is a leading supplier of robots, robotic systems and automation systems to the automotive, manufacturing and consumer industries. With more than 130,000 robots installed worldwide and more than 5,000 employees, ABB is a global leader in flexible factory automation.
This group is part of ABB Ltd. (www.abb.com) who is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 102,000 people. The company's U.S. operations employ about 9,000 in manufacturing and other facilities in 40 states.

¹ Patent Number US 6,816,755 B2
eVisionFactory, eVF and SC3D are trademarks of Braintech, inc. and its subsidiaries
TrueView is a trademark of ABB Inc. and its subsidiaries

Statements in this document that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and reflect the current views of management with respect to future events and are subject certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. It is important to note that the Company’s actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include risks and uncertainties such as technical difficulties in developing the products; competition from other suppliers of similar products; pricing that may not be acceptable to potential markets; and many other known and unknown factors. Readers should also refer to the risk disclosures outlined in the Company’s 10-KSB and 10-QSB Forms filed from time to time with the SEC.

Contact:
Jennifer Summers
Braintech Inc.
#102 – 930 W 1st Street
Vancouver BC V7P 3N4
604-988-6440 x 202

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:21 AM | Comments (0)

New Motor Grounding Seal Prevents Shaft Current From Damaging AC Motor Bearings, Increases Productivity And Reliability, Eliminates Catastrophic Motor Failure

New Motor Grounding Seal stops the damaging effects from destructive residual shaft currents on AC motors. Specifically developed for VFD controlled AC motor applications, it prevents pitting, fluting, fusion craters and eliminates catastrophic motor failure while permanently protecting bearings from contamination.

Rock Island, IL (PRWEB) July 27, 2005 -- Inpro/Seal has announced their Motor Grounding Seal (MGS), an innovative bearing isolator/grounding seal that stops the damaging effects from destructive residual shaft currents on AC motors. Specifically developed for VFD controlled AC motor applications, it prevents pitting, fluting, fusion craters and eliminates catastrophic motor failure while permanently protecting bearings from contamination.

The Use Of Variable Frequency Drives
A VFD works by electronically matching the mechanical output of the motor to the exact application. Once the load is precisely matched, the speed is adjusted and the motor produces only the amount of energy needed. Equipment operates at capacity, runs more efficiently, energy consumption is lowered and operating costs are reduced. Experts agree that the use of variable-speed control on motors and other types of rotating equipment can save a significant amount of money from improved efficiencies and increased production.

The Damaging Effects Of Bearing Current
Inherently, the VFD system generates residual current or shaft voltage that accumulates on the rotor and discharges (shaft to frame) through the motor bearing. Causes of this resultant bearing damage range from voltage pulse overshoot and non-symmetry of the motor’s magnetic circuit to power unbalances, transient conditions and other conditions that work together or independently to create damaging currents.

This random and frequent discharging is referred to as the EDM effect. An acronym for electric discharge machining, this phenomenon causes pitting on the bearing’s rolling elements and raceways. At first, these EDMs create a frosted or sandblasted effect. Over time this deterioration causes fluting – a groove pattern in the bearing race that leads to destructive bearing failure.

Passive Fixes Do Not Last
Before the advent of the MGS Grounding Seal, a number of methods were tried to minimize the damaging effects of shaft currents, including: shaft grounding; external brushes; ceramic bearings; conductive greases and insulated bearings. The problem is that these are passive methods that are not cost effective, do not last, allow currents to continue to build up, require continual maintenance, allow for contaminants to accumulate and in some cases and can actually interfere with motor performance. Moreover, because many of these methods appear to be effective, unless there was a catastrophic bearing failure, there was no way to tell if they were working.

Enter The MGS Seal
Fortunately these problems can be solved and breakdown eliminated with the Inpro/Seal Motor Grounding Seal, an enhanced bearing isolator that prevents electrical damage to AC motor bearings by safely diverting harmful residual shaft currents.

The result of ongoing R & D, extensive field testing and exhaustive trials in their dedicated testing facility, along with the combined efforts of Electro Static Technology, the MGS Bearing Isolator eliminates this damaging shaft current by providing a "virtual short" between the shaft and motor frame that keeps shaft current and voltage from building up before bearing damage can occur.

MGS Seal Is Based On Highly Successful Product
At the heart of the MGS is an Inpro/Seal bearing isolator, a compound labyrinth bearing protection device, that Inpro invented (and patented) in 1977 and have now modified it for use with AC Motor applications.

A major innovation is a unique design that includes a grounding ring and brush built into the bearing isolator. The grounding ring dissipates the current and gives it a path to ground, away from the bearings. The brush contains microfibers that completely surround the shaft that work to discharge shaft current. The highest levels of performance are further assured by virtue of an inherent non-contact design that provides a life-time seal against, dust, liquids and other contaminants.

Simple, Low Cost, Long Term Fix
The MGS Motor Grounding Seal is a low cost solution that requires no maintenance and without the need for any adjustments. With no moving parts, dramatically increased life cycles are assured. It installs with a simple press fit to the internal or external motor housing. As the frame connection is part of the press fit, no external wiring is required.

Long Involvement In Rotating Equipment
According to David C. Orlowski, President of Inpro/Seal, the holder of some 40 patents and considered by many as the “father” of bearing isolation technology, “For over three decades Inpro/Seal has been on the cutting edge of sealing, process and bearing technology. And with almost two million bearing isolators installed, we are experienced in finding solutions to the most demanding problems. More importantly, our R & D people are constantly searching for ways to help end users increase productivity.”

Orlowski continued, “In reality, when it comes to a failed motor, the expense of the repair or replacement is a minor cost. With plant downtime running as high as $80,000 per hour, the real cost is in the downtime, labor, loss of production and disruption of production schedules. With this as a background, Electro Static Technology, the world leader in shaft grounding, conductive technology and Inpro/Seal, the world leader in bearing protection joined forces to develop the MGS Bearing Isolator. There is nothing else like it on the market.”

Two Global Leaders
Headquartered in Mechanic Falls, Maine, Electro Static Technology is a recognized global leader in the elimination and/or mitigation of induced electrical charges. They also engineer flexible peel-and-stick passive static eliminators for printers, copiers and other imaging devices.

Inpro/Seal Company is the world’s largest manufacturer of bearing isolators. The bearing isolator that they invented (patented back in 1977), known as an Inpro/Seal, has become a generic name in bearing protection. A non-contact, non-wearing, labyrinth permanent bearing protection device, the bearing isolator has two parts, a stator that presses into the bearing housing and a rotor that turns with the shaft. The two components interact to keep contamination out of the bearing enclosure and the lubricant in.

About Inpro/Seal
Inpro/Seal Company is the originator and the world’s number one manufacturer of bearing isolators, used to protect motor and pump bearings, machine tool spindles, turbines, fans, gear boxes, paper machine rolls and many other types of rotating equipment. Additional applications include the sealing, handling, processing of dry particulates, powders and bulk solids.

Over one and one half million of Inpro/Seal’s original bearing isolator designs are in operation in process plants worldwide, where end users continue to report significantly reduced operating costs with increased productivity and reliability. Documented cases show that a plant can more than double the mean-time-between failure (MTBF) and reduce maintenance costs by at least half, with users reporting an extremely high ROI.

As the recognized global leader in bearing isolator technology, Inpro products are marketed to the aerospace, automotive, petroleum, refining, nuclear, power generation, metalworking, food processing, grain processing, chemical, water, wastewater treatment, metalworking, hydrocarbon processing, HVAC, pulp and paper, mining, mineral, ore processing and general industrial markets.

Industry Leading Web Support
When an end user visits www.inpro-seal.com or www.bearingisolators.com they will find a wealth of information related to Inpro/Seal and bearing protection, including: specific applications, case histories, data sheets, facts and questions, specifications and more. Interactive spreadsheets include a Cost Justification Worksheet, that quantifies the effectiveness of bearing isolators in rotating equipment and a Contact Seal Energy Consumption Calculator that reveals the true cost of contact seals.

Signoff
For more information on the Inpro/Seal Motor Grounding Seal (MGS). including a FREE brochure, contact Terri Hageman at: Inpro/Seal Company, P.O. Box 3940, Rock Island, Illinois 61204. Phone numbers are: (800) 447-0524 or (309) 787-4971. Fax number is: (309) 787-6114. Website: www.inpro-seal.com or www.bearingisolators.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:20 AM | Comments (0)

Internet Marketing Pays Off Big for Manufacturing Sector

Company websites and online marketing programs represent the latest sales and marketing tools of choice for the manufacturing segment. Once considered exclusive vehicles for traditional business and retail sales, these strategies are quickly becoming a powerful way for manufacturers to successfully market products and influence potential buyers.

(PRWEB) July 27, 2005 -- Company websites and online marketing programs represent the latest sales and marketing tools of choice for the manufacturing segment.

Once considered exclusive vehicles for traditional business and retail sales, these strategies are quickly becoming a powerful way for manufacturers to successfully market products and influence customers.

According to Corey Wenger, President of Key Position Web Marketing (www.key-position.com), online advertising and strategic websites allow manufacturers to reach mass markets, typically at lower costs than conventional marketing programs. His company has prepared a survey that targets such goals. It is featured below.

"Online advertising and strategic websites work seamlessly with how prospects select and buy products, services, and solutions. These methods also provide the ability to track and measure program effectiveness more directly than any other marketing vehicle."

Wenger is an authority in website Search Engine Optimization (SEO), one of the fastest growing marketing strategies being used by U.S. manufacturers today. SEO is the process used to earn high rankings in search engines based on specific key words and phrases – terms used by prospective clients who are actively looking for products, services, and solutions.

"When balanced with other essential internet promotions, a well-planned SEO can create dramatic results. In some cases, the marketing return on investment climbs into the double digits," he confirms.

In helping companies to increase sales and profitability through strategic web marketing, Wenger has created a study to determine how manufacturers can use corporate websites and online programs to compete more effectively against domestic and foreign contenders.

To take the online manufacturing survey, please follow the press release link.

Participants who complete Key Position's brief study will receive a complimentary summary of the report.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:19 AM | Comments (0)

Ingenuus Partners with Sarbanes-Oxley Specialist RAI Consulting

Ingenuus Software Inc., the leader in Process Orchestration, announced today that they have entered into a partnership with RAI Consulting of Richardson, Texas to provide evaluation and remediation services for companies seeking Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.

FRISCO, TX, PRWeb - July 25, 2005 - Ingenuus Software Inc., the leader in Process Orchestration, announced today that they have entered into a partnership with RAI Consulting of Richardson, Texas to provide evaluation and remediation services for companies seeking Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. Although the agreement provides for joint marketing activities, RAI Consulting will not be reselling any Ingenuus software in order to maintain objectivity. The partnership allows RAI Consulting to inform customers of the Ingenuus capabilities as a potential solution to their remediation activity.

"We encounter business process automation software virtually every day," says RAI Consulting Principal, Thomas McCullough. "They are very complex. It is difficult to build an application. They do not provide the Process Owner [in this case the Compliance Officer] with the ability to model the process, modify the user interface, create business rules and then release the solution into production. Ingenuus can - we see this as cutting edge and feel compelled to let our customers know about it."

Typically, a SOX process requires 2 or more technical analysts or IT people to automate processes. First, the process is modeled by a trained analyst, with inputs, outputs and tasks specified. Documentation to explain each step is included. This is sometimes done with tools that follow process automation standards such as BPEL. After the process is modeled, then business rules are created. This might be done by the same analyst, or another one more familiar with database business rules. An IT analyst then creates the user interface and links it with the process model. If integration is required, it is done at this time.

"Ingenuus has simplified the process automation effort by combining a modeling tool with the graphical user interface tool and then made these tools so easy that a process owner can be trained to model, edit user interfaces, create business rules, and then release a process into production - all without the need for an process or IT analyst," says Ingenuus CTO Vivek Prasad. "For the first time, process owners can create and manage their own processes without needing help from IT."

About Ingenuus
Ingenuus Software Inc., based in Frisco, Texas, is raising the bar for business process automation with its Business Process Orchestration approach. The Ingenuus solution transforms processes, tasks and projects into web-based applications for companies whose employees are frustrated by lack of control, lack of visibility and the inability to easily get at the knowledge they need. Business Process Orchestration is a unique approach for automating all of your business processes and orchestrating them to function together. Customers are using Ingenuus to orchestrate processes including Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), IT Trouble Tickets, Return Materials Authorizations (RMA), Quality Testing, New Product Introduction (NPI), Job Management for contract manufacturers and Compliance Management (like Sarbanes-Oxley).

Ingenuus is a trademark of Ingenuus Software Inc.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:18 AM | Comments (0)

Maintenance Software for Manufacturing Plants, Industrial & Commercial Facilities -- FastMaint CMMS 4.4 Trial Download Now Available

SMGlobal Inc. announces the release of version 4.4 of its FastMaint CMMS software for preventive maintenance management. A computerized maintenance management solution (CMMS) suitable for manufacturing plants, industrial & commercial facilities.

Cary, NC (PRWEB) July 27, 2005 -- SMGlobal Inc. (http://www.smglobal.com) announces the release of version 4.4 of its FastMaint CMMS software for preventive maintenance management. FastMaint is a computerized maintenance management solution (CMMS) suitable for manufacturing plants, industrial & commercial facilities. It is one of the few maintenance software packages to pass Microsoft’s certification tests.

"We are very pleased with FastMaint. I am learning more about its versatility each day. I have been able to see a downward trend in equipment break downs and spare parts usage," says David Cook, Maintenance Planner.

FastMaint’s affordable price, low maintenance needs and ease of use make it possible even for small to medium size companies to reap many of the benefits of computerized maintenance management software (CMMS software).

FastMaint is designed to be "fast" and easy to install and use so that users can become productive soon. Both planned and preventive maintenance tasks can be scheduled, managed and tracked. An integrated inventory system allows one to track inventory use and when to reorder parts. Maintenance managers can plan ahead and budget work for the week, month, quarter, year or any defined period. One can easily create work orders and collect feedback on jobs done. The multi-user Professional edition provides a way for non-maintenance personnel to submit maintenance requests. Users rights to view or change information can be restricted to protect maintenance data. Many third party tools such as report writers; data extraction utilities, etc… can also be integrated with the FastMaint database. FastMaint can work with Microsoft's Access or SQL Server database. Te new release brings in purchase order support, improved work order support and a host of other enhancements.

Prices start at US$995 for the single user version. For more information and a free 30-day trial of FastMaint please visit http://www.smglobal.com.

All products mentioned are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies.

Contact: SMGlobal Inc.
Phone: 919-434-5146
Web: http://www.smglobal.com

About Us: SMGlobal, Inc, is a Microsoft Certified Partner that publishes FastMaint CMMS, a computerized maintenance management software (CMMS) solution suitable for small to mid-size manufacturing planst & facilities.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:16 AM | Comments (0)

HP's Christian Verstraete to Round Out Keynote Speaker Line-Up at CPDA's PLM Road Map Conference

Collaborative Product Development Associates (CPDA) announces that Christian Verstraete, Global Lead, High-Tech Industry & Supply Chain, Hewlett-Packard, will join Lockheed Martin’s Robert W. Manney, Bombardier Aerospace’s Donna McAleenan, and DaimlerChrysler's Roger Lundberg to round out the keynote speaker line-up at PLM Road Map 2005. The conference will take place on September 28 and 29 at The Dearborn Inn, Dearborn, Michigan.

Stamford, CT (PRWEB) July 27, 2005 -- Collaborative Product Development Associates (CPDA) announces that Christian Verstraete, Global Lead, High-Tech Industry & Supply Chain, Hewlett-Packard, will join Lockheed Martin’s Robert W. Manney, Bombardier Aerospace's Donna McAleenan, and DaimlerChrysler’s Roger Lundberg to round out the keynote speaker line-up at PLM Road Map 2005. The conference will take place on September 28 and 29 at The Dearborn Inn, Dearborn, Michigan.

Verstraete will discuss how the combination of a portfolio of collaboration approaches maximizes the creation of sustainable value in the extended enterprise. In most companies, PLM and Supply Chain Management represent two separate domains, each optimized independently of the other. But in the world of a "Demand Driven Supply Network," a collaboration approach must cover both sets of requirements. Verstraete, drawing on his experiences at HP and work undertaken with several colleagues at the University of Louvain, Belgium, will demonstrate how such partnerships can take place and what competitive advantages they can provide.

For more information on PLM Road Map™ 2005 visit
https://cpd-associates.com/index.cfm?content=include_conference05.cfm

About Christian Verstraete

Christian Verstraete leads the High-Tech industry and the Supply Chain Portfolio go-to market strategy for HP. In this role he works closely with internal HP groups to review HP's best practices and to define how those can be used in their go-to market strategies.
Previously, Christian led the manufacturing practice within HP’s Consulting and Integration business unit. The manufacturing practice consists of 1,200 consultants around the globe who create and deliver services and solutions in the areas of supply chain, procurement and sourcing, product lifecycle collaboration, demand chain, and collaborative business integration. The team has also developed specific offerings for customers in the automotive, high-tech, pharmaceutical, and energy sectors.

Before that, Christian created the enterprise application integration and portal infrastructures team within the Consulting and Integration business. During his career, he has held a variety of positions in business development, marketing, consulting, and project management. He is a mechanical engineer from the Universite Catholique de Louvain in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, and has a degree in industrial management from Katholieke Universiteit van Leuven in Leuven, Belgium.

About PLM Road Map™ 2005

PLM Road Map™ 2005 is a strategic conference focused on the critical tradeoffs that shape product development. At PLM Road Map™ 2005, find out first hand which issues are currently confronting end users. Presentations will cover collaboration across the enterprise, knowledge capture and reuse, the business benefits of PLM integration, PLM interoperability, the tradeoffs of open CAD and tight integration, product development platforms to meet the needs of commonality and variety, up-front simulation, up-front manufacturing process constraints, SOA reuse of software modules as Web services, and more.

Join top analysts from CPDA and key industry players as they share their personal experiences in making technology work, by driving efforts up front early in design, and by continuously incorporating cross-disciplinary knowledge and feedback.

About CPDA

Collaborative Product Development Associates (CPDA) provides the latest in-depth, objective information for assessing technology and business goals. Coordinated by a group of experienced analysts, its cohesive suite of collaborative research programs leverages the efforts of top software designers and leading-edge users. CPDA's differentiation is its specific, deep, and pragmatic approach to the market, and a hands-on understanding of the technology required to drive successful implementations.

CPDA's collaborative research programs include Design Creation and Validation, Product Value Management, Product Definition/PLM Infrastructure, and Design/Simulation Council.

Contact:
Cheryl Peck
1-800-573-4756

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:15 AM | Comments (0)

SDI, Inc., Executive Vice President to Address IDC Mobile Enterprise Forum

Ron Fijalkowski, executive vice president of technology and central services for SDI, Inc. and a nationally recognized expert in the IT industry, will discuss the impact of moving desktop applications to mobile devices in the field. He joins an impressive list of speakers set to speak in New York City at the IDC Mobile Enterprise Forum on September 21.

BRISTOL, Pa. (PRWEB) July 27, 2005 -- Ron Fijalkowski, executive vice president of technology and central services for SDI (Strategic Distribution, Inc. – Nasdaq: STRD), will join an impressive list of speakers during the upcoming IDC Mobile Enterprise Forum, Sept. 21, 2005 (New York City). SDI is a leading provider of MRO supply chain management services in North America.

The forum, to be held at the Millennium Broadway Hotel in New York, will feature speakers from companies including Pfizer, Union Providence, Eli Lilly, National Gypsum, and the South Carolina State Department of Probation. It is intended to address key issues in deploying mobile technology solutions across a variety of companies and industries. Forum attendees are expected to include chief information officers, vice presidents, and other high-level executives.

Fijalkowski is a nationally recognized expert in the IT industry. His presentation will address workflow considerations necessary in moving a fixed desktop application to the field via a mobile device. His presentation will describe how SDI has provided mobility for existing customer desktop applications, supporting work-order management, material ordering, inventory management, and material issues to be directed through a variety of mobile devices.

For information or to register for the forum, please visit www.idc.com.

Fijalkowski has been recognized by Computerworld magazine as a Premier 100 IT Leader, and heads SDI’s Technology and Central Services departments as it looks for ways to apply technology to streamline internal processes as well as enhance its customer services. Under Fijalkowski’s leadership, SDI established web-based consumer catalogs, enhanced the company’s customer ERP system, and added mobility applications that streamline a customer’s MRO supply chain processes.

About SDI
SDI helps customers optimize their business performance and meet strategic goals by providing technology and supply chain solutions to increase productivity and reduce total costs. Commercial and industrial customers, as well as educational institutions, benefit from reduced costs and increased efficiencies in the procurement and management of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) materials. Additional information about SDI can be found on the company’s web site at www.sdi.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:14 AM | Comments (0)

Canadian Manufacturer Chooses ERP System by PRONTO North America

Dixon-Bayco Industries a Canadian Manufacturer of quality industrial and recreational products, chooses new ERP system.

(PRWEB) July 27, 2005 -- Dixon-Bayco Industries is a manufacturer of quality industrial and recreational products. These products are marketed worldwide. The company was founded in 1941, and has almost 200 employees, an 80,000 square foot plant on 8 acres in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

The company is ISO 9001 certified and works in a variety of areas:
• Materials cast: aluminum, copper, bronze, zinc and ZA alloys
• Foundry : sand, permanent mold and pressure die casting
• Machining: seven CNC machining centers, high production turret lathes, screw machines, multi-head drilling and tapping
• Assembly: riveting, welding, fabrication, and assembly operations, including electronics
• Finishing: polishing, plating, painting, chromating, anodizing and tin coating available from local sources
• Special testing: pressure testing, dye penetrant, and performance testing; Tensile, chemical and X-ray testing from local sources
• Product design: CAD facilities for the design and manufacture of products and tooling
• Engineering services: complete technical assistance to aid in designing and manufacturing of products

Dixon-Bayco just completed a PEER process with Mike Ligudzinski, CEO of PRONTO North America and has selected PRONTO-Xi, the leading ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software in Canada. Ligudzinski noted, “The value of the PEER process goes beyond simply an executive workshop. It creates a company-wide buying and understanding of the organizations process and creates methods of accountability.”

Pronto North America, Inc. based in Eden Prairie, MN, is widely recognized as the authority in technologically driven business solutions and process management. Utilizing innovative implementation techniques and tools, Pronto North America generates increased performance, service, efficiency, and accountability. Through PEER™ (Process Evaluation Executive Review), Pronto North America captures the values of Lean Manufacturing throughout the enterprise. This functionality is accomplished utilizing a highly-trained world-class staff and an innovative process modeling and automation toolset unmatched in the industry, ensuring the realization of continuous process improvement and profitability.

Pronto North America is the North American Master Distributor of PRONTO-Xi™, a comprehensive software system allowing manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to effectively manage all phases of their business. Far beyond just another Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System, PRONTO-Xi’s financial and distribution applications are unique and have provided maximum return on investment for a wide variety of organizations since 1976. From PRONTO Production to PRONTO Advanced Warehousing; from PRONTO Planning to PRONTO Quality Management System (QMS); from PRONTO Distribution Requirements Planning (DRP) to PRONTO Forecasting Management, the cross-section and breadth of integrated elements addressed by PRONTO-Xi is unmatched in the marketplace and justifies its natural leadership role as the best fully integrated business software solution.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:11 AM | Comments (0)

RMB Revaluation - A Wake-Up Call for Importers from China?

E-Trade2China Inc. strengthened by currency revaluation - Non 'Added Value' Suppliers Shudder

Shanghai, China (PRWEB) July 27, 2005 -- Well, the inevitable has finally happened...and the Chinese Renminbi (Yuan) has, as expected, increased by just over 2% against the dollar. Whilst this has long been feared by many China-based Export Companies and their customers, it has created some profound and compelling reasons for using more 'value added' sourcing solutions when sourcing products from China.

Normally, when foreign companies locate a good product source in China, little thought is given to the mechanics of how those products are actually paid for. All too often, it is seen as being 'no problem', and customers in the US or UK simply 'pay for the goods in USD' and then 'receive the product'. However, in the majority of cases the actual manufacturer is only payable in local currency (i.e. RMB), which means that 'somebody somewhere' is having to convert those dollars into RMB on their behalf...and they are unlikely to be doing it for free!

This function is usually performed by so-called 'Trading Companies', which basically take foreign currency from their customers, convert it into RMB, then pay the actual manufacturer in local currency - but not without taking a cut in the form of commission, of course. Sometimes these companies pose as the actual manufacturer, and sometimes they work with the manufacturer 'behind the scenes' in order to include their commission with the FOB price of the goods. Even companies with Representative Offices in China have to use these companies when buying from local factories, which means that Trading Companies have traditionally been an important part of most foreign companies' China supply chains.

In a summer which has been particularly hot across China, though, Trading Companies like these may truly be 'feeling the heat'. Their prices have just risen by over 2% overnight - and may even rise further.

Depending on how lean their operating costs are, and whether or not they are involved in 'off-the-shelf' commodity products, this may push them out of some of their ultra-competitive markets, in which undercutting the competition is the one-and-only 'name of the game'.

For Export Companies which offer entire sourcing solutions, however, this could be good news - a much anticipated 'blessing in disguise'. Instead of earning a commission for simply 'flipping' paperwork on behalf of a local manufacturer, there are a number of Export Companies out there which offer entire product development programmes, all the way from initial design right through to product development, vendor sourcing, contract manufacturing, in-line QC, packaging, and logistics.

E-Trade2China Inc. is one such company, except it offers a second option which takes this concept even further.

Instead of just operating on a straightforward 'trading' basis as described above - which it already does successfully - E-Trade2China Inc. can also act as a true 'extension' of its clients operations, whereby it provides everything that is needed for its clients to have a fully-functioning operation in China.

This not only includes full-time professional sourcing staff who work exclusively for the client to which they are assigned, exclusive office space and all the necessary equipment required to run a successful sourcing office, but also access to the very Export Licences needed to export products from China at cost. This can save its clients money, and can also speed up its clients lead times dramatically.

The cost? Probably less than opening and running a Representative Office...and that's before one even considers the commission that gets saved by cutting out commission-charging Trading Companies or the savings that can be made by having full-time staff on the ground in China re-sourcing products from even more competitive local vendors.

Any further rise in the value of the RMB against the USD will only increase the reasons to cut out unnecessary layers in the supply chain from China - and provide further compelling reasons to look for a partner in China that can help engineer out the unnecessary costs associated with Trading Companies and Representative Offices. When assessing their China sourcing strategy in light of these long-expected developments, companies would be well advised to compare as many different sourcing models as possible in order to identify ways to mitigate increasing costs as a result of a floating RMB.

To find out what E-Trade2China Inc. can do for you, please send details of the products you are looking for to Jonathan Fayers, E-Trade2China’s Marketing Director, at e-mail protected from spam bots.

E-Trade2China Inc. is a British-owned company in Shanghai, China, which sources products and operates turnkey Buying Offices for a number of US- and UK-based companies. It has a unique legal status in China which enables its clients to function as fully-licensed companies in China. E-Trade2China headhunts, employs and manages dedicated Procurement, Sourcing, and QC staff who work for its clients’ operations full-time, and enables its clients to bypass commission payments to importers, agents, and trading companies. Depending on the volumes companies source from China, and whether they are products which those companies are looking to 'buy' or to 'make', E-Trade2China Inc. offers a complete range of sourcing solutions intended to save its clients money on sourcing and exporting products from China.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:10 AM | Comments (0)

Troux Announces Metis Enterprise 5.0 Technology Availability

Market leader rolls out integrated offering to help improve IT governance through Enterprise Architecture processes

Austin, TX (PRWEB) July 26, 2005 -- Troux Technologies, the global leader in IT Governance and Enterprise Architecture (EA) solutions, today announced the general availability of Metis® Enterprise 5.0, an industry-leading Enterprise Architecture Modeling and Repository offering for Global 1000 companies and the government market.

Delivering on the successful acquisition of Metis earlier this year, Troux's Metis family of EA products now combines the visualization and analytic capabilities of the Metis modeling tool with Troux's highly scalable repository for automatic capture and management of enterprise IT and business data. This comprehensive offering gives enterprise architects, business analysts, IT planners and other decision-makers in even the largest and most complex organizations a toolset capable of centralizing the management of all IT governance processes.

"This release of Metis 5.0 will, for the first time, include not only support for an enterprise repository to store all of the different model artifacts, but also a methodology for collecting, reusing and distributing the information to the Metis client and other reporting tools. This simplifies the handling of extremely robust datasets, which is a prerequisite for an organization's success in using IT governance to manage change," said Jonas Lamis, Troux's vice president of product marketing. Lamis also noted that the essence of Enterprise Architecture as foundational to IT governance means that this powerful combination will accelerate business and government agency transformation.

With the Metis Enterprise 5.0 technology offering, U.S. commercial and government customers can choose from three levels of Troux products to meet their EA maturity level and enterprise architecture needs:
* Metis Desktop – Metis Desktop is Troux’s entry-level package for Metis visual modeling tools for the U.S. commercial market. The basic offering for Enterprise Architecture teams includes client tools and an architectural template of choice.

* Metis Workgroup – The mid-tier offering for collaboration within Enterprise Architecture teams includes client tools, templates, and Metis Team Server 3.6.

* Metis Enterprise –The Metis Enterprise package is the industry’s most powerful offering for scalable Enterprise Architecture and Governance activities. Metis Enterprise includes Metis Client tools, Metis Enterprise Architecture Framework (MEAF), and Metis Enterprise Repository. Metis Collection is an optional add-on. Metis Enterprise is the foundation for successful IT Governance and is a pre-requisite for Troux IT Governance applications.

In all three cases, available offerings include a set of EA consulting services, training, support and maintenance for successful EA initiatives.

Pricing and Availability
For pricing information, contact Troux Technologies at 1-866-273-9371. All Metis 5.0 products are generally available.

About Troux Technologies
Troux Technologies (pronounced "true") is a global provider of IT Governance software that accelerates IT and business transformation. Troux's IT Governance solutions enable organizations to strategically plan the enterprise, capture and analyze critical IT and business data and deliver actionable decisions to transform the business. Troux's breakthrough technology provides the enterprise-class information, policies, and analytics critical for IT excellence. With Troux, organizations succeed in breaking the traditional IT silos and effectively aligning IT with core business goals.

Based in Austin, Texas, Troux Technologies serves the Global 1000 and government marketplaces. For more information, please visit www.troux.com or call (866) 273-9371.

Copyright 2005 Troux Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved. Troux and Metis by Troux are trademarks of Troux Technologies, Inc. All other company and product names mentioned are used only for identification and may be trademarks of their respective companies.

Media Contacts:
For Commercial and EMEA Inquiries:
Matt Ceniceros
GCI Group
(512) 542.2854
e-mail protected from spam bots

Government:
Julie Keyser-Squires
Softscribe Inc.
(404) 256-5512
e-mail protected from spam bots
www.softscribeinc.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:08 AM | Comments (0)

July 26, 2005

Apple Rubber's Silicone Housing (Face) Seals Offer Superior Sealing Performance Over Flat Gaskets

Apple Rubber Products, a leading designer and manufacturer of seals and sealing devices, offers silicone housing (face) seals that outperform flat gaskets and other gasketing methods for a wide variety of housing applications. Custom designed to exact specifications, Apple Rubber's silicone housing seals feature a round cross-section and are molded to hold superior tolerances to die-cut, flat gaskets. Unlike flat gaskets, the round cross section of silicone housing seals ensures sealing of any potential leak paths. Typical applications range from appliances and electronic component housings to aerospace and medical products.

The silicone housing seals are available in a 20-80 durometer range and can be made even softer to match compression set requirements of plastic or metal housing applications. Apple Rubber can produce the seals in even the most complex shapes and the silicone material can be color-matched to customer specifications.

Apple Rubbers LIM silicone molding systems provide consistent, high performance and cost-effective housing seals that are virtually flash-free. Complete design engineering assistance and prototyping are available. Furthermore, the housing seals are made in the U.S.A. and Apple Rubber sells direct, enabling direct communication with a knowledgeable sales team and design engineers and full accountability from the company.

For information call 1-800-828-7745, FAX (716) 684-8302, email: info@applerubber.com. Or write Apple Rubber Products, 310 Erie Street, Lancaster, NY 14086-9908

Posted by Industrial at 11:53 PM | Comments (0)

Risk Assessment Helps Corporate Executives Avoid Dust Explosions

When the dust settles after an industrial dust explosion, corporate executive officers must answer for the loss of life, revenue, market share, and confidence on Wall Street. Avoiding such risks begins with a professional risk assessment

(PRWEB) July 26, 2005 -- Once the domain of plant managers and facility engineers, the repercussions from a major dust explosion in an industrial facility now reverberate all the way up the chain of command to the very top executives – including the CEO. Despite the significant and very real risks of dust explosions, which include the initial blast, secondary fires, significant losses of process revenue and a host of other hidden costs, many corporate officers continue to play Russian Roulette by ignoring the issue altogether.

Almost all organic material or un-oxidized metal, when in a dust cloud, will ignite at a temperature below 500 °C -- approximately the temperature of a recently extinguished match. Companies in pulp and paper, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and milling operations that handle powders and bulk solids are susceptible. Food dusts such as sugar, starch, flour, and cocoa are also major causes of dust explosions.

Whether these events are categorized as large, or small, the localized casualties often get overshadowed by a number of hidden costs, including:

1) Loss of revenue
While casualty/fire insurance can soften the financial impact of the loss of equipment and buildings, it seldom makes up for the loss of product and revenue stream. When processes suddenly stop, the losses can mount to millions of dollars per week.

2) Loss of customer base/market share
Any major disruptions to a company's ability to meet customers' needs could result in the loss of customers and market share, which is difficult to win back.

3) Government fines
OSHA has been known to issue citations for hundreds of thousands of dollars in proposed penalties against companies that failed to protect employees from potentially explosive accumulations of dust.

4) The end of a career
If a major facility experiences a dust explosion and is out of commission for an extended period of time at great loss of revenue, then the final casualty might be corporate execs – even the CEO.

Professional risk analysis

Based in West Palm Beach, Florida, Cv Technology (dust explosions before they occur.

“You can't completely eliminate the danger, but a risk analysis can certainly reduce probability and severity of an industrial dust explosion,” says Cvetas.

A risk assessment from Cv Technology includes dust tests and a process evaluation to determine where there is risk for fire or explosion. Cv Technology can also project the likely consequences of an event.

Once the Risk Analysis is completed, the protection alternatives are fully explored. Cv Technology prefers passive systems, which are the least expensive and most reliable. Taking into account the process systems, critical operations, production scheduling requirements etc, priorities can be set, installation costs determined, and a schedule developed for implementation.

“What risk analyses and dust explosion protection systems really provide is insurance,” says Cvetas. “They give top executives the peace of mind that they are operating their plants safely¾not only preventing potential loss of life but also protecting their assets and valuable process revenue from dust explosions.”

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:21 AM | Comments (0)

Energy Efficient Direct Drive Air Compressor Systems Milk Extra Work from Utility Dollars

The 3-8% improvement from efficient industrial air compressors saves as much as $4200 per year from one, 100-hp compressor.

(PRWEB) July 26, 2005 -- When it comes to wringing maximum utility out of every energy dollar, little things do mean a lot. In a report sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Energy, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory concluded that, "Industrial electric motor systems account for more than 20% of all electricity used in the U.S.," and that, "using new technologies increases energy efficiency...improves profits." For this reason, many commercial and industrial users of compressed air are turning to direct-drive electric air compressor systems.

As an example, if an efficient air compressor only requires 100 hp to supply a given air flow rate at a given pressure, vs. one with more moving parts that requires 112 hp, the savings in electrical costs can quickly yield a positive benefit/cost ratio on the more efficient machine. Using the industry standard average of $.08 cents per kWh, the 12 hp difference in this example would reduce electricity costs by approximately $4200 per year per unit.

"We use compressed air to disassemble motors and to remove motor parts, wheels and tires," says Jim Cook, Construction Manager of California-based Pick Your Part, the nation’s leading self-service auto wrecker. "But we were frequently running out of air with our piston air compressors. However, now we use 25- and 30-HP direct drive units from Sullivan-Palatek to meet our demand for efficient air availability.”

Sullivan-Palatek of Michigan City, Indiana, manufacturers a line of direct-drive rotary-screw, industrial air compressor systems that allow users to profit from greater energy savings in their pressurized-air operations. The increased efficiency of this design stems from the use of larger air-end assemblies, which results in slower turning rotors that yield higher pressure using lower horsepower. Additional efficiency results from use of a direct-drive rotary screw that eliminates unnecessary moving parts -- thus reducing the parasitic losses attributed to belts and gears.

“The additional 30 HP we get from each new air compressor gives us added efficiency and economy,” says Cook.

"We have an air compressor on four separate production lines to supply the cylinders that position woodworking tools" says Cory Bayer, maintenance team leader for Bayer Built Woodworks, Inc. of Belgrade, Minnesota, a major manufacturer of millwork. "We used regular piston compressors when our volume was less, but as we grew we needed more. So we switched over to the Sullivan-Palatek screw-type air compressors because they are more efficient and reliable enough to run the long hours that we needed. I would definitely recommend the use of these direct drive air compressor systems."

The same U.S. DOE report concluded that: "By 2010, using more efficient electric motor systems in the industrial sector could... provide an industrial energy cost savings of $13 billion."

Established in 1984, Sullivan-Palatek manufactures industrial equipment such as electric and diesel driven high performance rotary screw air compressor systems, along with a complete line of accessory items that include air dryers, filters, remediation systems and construction air tools.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:20 AM | Comments (0)

Future of Reaction Injection Molding (RIM) Industry is Bright for Gusmer | Decker After Merger

Merger of Gusmer and LCC/Decker, two respected RIM molding equipment suppliers, provides customers with improved technical/customer support, standardization and stocking of machine components, integrated spare-parts support, and expanded product offerings

(PRWEB) July 26, 2005 -- As reaction injection molding (RIM) applications expand worldwide, RIM equipment suppliers such as Gusmer and LCC/Decker provide the sophisticated metering machines and mixing heads required to process multi-component polyurethane and hybrid urethane chemicals. Today, these two respected RIM equipment suppliers have merged into a single RIM-focused business unit called Gusmer | Decker to better serve existing customers and to look to the future of the reaction injection molding industry.

Gusmer | Decker will continue to provide technical and consumer support for the hundreds of units from both brands that are currently in the field. In addition, Gusmer | Decker will leverage over 40 years of combined technology, engineering and manufacturing knowledge to develop new, innovative product lines and process solutions for new applications worldwide.

“Combining the resources of these two well-respected RIM design and manufacturing business units will allow us to significantly expand our product offerings, as well as enhance technical/customer support around the world,” says Dennis Commette, vice president and general manager of Gusmer | Decker.

For Gusmer and LCC/Decker equipment owners, the merger will have several benefits, including: improved technical/customer support through one centralized technical service contact number; integrated spare-parts support for quick turnaround times; standardization and stocking of machine components for immediate delivery; and expanded metering/mixing solutions to meet most RIM applications.

Billed as “limited only by your imagination,” RIM technology is flexible enough to deliver on that promise. RIM molding systems can produce virtually any molded part, and are an attractive alternative where higher quality is required, at low cost.

In the reaction injection molding process, polyurethane is injected into a mold to produce high quality plastic products. To accomplish this task, sophisticated RIM equipment is required to handle the mixing, heating and metering of the chemical components that make up polyurethane just prior to its injection into the mold. The advantage of utilizing a polyurethane RIM system is that it can be configured to produce a final product that is foam or solid, and can vary from flexible to rigid.

Finished RIM parts are durable, chemically resistant, wear resistant, low weight and have high insulation values. Part created by reaction injection molding include bumpers for vehicles, steering wheels, dashboards, skis and snowboards, footwear, ice chests, sporting goods, car seats, refrigerator insulation, decorative moldings, and mannequins.

“We see tremendous opportunities in RIM markets for new applications,” says Commette. “The performances of polyurethane materials make it an attractive solution for demanding applications or where higher quality product is required.”

According to Commette, as global markets continue to be more responsive to customers’ demands for better product performance and higher quality, manufacturers will seek alternative material solutions such as RIM technology, which also lend themselves to manufacturing cost reductions.

“We have seen a significant growth in polyurethane product outputs in countries around the world, which in the past made up only a small portion of the RIM market,” says Commette. “This is where the performance of polyurethane products, combined with the inherent adaptability of the reaction injection molding process to automated manufacturing processes will prove to be a key technology solution.”

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:19 AM | Comments (0)

ISA Hardware Starts Distribution of Newisys® Server Products

ISA Hardware, one of the most dynamic computer component distributors operating in the emerging markets of Eastern Europe, Middle East, and North Africa has signed an authorized distribution agreement with Newisys®, a Sanmina-SCI Company and leading developer of enterprise-class server and storage designs.

Limassol (Cyprus)(PRWEB) July 26, 2005 -- ISA Hardware, one of the most dynamic computer component distributors operating in the emerging markets of Eastern Europe, Middle East, and North Africa has signed an authorized distribution agreement with Newisys®, a Sanmina-SCI Company and leading developer of enterprise-class server and storage designs.

According to the recently signed agreement, ISA Hardware has received the status of Official Distributor of Newisys products and is now authorized to distribute the complete range of Newisys server solutions. The agreement covers Eastern Europe, countries of the Former Soviet Union, Baltic and Nordic countries, as well as Middle East and North Africa.

Yuri Antoshkin, ISA Hardware’s Operation Director, said: "We are extremely happy that we have secured this agreement with Newisys, a Sanmina-SCI company with a reputation for innovation and quality within the server industry. I am deeply convinced that our channel partners are going to benefit from our extended offer of robust high-performance and competitively-priced enterprise-class servers and will appreciate their quality and reliability."

The new partnership will promote the distribution and sales of advanced Newisys server products based on AMD Opteron™ processors throughout the 20 countries of ISA Hardware’s presence and will enable dealers and resellers to obtain Newisys servers locally through ISA Hardware’s offices.

"We are pleased to have ISA Hardware as a distribution partner for our Newisys servers," commented Don Johnson, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Computing and Storage Division, Sanmina-SCI. "ISA Hardware has established a key footprint into the rapidly growing Eastern European market and we look forward to leveraging this partnership to reach more customers."

About ISA Hardware
ISA Hardware is one of the most dynamically developing computer component distributors operating in the markets of Europe, Middle East, and North Africa. Currently ISA Hardware Group, with headquarters in Cyprus, has 20 subsidiaries across its regions. The company’s success is due to its market flexibility, business innovations, and the ability to satisfy the ever growing customers’ needs. The customer-focused sales strategy is the cornerstone of ISA Hardware’s success in shaping long-term mutually beneficial partner relations. The company offers its clients only the most trusted and highly-demanded hi-tech products. For more information please visit www.isahardware.com.

About Newisys
Newisys®, a Sanmina-SCI Company, is a creative technology company significantly impacting the server-computing environment. Newisys is dedicated to designing and delivering enterprise-class server and storage products. Newisys offers a family of robust designs targeted for integration into Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) product offerings. For more information, visit www.newisys.com.

Media contact:
Olena Parkhomenko
Marketing Director
ISA Hardware
+357 25 857 229

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:17 AM | Comments (0)

Maintenance Software for Manufacturing Plants, Industrial & Commercial Facilities -- FastMaint CMMS 4.4 Trial Download Now Available

SMGlobal Inc. announces the release of version 4.4 of its FastMaint CMMS software for preventive maintenance management. FastMaint is a computerized maintenance m