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November 17, 2006

Modular Building Company Awarded Cleanroom Project in Anchorage, Alaska

Allied Modular Announces another award of A Cleanroom by the US Military. This company has seen tremendous growth in the 4th quarter.

Elmendorf Air Force Base, Anchorage, AK (PRWEB) November 17, 2006 -- Allied Modular Building Systems, Inc. announced today that it has been awarded the contract for construction of a Class 10000 Cleanroom for America's Global Strike Task Force's C-17 Globemaster III and the F-22A Raptor military programs based here.

The C-17 Globemaster III is the newest, most flexible cargo aircraft to enter the airlift force and is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases or directly to forward bases in the deployment area. The F-22A Raptor is the Air Force's newest fighter aircraft and with its combination of stealth, supercruise maneuverability, and integrated avionics represents an exponential leap in warfighting capabilities.

The Cleanroom will be design-built according to Elmendorf's particular project specifications and applications. The primarily use of the cleanroom will be critical composite repairs of structural cracks on the C-17 transport fleet but will also include unspecified future operational uses for the F-22A Raptor essential to man and material supplies for the war effort in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Allied Modular Building Systems and their Environmental Application Division is a preferred supplier to the U.S. Armed Forces, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as well as private industry due to their groundbreaking research and development and scientific applications. Allied Modular was chosen for this project due to the company's advanced technical expertise, overall strength of the system and engineering specifications including Seismic Zone 4 earthquake qualifications deemed among the best in the industry.

"Allied Modular Building Systems works with the aerospace industry on a regular basis including the famous "Skunk Works" and "Phantom Works" projects based in Southern California," said Craig Wiener, Environmental Applications Division National Manager. "We are particularly proud of our on-going partnership with both producers and end-users of innovative and necessary American military defense technologies."

For further information contact Craig Wiener at e-mail protected from spam bots or phone toll-free at 800-959-0810.

About Allied Modular Building Systems

Since 1989, Allied Modular Building Systems, Inc. has secured its reputation as the leader in the modular industry with products manufactured locally and distributed nationally that provide cost effective, time saving, versatile alternatives to standard stick construction. All products are 100% modular and can be relocated and reassembled. Product lines include modular offices, interior and exterior buildings, clean rooms, 2 story offices, guard houses, mezzanines, vision towers, machine enclosures, full height partitions, smoking shelters and nearly innumerable custom applications. Tours of our 50,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility and showroom are welcome. Contact Allied Modular at 800-959-0810 or visit our website at http://:www.alliedmodular.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:10 AM | Comments (0)

Harbor Research Forecasts Rapid Growth in Energy Sector for M2M/Pervasive Internet and Remote Managed Services

Opportunities for remote managed services (smart services) in the Energy sector are forecast to reach $66 billion in revenue by 2011, up from $14bn in 2006 according to a latest report just published by Harbor Research Inc., the world's leading provider of strategic consulting and research services in the fast-developing M2M/Pervasive Internet market.

(PRWEB) November 17, 2006 -- Opportunities for remote managed services (smart services) in the Energy sector are forecast to reach $66 billion in revenue by 2011, up from $14bn in 2006 according to a latest report just published by Harbor Research Inc., the world's leading provider of strategic consulting and research services in the fast-developing M2M/Pervasive Internet market.

The report -- "Smart Services in the Energy Sector: The Rapid Development of M2M/Pervasive Internet Business Opportunities -- focuses specifically on the crucially-important energy market and the growing opportunities for remote managed services this represents.

There has been much activity in the energy sector over the past few years. Rising fuel costs are now the norm, and many around the globe are simply getting used to paying more for energy-related resources. As oil supply tightens, the move is on to further develop alternative fuel supplies so as not to rely on specific regions and supply chains for petroleum and fossil fuels.

Yet the demands for energy in industry and commerce, government and public infrastructure, as well as those of residential users, have never been greater and continue to rise quickly. This is not only the case in the developed nations of North America and Western Europe, it is increasingly a world phenomenon as demonstrated by the rising demands of rapid growth countries like China and India. China in particular now consumes roughly a tenth of the world's power and has managed to continue its torrid growth for several years. This belies a future in which paradigm shifts must occur. Simply - breakthroughs in power technologies will be necessary to alleviate the strain on the energy industry's status quo or a serious reduction in demand will be needed.

At the same time, the impact of climate change and the growing demands for energy conservation are changing the political landscape. The sector is such a necessity to every region that governments across the world have already enacted legislation on energy measures or will shortly do so to protect and develop what is increasingly considered their most vital resource.

Because of all this activity, the opportunities for remote service management in the sector have never been greater and are rising sharply. Harbor Research has analyzed these along three vital axes -- key drivers, key regions and key technologies.

As a result, this report makes essential reading for anyone concerned with the development of remote managed services in this crucially important sector. Utilities, product manufacturers, service providers, technology suppliers, integrators and network operators all have a significant part to play in this rapidly evolving story.

Smart Services in the Energy Sector: The Rapid Development of M2M/Pervasive Internet Business Opportunities is available directly from Harbor Research. Visit www.harborresearch.com for more information on this important new report and for ordering.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:09 AM | Comments (0)

Bi3 Solutions Executes Master Agreement with County of Los Angeles

Bi3 to provide strategic planning & performance management services/software to help the county execute on Performance Counts! initiative.

Alameda, CA (PRWEB) November 17, 2006 -- Bi3 Solutions, Inc. (http://www.bi3solutions.com), a full-service provider of end-to-end Collaborative Performance Management solutions, today announced they have been added to the County of Los Angeles' list of approved firms to provide as-needed strategic planning and performance measurement services/software to the County's departments, helping them to execute and achieve the goals set forth in their Performance Counts! program. This will be accomplished using Bi3 Solutions Collaborative Performance Management program, which helps public sector organizations meet their strategic objectives through the winning combination of strategy, planning, process management, analysis and reporting.

Since 2002, a key element of the County of Los Angeles' Strategic Plan has been the development and implementation of a countywide framework, Performance Counts!, for performance measurement. The County has adopted a Strategic Plan, which includes a Vision, Mission Statement and eight Goals, with supporting strategies and objectives. As part of the overall effort, each County department is expected to have a departmental strategic plan and to implement such plans consistent with the countywide plan. The County of Los Angeles is one of the nation's largest counties. It has the largest population of any county in the nation and 38departments with over 90,000 budgeted positions, all of which will benefit from the Performance Counts! program.

Through their Collaborative Performance Management program, Bi3 Solutions can assist County departments in identifying their strategic objectives, goals, metrics and processes, aligning their strategic objectives and processes with the County's mission and vision, fostering communication of the outlined strategy via a web-based, real-time collaborative environment and connecting the strategic performance system to existing data sources in an effort to link the County's departments' performance management systems to the organizations' data and documentation.

About Bi3 Solutions
Headquartered in Alameda, CA, Bi3 Solutions, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary Octet Consulting, Inc. focus on designing and implementing Collaborative Performance Management solutions to help both public and private organizations meet their strategic objectives. Collaborative Performance Management (CPM) has been defined by Bi3 Solutions as closing the loop between organizational strategy, planning, process management, analysis and reporting to enable efficient execution. Combining organizational and procedural best practices with supporting modern technologies, this powerful and comprehensive approach supports continuous improvement efforts around strategic alignment, data management, data visualization, scorecarding/dashboarding, analysis, planning, predictive modeling, reporting, and execution. For more information visit http://www.bi3solutions.com.

Press Contact: Carol Arnold, Arnold Communications, (877) 718-4604 x2.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:08 AM | Comments (0)

Church Hill Classics® Introduces New Medallion Desk Accessory Collection

Church Hill Classics expands its diploma frame and Military frame lines with coordinating desk accessories.

Danbury, CT (PRWEB) November 17, 2006 -- Church Hill Classics has always been sensitive to the wants and needs of its customers. After fifteen years in business offering diploma and certificate frames, Church Hill Classics recognized a demand for a gift line to accent their popular document frames. This desk accessory line is designed for the college and university graduate or alumnus, military service person or retiree, or for use as corporate incentives or departmental gifts.

The new collection of gift items includes a genuine marble Paperweight, a high-gloss cherry Letter Sorter, a Desk Set with a solid brass ball point pen and a business card holder, and a hardwood Desk Box. Each item features an elegant licensed medallion of a university or college's academic seal or athletic logo, a military indicia, or corporate seal or mark. In addition to the medallion gifts, Church Hill Classics is also introducing a Photo Desk Box featuring a beautiful inlaid tile that showcases a school's landmark scene, a military image and sentiment, or may include custom-designed art. The Desk Set, Desk Box, and Photo Desk Box also include an optional brass or silver plate that can be custom engraved with a name, year of graduation, or other special message. All wooden desk accessories are finished in sleek high-gloss cherry to complement the company's top-selling frame moulding choices.

According to Lucie Voves, President of Church Hill Classics, "We received so much positive customer feedback on our enameled medallion diploma frames that it seemed natural to extend the line to offer high-quality coordinating desk accessories. We will market the gifts alongside our frames, allowing our partner stores and institutions to offer a comprehensive gift collection to families of graduates, loyal supporters, and alumni."

The desk accessories are perfect as corporate incentives, holiday presents, or graduation gifts for the college or university graduate. Whether placed in a home office or at work, these medallion and campus scene gifts reflect the pride and prestige of one's alma mater, branch of service, or company.

To view products for your institution, log onto www.diplomaframe.com, or call us at 1-800-477-9005.

About Church Hill Classics

Church Hill Classics (CHC) designs and manufactures custom diploma frames and credential frames for hundreds of institutions of higher education, professional associations, corporations, military groups, and Greek organizations. CHC is a 2006 winner of the Better Business Bureau's International Torch Award for Business Ethics, which recognizes an outstanding commitment to customer service and ethical business practices (for details visit, http://www.bbb.org/alerts/article.asp?ID=712). CHC is a member of the Professional Picture Framers Association (PPFA) and the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO).

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:07 AM | Comments (0)

November 16, 2006

New Optimal Thinking Program Provides Missing Link to Sales Success

OptimalThinking.com announced today the launch of the Continuous Sales Optimization Program, powered by Optimal Thinking. "Sales opportunities are squandered every day because sales organizations are rife with suboptimal thinking. Every time a sales person thinks suboptimally, productivity, revenue, profits and market share are compromised. That's why I have assembled a team of top sales industry experts and we are now launching the Continuous Sales Optimization Program" emphasized Rosalene Glickman, Ph.D., international best-selling author of Optimal Thinking and founder of OptimalThinking.com.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) November 16, 2006 -- OptimalThinking.com announced today the launch of the Continuous Sales Optimization Program, powered by Optimal Thinking.

"Sales opportunities are squandered every day because sales organizations are rife with suboptimal thinking. Every time a sales person thinks suboptimally, productivity, revenue, profits and market share are compromised. That's why I have assembled a team of top sales industry experts and we are now launching the Continuous Sales Optimization Program" emphasized Rosalene Glickman, Ph.D., international best-selling author of Optimal Thinking and founder of OptimalThinking.com.

Hailed by academia and the media as the "successor to positive thinking" and the "mental basis of peak performance", Optimal Thinking is sweeping the corporate world. Based on the Optimal Thinking book (Wiley, and in 15 languages), the new Continuous Sales Optimization Program shows sales people and organizations how to optimize (not just improve or manage) sales performance in five key areas - Optimal Thinking, Strategy, People, Process, and Platform.

Dr. Glickman explains that "After consulting with the CEO and/or the senior sales executives, we uncover the source of suboptimal thinking and performance in individuals, teams and the entire sales organization with our proprietary Optimal Thinking 360 Online Assessment. The assessment reveals their hierarchy of thinking, core motivation, stressors, priorities, preferred interaction styles, and provides a roadmap to optimize performance. We can then customize Optimal Thinking training to meet the specific needs of individuals and teams and achieve optimal performance through best practices. As we are totally confident in our ability to optimize the sales organization's return on investment (ROI), we offer a 30-day money back guarantee."

According to Don McNamara CMC, author of Visionary Sales Leadership and sales optimization consultant at OptimalThinking.com, "Sales management training and development programs do not address the root cause of sales success and failure - the level of sales force thinking. That's the missing link. Sales people simply fail to think through and execute the optimal course of action in sales situations. Personnel using Optimal Thinking strategies and tactics determine the best course of action each and every time. Optimal Thinking is a milestone breakthrough because it delivers immediate best-self performance."

According to Mark Friedman, the sales process optimization expert at OptimalThinking.com, "Our proprietary sales process assessment ascertains the sales organization's cost per lead and the best strategies to obtain the most qualified leads. We provide an optimal reporting infrastructure and closed-loop lead optimization system. The sales process and methodology must maximize the use of qualified leads and best support the business strategy and sales quotas."

Dr. Rosalene Glickman, Don McNamara CMC and Mark Friedman are available for TV, radio, and print media interviews to discuss sales optimization and the new Continuous Sales Optimization Program. To schedule an interview, contact Anne West at (310) 557-2761.

For more information, visit OptimalThinking.com

OptimalThinking.com is a division of The World Academy of Personal Development Inc, a Century City, Los Angeles, management optimization consulting and training firm.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:55 PM | Comments (0)

Intertek Partners with IFC Certification to Provide Building Product Manufacturers with Faster European Market Access

Partnership removes logistical barriers associated with EU market entry.

CHICAGO, Ill. (PRWEB) November 16, 2006 -- The ETL SEMKO division of Intertek, a global leader in product testing, inspection and certification, has entered a partnership with IFC Certification Ltd., an internationally recognized certification body for building products and materials based in the United Kingdom. The partnership allows manufacturers of many construction products including builder's hardware to utilize Intertek as their single global resource for CE Marking.

Manufacturers now have a local testing solution for applicable European Union requirements including CE Marking of products under the Construction Products Directive. Historically, manufacturers have had to work with multiple testing and certification organizations and ship products to the European Union for applicable testing.

"Intertek continually develops and delivers solutions that meet the global market access needs of our clients," said Jeff Turcotte, vice president Building Products, Intertek. "Through this unique testing and certification partnership we are able to provide our clients with a local CE Marking solution to streamline the European market access process."

The aim of this landmark partnership is to remove the logistical barriers associated with EU market entry, thereby saving building products manufacturers' time and cost.

"Our partnership is the first of its kind in international testing and certification activities," said Jerry Quayle, Director of Certification, IFC Certification Ltd. "By bringing together two of the most dynamic, customer focused organizations in our industry, clients will gain European market access faster than ever before."

ETL SEMKO is a division of Intertek Group plc (LSE: ITRK), a global leader in testing, inspection and certification services, operating in 294 laboratories and 530 offices in 102 countries throughout the world. The ETL SEMKO division of Intertek provides access to global markets through its local services, which include product safety testing and certification, EMC testing and performance testing for customers in such industries as wireless technology, security, appliances, HVAC, cables and wiring accessories, industrial machinery, medical devices, telecommunications, lighting, automotive, semiconductor, building products and electronics.

IFC Certification Ltd is an independent third party UKAS approved Product Certification Body providing high quality and customer focused product certification in the fire industry. IFC Certification Ltd is a fully Notified Body under the Construction Products Directive for CE Marking and is actively involved in the Group of Notified Bodies, the forum for the CE Marking of Construction Products. The company is a member of the long established IFC Group of companies including International Fire Consultants Ltd, who have an enviable independent position offering clients impartial advice across the world.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:54 PM | Comments (0)

Drivers... Start Your Engines; Sixx Media Has Formed a New Division that Will Deal Exclusively with NASCAR and Other Motorsport Sponsorships

Sixx Media LLC, a full-service marketing firm headquartered in the northeast, announced today that it has formed a motorsports division which will deal exclusively with NASCAR and other motorsport sponsorships. To capitalize on this recent development, Sixx Media has opened a satellite office in the Carolinas, long considered the heart of NASCAR country.

Stewartsville, NJ (PRWEB) November 16, 2006 -- Sixx Media LLC, a full-service marketing firm headquartered in the northeast, announced today that it has formed a motorsports division which will deal exclusively with NASCAR and other motorsport sponsorships. To capitalize on this recent development, Sixx Media has opened a satellite office in the Carolinas, long considered the heart of NASCAR country.

"There's a lot going on at Sixx Media," said Rob Nimetz, President and CEO. "Based upon our 2006 successes along with the 2007 renewal of the highly successful and unprecedented NASCAR Busch Series sponsorship agreement with The Scleroderma Foundation and ppc Racing, LLC, it is imperative that we now expand both in size and scope." Nimetz confirmed that they have not only formed Sixx Racing, a new and exciting entity specializing in NASCAR and other motorsport sponsorships, but have opened a South Carolina satellite office, as well. "For Sixx Media to do the best job for our expanding client base," said Nimetz, "we must be trackside and under the hood."

Sixx Media LLC is committed to matching companies and their brands with vehicles that offer the most significant return on investment. Sixx Media provides a platform for corporations, governmental agencies and non-profit organizations to heighten awareness and shape consumer attitudes toward their products and/or services. By combining their marketing expertise with their customer's marketing and financial needs, Sixx Media tailors programs that put their client's name in front of thousands, perhaps millions, of consumers, whether through print, radio, outdoor or a bone-jarring ride on a NASCAR Nextel or Busch series car.

"Our first obligation is to our client," Nimetz continued, "who appreciates quality service along with value creation. Accordingly, Sixx Media's first task involves an extensive evaluation of our client's needs including a review of their expected growth, brand analysis, geographical breath, customer needs and buying behavior trends. Sixx Media also recognizes that while sponsorship of a NASCAR car might suit some organizations, it may not provide the type of exposure some customers need or want. In these instances local and regional marketing may be more appropriate for their target audiences."

Sixx Media works to help clients determine what advertising strategies are best for them, the ones that best fit their budget and brand. Sixx Media's in-depth Marketing and Strategy Analysis includes but is not limited to the following: Marketing and Business Objectives, Brand Equity Analysis, Market Demographics, Market Share, Current Marketing Strategy, Advertising Expenditures and Key Competitor Tactics.

So whether a client decides to launch its marketing campaign through main stream methods or on an 800-horsepower, logo-emblazoned race car, Sixx Media is ready to assist. "One thing we promise," Nimetz, stresses, "whatever marketing strategy we develop, it will be anything but 'traditional'."

Sixx Media Marketing Options --

Media Design and Placement

With over a decade of experience and a wide roster of accounts, Sixx Media is uniquely qualified to provide the media buying and planning expertise and guidance an organization deserves. From Radio and Outdoor, Newspapers and Magazines, On-Line and Transit, at Sixx Media, they do it all.

NASCAR

* Sponsorship of a NASCAR team and driver provides exposure to a unique and identifiable fan base that is the most dedicated and brand loyal fan in all of sports. 75% of all households are now exposed to NASCAR, with the Nextel Cup Series now claiming 75 million fanatic followers, 13 million who attend the circuit's four National Series events each year. Over the past few years, NASCAR's popularity has soared beyond all projections, thanks in part to the sport's appeal to men, women, and children alike. These fans are your customers and most likely the demographics are in line with your target market.

* The breadth of NASCAR gives companies the ability to tap into an event-filled 35 week season that runs from Valentine's Day to Thanksgiving Day. With an expanded marketing program, including exposure in motor sports licensed publications and programs, co-sponsor networking opportunities, guest passes, merchandising (die-cast car, race shirts, etc.), a NASCAR Series sponsorship becomes a 12 month marketing tool. Similarly, images of the car/driver can be used on billboards, TV, and print ads, which will create a significantly higher rate of actual viewership of the ads.

* Sixx Media will demonstrate how a sponsorship with NASCAR can be tailored to provide the best return on investment. From media exposure alone, a sponsor with a NASCAR team can expect optimal exposure time as reported by Joyce Julius & Associates. Sixx Media will work hand-in-hand with you to maximize effectiveness with this niche market.

* Brand loyalty runs deep in NASCAR. It is little wonder that more than 100 Fortune 500 companies have turned to NASCAR sponsorship to ignite their marketing efforts.

* Sixx Media works to achieve their customer's marketing goals and objectives with the NASCAR component as an element of the overall plan. Not within your budget? Sixx Media thinks you will be pleasantly surprised. Clients who at one time thought they could not afford the NASCAR experience are now proud members of the NASCAR family and enjoying all the benefits while effectively communicating to their target audience.

SIXX Media Philosophy --

Sixx Media's management philosophy is based on responsibility and mutual respect and they work in an environment that encourages Creativity, Concepts, Competencies, Connections and Achievement. Sixx Media tailors programs that meet company's marketing and financial needs. Whichever road is chosen, Sixx Media will provide a high octane vehicle that will get their client to its destination quickly and affordably.

SIXX Media Promise --

At Sixx Media they do things differently. They don't tell you what you want to hear. Instead they deliver what you expect and nothing less. They pride themselves on fresh, creative thinking and always welcome opportunities other agencies shy away from. They will do everything in their power to make your relationship with Sixx Media rewarding, productive and enjoyable. Sixx Media -- advertising with edge.

Sound too good to be true? Give them a call. Let Sixx Media develop a strategic marketing program that will not only enhance your brand image but impact your bottom line, as well.

Sixx Media, LLC
P.O. Box 226
Stewartsville, NJ 08886

Tel: (908) 313-5550
Fax: (908) 387-1123

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

H.M. Cragg Co. Announces New Role as Master Distributor for Eaton Powerware Products

MN-based provider of quality power solutions, H.M. Cragg Co., chosen as master distributor for Eaton Powerware backup power products.

Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) November 16, 2006 -- www.hmcragg.com -- H.M. Cragg Co., a MN-based provider of quality power solutions including Uninterruptible Power Systems (UPS), UPS Batteries, and PEM Fuel Cells, today announced its new role as a Master Distributor for Eaton Powerware UPS Products.

The newly signed agreement enables H.M. Cragg Co. to distribute Eaton Powerware products to resellers.

"H.M. Cragg Co. is excited to adopt its new role as Master Distributor of Eaton Powerware products," said Paul Heggestad, President of H.M. Cragg Co. "H.M. Cragg Co. was very successful as an Eaton Powerware value-added reseller. Our deep understanding of the tools and information resellers need to succeed will help us to better serve our resellers."

The following Eaton products will be available to H.M. Cragg Co. resellers:
• 300 VA - 18kVA Single Phase UPS
• 10kVA - 30kVA 3 Phase UPS
• UPS Communications Options and Remote Notification
• Extended Run-time Solutions
• Server Racks and Accessories

In order to introduce its new Master Distributor Status to the reseller community, H.M. Cragg Co. is hosting an on-line open house in December. The open house is an interactive forum for resellers to learn about H.M. Cragg Co., its products and services.

Resellers can sign up at http://www.hmcragg.com/mstr-dist.html

About Eaton Corporation
Eaton Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturer with 2005 sales of $11.1 billion. Eaton is a global leader in electrical systems and components for power quality, distribution and control; fluid power systems and services for industrial, mobile and aircraft equipment; intelligent truck drive train systems for safety and fuel economy; and automotive engine air management systems, power train solutions and specialty controls for performance, fuel economy and safety. Eaton has 60,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 125 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com.

About H.M. Cragg Co.
H.M. Cragg Co. is a premier MN-based provider of quality power solutions including Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells and Uninterruptible Power Systems (UPS). Products include Anderson Connectors, C & D Technologies, Inc. batteries, Rittal Cabinets and Eaton Powerware UPS and UPS batteries. More information about the company can be found at www.hmcragg.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:52 PM | Comments (0)

US Sublimation Named Readers Choice Top 50 Companies for 2006 from Digital Output Readers

For the second consecutive year, US Sublimation is selected as a Top 50 innovator from Digital Output Magazine's readers.

Fort Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) November 16, 2006 -- Each year, Digital Output the leading publication for digital printing professionals awards 50 companies as top innovators in the field. The award recipients are chosen based on reader interest in those companies and products showcased in the magazine.

In 2005, US Sublimation made the winners list thanks to the introduction of reliable and cost effective bulk ink delivery solutions for printers such as Mimaki, Roland, Epson and Mutoh.

In late 2006, US Sublimation introduced UV MAX, a new line of UV resistant digital dye sublimation ink which utilizes an advanced molecular formulation that increases fade resistance. UV MAX features a wide color space and offers the same non clogging features of the original LFP formulation(formerly known as Rotech Digital USA) it derives from. This innovative ink formulation is compatible with all wide format piezo printers such as Mimaki (JV22, JV3 & JV4), Epson Stylus 9000, 9600, 9800, 10000, 10600 and most Roland and Mutoh.

Dye sublimation is widely used for fabric banners, flags, ceramic and glass tiles, surfboards, skateboards, snowboards, and outdoor apparel all of which are often exposed to sunlight for extended periods of time; "UV resistance is therefore of extreme importance to our customers and their customers alike " says Nick Constable of US Sublimation.

Accelerated weathering tests are currently under way comparing UVMax to a leading competitor and the original US Sublimation LFP formula. Preliminary readings after 250 hours of Xenon Light Exposure suggest that UVMax will double the life of a sublimated image on glass tiles. Metal and ceramic samples are also currently being tested and results are due in late December. Previous similar tests confirm that UV Max will triple the life of the sublimated image on PES fabrics compared to the original LFP formula.

US Sublimation specializes in digital wide format dye sublimation products and equipment. Founded in 2000, the company is responsible for introducing Rotech Digital Dye sublimation ink into the US market, re-branded in early 2006 as US Sublimation Digital LFP series. Acquired by PrintVillage, Inc. in 2003, US Sublimation is now the leading independent supplier of ink and media for wide format digital dye sublimation.

About PrintVillage: PrintVillage maintains status as one of the top giclee' fine art reproduction facilities in the U.S. With interests in all areas of digital printing and imaging technologies, PrintVillage remains on the cutting edge of research and development through its subsidiary: US Sublimation, a world leader in the dye sublimation supply industry with exclusive North American distribution channels of US Sublimation LFP and UVMAX inks, Jetran™ transfer papers, and NanoChrome inks. PrintVillage has developed InkVillage to service and distribute high end ink and printing solutions for photographic and fine art print professionals. Products include: NanoChrome™, Atelier Inks, Dual Chambered Continuous Flow Bulk Ink Delivery Systems, Refillable High Capacity InkJet Cartridge Systems, Custom ICC Profiling, and Media.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:52 PM | Comments (0)

McGuigan Simeon Wines Awards Scheduling Optimization Contract to SolveIT Software

Major Australian winery to use Artificial Intelligence software for planning and scheduling.

Adelaide, South Australia (PRWEB) November 16, 2006 -- SolveIT Software Pty Ltd, a premier provider of Profit Optimization software solutions for Global 1000 companies and government organizations, announced today that it has signed a contract with McGuigan Simeon Wines for the delivery of a software system that will optimize crush scheduling.

Under the terms of the agreement, SolveIT Software will use its proprietary optimization platform to develop a crush scheduling system for McGuigan Simeon Wines. Based on a collection of adaptive Artificial Intelligence technologies, the software system will maximize equipment and labor utilization, while also taking into account complex business rules and unexpected changes.

"The complexity of operational demands and customer supply chain across our entire business is vast. I look to challenge all IT programs to deliver efficiencies through compliance, quality, automation and key decision-making where our cost and quality of product risk is significant (and is governed by special compliances at a customer level or as industry regulation)," said Mr. Ryan Klose, Chief Information Officer of McGuigan Simeon Wines. "Our partnership with SolveIT Software is looking to revolutionize the precision of decision-making within such a traditional division of our organization, namely our annual harvest and vintage crush over all our wine production sites."

McGuigan Simeon Wines is an integrated wine company with interests in vineyard management and development, wine production, marketing and distribution. The company manages over 4570 hectares of vineyards, and generated revenues of $360.8 million for the fiscal year ended June 2006. For more information, please visit: www.mswl.com.au

"We are delighted to add one of Australia's largest wineries as a client," said Dr. Zbigniew Michalewicz, Chairman of the Board of SolveIT Software. "Using the latest advances in modern heuristics, we look forward working with McGuigan Simeon Wines to increase their operational planning and scheduling efficiency."

About SolveIT Software Pty Ltd

SolveIT Software is a premier provider of Profit Optimization solutions for Global 1000 companies and government organizations. The company was founded upon the cutting-edge research of several world-renowned computer scientists, and offers modeling, simulation, and optimization solutions for complex logistics and marketing problems. Based on proprietary technology platforms and the power of Adaptive Business IntelligenceÒ, the company's software solutions can provide clients with measurable increases in revenue and/or decreases in cost. SolveIT Software also features a highly scalable business model, a strong set of competitive differentiators, and sophisticated core technologies that were pioneered by the company's founders. For more information about SolveIT Software, please visit www.SolveITSoftware.com.

Forward-looking (safe harbor) statement
Statements made in this news release that relate to future plans, events or performances are forward-looking statements. Any statement containing words such as "believes", "plans", "expects" or "intends" and other statements which are not historical facts contained in this release are forward-looking, and these statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations. Consequently, actual results could differ materially from the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements.

Contact:
SolveIT Software Pty Ltd
Plaza Building, L3, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5005
P.O. Box 3161, Adelaide, SA 5000
Phone: +61 8 8303-5405
Fax: +61 8 8303-4366

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:51 PM | Comments (0)

Coyne Graphic Finishing Implements Dienamics Management Software

Ohio-based finishing services provider adds complete estimating and job tracking software, which follows up signifcant equipment upgrades.

Mount Vernon, OH (PRWEB) November 16, 2006 -- Coyne Graphic Finishing, Inc., a full-service binding and finishing company specializing in large-format die cutting and mounting, has completed installation of the Dienamics suite of operations management software tools. The implementation of Dienamics software comes on the heels of a recent expansion of the company's services, including the installation of a Cauhe large-format clamshell die cutter.

The Dienamics software package is designed specifically for use in print finishing, trade bindery and packaging operations. Among the activities for which Coyne will use Dienamics software are estimating, scheduling, job tracking, inventory management, shipping and invoicing. Dienamics allows Coyne to tie together data from all these areas for more efficient communication within the plant and with customers.

Kevin Coyne, President of Coyne Graphic Finishing, said the ability to support the company's expanded capabilities without compromising their signature level of communication with customers helped drive the decision to add Dienamics software.

"Our customers count on us for our state-of-the-art equipment and impeccable communication," said Coyne. "We've made several improvements to the former, including the addition of CNC routing services and a custom-manufactured Cauhe large-format die cutter earlier this year. Dienamics allows us to have up-to-the-minute project and customer information at our fingertips. That's vitally important as we continue to grow."

About Coyne Graphic Finishing: Coyne Graphic Finishing offers complete, end-to-end print finishing and point-of-purchase production services. Almost all of the company's services are performed on automated equipment -- a rarity among finishing services companies -- to achieve the highest quality and reduced turnaround times. Coyne's services include large-format and high-die cutting; mounting; mechanical binding; folding and gluing; computerized CNC routing and more. For more information about Coyne Graphic Finishing, contact Kevin Coyne by phone at (740) 397-6232.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:50 PM | Comments (0)

Geometric Software Releases GeomCaliper™ Version 2.0 for Pro/ENGINEER®

Geometric Software Solutions today announced the release of GeomCaliper for Pro/ENGINEER® version 2.0 -- an innovative design tool enables quick and in-depth analysis of wall thickness in Pro/ENGINEER® models. Accessible within a Wildfire session, it provides immediate feedback to designers during the design process.

Mumbai, India (PRWEB) November 16, 2006 -- Geometric Software Solutions (Geometric), a leader in product lifecycle management (PLM) services and technologies, today announced the release of GeomCaliper TM for Pro/ENGINEER® version 2.0.

GeomCaliper is an innovative tool for measuring and checking wall thickness of Pro/ENGINEER® Wildfire 3D models. Accessible within a Wildfire session, it provides immediate feedback to designers during the design process. GeomCaliper TM assists engineers in quickly detecting thin areas in plastic molded components that may result in warps or thick sections in castings that may result in hot spots. It is easy-to-use and requires minimal training to interpret the results. Users commonly save over 75 - 80% of the time spent in thickness analysis. In addition, an innovative visualization process allows the detection of hidden critical regions.

Benefits of GeomCaliper TM:

• Quick and easy design reviews for manufacturability
• Early analysis and design correction results in improved part quality and downstream cost savings
• Improved design productivity

Key features of GeomCaliper TM for Pro/ENGINEER® version 2.0:

• Ability to cut cross sections and automatically compute thickness
• Improved performance in computation time and peak memory
• 25% faster in loading model in GeomCaliper
• 25% faster in computing thickness
• 10% reduction in peak memory consumption
• Allows the editing of names in critical regions during analysis
• Displays chord distance in sphere method - shows the minimum thickness of model in 3D.

GeomCaliper TM is based on PTC's Pro/Toolkit and leverages the mature API provided by PTC to 3rd party developers. Wildfire customers will benefit from 3D oriented productivity features such as advanced thickness map display and manipulation.

Other features of GeomCaliper TM include:

• Easy to locate critical thickness areas
• Advanced visualization mode for easy interpretation of results
• Ability to clip model at any section
• Dynamic thickness display at point click
• Customizable reports in XML /HTML format

GeomCaliper TM for Pro/ENGINEER® supports Wildfire 1, 2 and 3. For detailed product information and a limited period trial version, please visit: http://geomcaliper.geometricsoftware.com/

About Geometric Software Solutions
Geometric is a leader in providing the most cost-effective product lifecycle management (PLM) products, technologies, and services to the global mechanical design, manufacturing, and industrial markets. Partnerships with major PLM vendors such as Dassault Systèmes, UGS PLM Solutions, and MatrixOne offer the unique advantage of providing cost effective services on leading PLM platforms. Geometric offers services based on SolidWorks®, CATIA®, ENOVIA™, DELMIA™, eMatrix™, Teamcenter® Enterprise, Windchill®, and other leading CAD/CAM/CAE/PDM software platforms. The company is traded on both the Bombay (BSE) and the National (SE) stock exchanges in India. For more information visit: http://www.geometricsoftware.com/

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:49 PM | Comments (0)

Rickard Bindery Installs Second String Tying Machine

String tying continues to increase company's small format product advertising manufacturing services.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) November 16, 2006 -- Rickard Bindery, a 106-year old Chicago-based post press services company, proudly announces the expansion of its string tying department with the installation of a second machine. Although the company just entered this niche market earlier this year, demand for "piggyback" product marketing solutions has exceeded management expectations, requiring additional manufacturing capacity.

"We hoped to make a splash in our marketplace," says Jim Egan, Sales Manager. "But the demand has exceeded our optimistic expectations."

With more than 80 folding machines, Rickard Bindery is an industry-leading provider of folding services that range from miniature pharmaceutical folding to large-format folding for maps and other oversized products. The company also provides high-volume saddle stitching, gluing and attaching.

About Rickard Bindery: Founded in 1900, Rickard Bindery is an industry leader in binding and finishing. In its 80,000-square-foot facility, Rickard provides string tying; saddle and loop stitching with up to 12 pockets; miniature, oversized, map, gate and specialty folding; rotary scoring; fulfillment; attaching; wafer sealing and seam, fugitive and remoistenable gluing. For more information on Rickard's services, go to www.RickardBindery.com, or call Jim Egan at 1-800-747-1389.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:48 PM | Comments (0)

Institute for Lean Innovation to Facilitate Pre-Conference Workshop at the "Front End of Innovation Europe" Conference

The Institute for Lean Innovation, home of the Lean Innovation CUBE, today announced that Bart Huthwaite, Institute Founder, will facilitate a three hour pre-conference workshop at the Front End of Innovation Europe on January 22, 2007, in Munich, Germany.

Mackinac Island, MI (PRWEB) November 16, 2006 -- The Institute for Lean Innovation, home of the Lean Innovation CUBE, today announced that Bart Huthwaite, Institute Founder, will facilitate a three hour pre-conference workshop at the Front End of Innovation Europe on January 22, 2007, in Munich, Germany.

The presentation, "The Innovation CUBE: How to Turn Great Ideas into Business Solutions" is scheduled from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the ArabellaSheraton Grand Hotel Munich.

The conference, produced by the Institute for International Research, will feature speakers from Adobe, Google, Unilever Foods, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Ryanair, Siemens and many more.

The Institute for Lean Innovation assists corporations such as General Dynamics, Motorola, Raytheon, Masco, Microsoft, General Electric, Johnson & Johnson and others with integrating Lean Innovation, using the Innovation CUBE methodology, into on-going Lean, Six Sigma and Continuous Improvement initiatives. The Lean Innovation Cube provides a platform for a systematic and repeatable innovation process without disturbing existing initiatives.

To learn more about the Institute, please visit our website at www.innovationcube.com.

Contact:

John Keogh
Institute for Lean Innovation
906-847-0966

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:47 PM | Comments (0)

How a Paint Manufacturer Significantly Reduced Their Product Loss -- a Real World Documented Case Study

Latex paints and stain manufacturer -- PPG Architectural Finishes of Louisville, Kentucky -- knew its filling operation was overly complicated, noisy, and required far too much operator attention. More importantly, PPG experienced an unacceptable percentage of product loss in the filtering process. PPG replaced their vibrating screen, accumulating vessel, and diaphragm pump with a Ronningen-Petter DCF-800 self-cleaning filter, greatly reducing product waste, operator involvement, and line noise levels.

(PRWEB) November 16, 2006 -- Latex paints and stain manufacturer - PPG Architectural Finishes of Louisville, Kentucky - knew its filling operation was overly complicated, noisy, and required far too much operator attention. More importantly, PPG experienced an unacceptable percentage of product loss in the filtering process. PPG replaced their vibrating screen, accumulating vessel, and diaphragm pump with a Ronningen-Petter DCF-800 self-cleaning filter, greatly reducing product waste, operator involvement, and line noise levels.

Situation

An air-operated diaphragm pump at the base of a blend tank pumped product onto a large vibrating screen, which was open to the atmosphere.

Product exiting the vibrating screen was fed into an accumulating vessel, where another pump would transfer the product through a polishing filter and into a rotary drum filling machine.

With the two pumps, vibrating screen and open-air vessel, this system was complex, noisy, and wasteful.

Mr. Doug Story, plant engineer at the Louisville plant, had some simple objectives for improving the company's filling operation — produce as much finished product as possible, by using the most environmentally friendly and least wasteful methods available.

Solution

Ronningen-Petter showed Mr. Story how he could greatly simplify the process by installing a Ronningen-Petter DCF filter in place of the vibrating screen.

Removing the vibrating screen would also eliminate the need for the accumulating vessel and its associated piping and controls, as well as the second diaphragm pump and its compressed air components and controls.

Mr. Story said, "The simplicity of the new filling process gained instant approval from both our operators and maintenance personnel." The old equipment was removed and a DCF-800 self-cleaning filter was installed.

With the DCF filter, paint enters the top inlet of the filter housing and passes through the screen. The screen holds undispersed pigments, paint skins, and debris, while the cleaned paint exits the bottom outlet of the filter.

A cleaning disc moves up and down the filter screen, removing debris. With the aid of the downward fluid flow and the disc movement, the debris is deposited into a holding chamber at the bottom of the filter housing.

The debris is periodically purged from the housing via a valve at the bottom of the chamber.

Results

The Ronningen-Petter DCF filter has virtually eliminated operator involvement in the operation.

Removing the vibrating screen and second diaphragm pump has dramatically reduced noise levels.

Mr. Story reports significant reductions in product waste because of the DCF filter's top-to-bottom flow design and debris purging technology.

The DCF filter purges residual paint and debris into the plant recycling system, where the solids are separated and the paint is reused. This purge system allows filtration and cleaning to occur simultaneously.

After a year in operation, Mr. Story said:

"Post installation costs for the first year were under $10 (USD). Payback was achieved in four months, and this analysis does not include the savings generated in utilities costs for the vibrating screen, its maintenance, or additional operator time.

The DCF filter has contributed to our paint and stain production efficiency, exceeding the objectives set at the beginning of the project. We are also providing our workers with a quieter, more environmentally friendly workplace."

--by Ask Filter Man

For questions about industrial filtration, please visit the Ask Filter Man forum at http://www.ronningen-petter.com/Ask-Filter-Man-Blog.asp.

If you would like to discuss this filtration solution with one of our highly trained Applications Specialists, please visit http://www.ronningen-petter.com/ContactUs/Contact-Us.asp.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:43 PM | Comments (0)

Institute for Lean Innovation Announces 2007 Industry Conference and Summit Participation Schedule

The Institute for Lean Innovation, home of the Innovation Cube, has announced their Industry Conference and Summit participation schedule for 2007. The Institute for Lean Innovation facilitates three-hour pre-conference workshops as a forum for attendees to learn new methods and processes for incorporating Lean Innovation into their organization.

Mackinac Island, MI (PRWEB) November 16, 2006 -- The Institute for Lean Innovation, home of the Innovation Cube, has announced their Industry Conference and Summit participation schedule for 2007. The Institute for Lean Innovation facilitates three-hour pre-conference workshops as a forum for attendees to learn new methods and processes for incorporating Lean Innovation into their organization.

Three-Hour Lean Innovation Workshops are planned for the following events:

January 22, 2007 in Munich, Germany at the IIR- Front End of Innovation Europe
January 31, 2007 in Philadelphia, PA at the Marcus Evans - Lean Six Sigma for Medical Devices
February 27, 2007 in Santa Fe, NM at the Marcus Evans - Open Innovation
March 28-30, 2007 in Las Vegas, NV at the WCBF - Six Sigma in Healthcare
April 16, 2007 in Chicago, IL at the IIR - Lean Design and Development
April 24, 2007 in Chicago, IL at the WCBF - Six Sigma Summit
May 9, 2007 in Boston, MA at the IIR - Front End of Innovation
June 26, 2007 in Chicago, IL at the WCBF - Design for Six Sigma
August 15-17, 2007 on Mackinac Island, MI at the 2007 Lean Innovation Leadership Summit
October 23, 2007 in Las Vegas, NV at the WCBF - Global Six Sigma Summit

Lean Innovation Workshops were attended in 2006 by representatives from Boeing, Microsoft, Bose, General Electric, Motorola, General Dynamics, Kraft Foods, Allstate Insurance, Ashland, Molson, Weyerhauser, Bank of America, BlueCross BlueShield and many more.

If you are interested in attending an Institute Workshop, please call Emily McCreary at (906)-847-6094.

Contact:
John Keogh
Institute for Lean Innovation
906-847-0966

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:42 PM | Comments (0)

Spiralock Self Locking Threaded Fasteners Ideal for use In Medical Devices

Unique internal thread locking form is helping medical device manufacturers combat vibration, shock, and thread loosening for needed safety and performance.

(PRWEB) November 15, 2006 -- With the lives of patients as well as the reputations of surgeons and medical device companies at stake, medical implants face some of the most rigorous performance requirements of any industry. Despite all the recent technology applied to implants, they still require simple fasteners to function properly. Because these fasteners are so critical, medical device manufacturers have been taking advantage of self locking threaded fasteners with a unique internal design that not only combats vibration and shock but also safeguards product quality and performance whether the implant is permanent or temporary.

Through the physics of the thread locking design itself, Madison Heights, Mich.-based Spiralock Corp. is offering an alternative thread form designed to address the fastener loosening and stripping problem. The secret to Spiralock's self locking threaded fasteners is a 30º "wedge" ramp cut at the root of the female thread. Under clamp load, the crests of the threads on any standard bolt are drawn tightly against the wedge ramp.

Biomet, for example, used Spiralock self locking fasteners for and elbow replacement device that joins a polyethylene bearing of an ulna component with two cobalt chrome articulating surfaces on the humeral component.

"We had to find a way to lock the articulation together in a compact form without violating the elbow condyles," said Matt Brzozowski, a Biomet Extremities Product Manager. "To replicate anatomy as closely as possible, we not only had to keep the threads secure, but also wanted to provide a simpler approach to the articulating components should additional surgery be necessary."

C-clips, specialized retaining rings, and other fasteners proved too cumbersome and costly for the design. For vibration control, loading, and shear strength, Spiralock self locking fasteners were chosen in conjunction with titanium screws. The titanium screws survived a shear test to approximately 2,700 lbs., at which point the screws broke but remained locked in the thread form.

Besides vibration resistance and trustworthy thread locking, Spiralock's self locking threaded fasteners also can provide anatomic and surgical benefits.

"The threads helped us match each patient specifically," says Brzozowski. "Because the bearing is consistent with respect to the screw, we're able to match any humeral sized component with any ulna sized component.

Spiralock's self locking threaded fasteners also helped medical device manufacturer Boston Endo-Surgical Technologies, Inc., based in Hampton, New Hampshire, improve an innovative internal limb-lengthening device, currently used to lengthen the femur or tibia in cases where bone has stopped growing or has been shattered. Prior to the development of the internal limb-lengthening device, up to eight external pins had to penetrate from the skin to the femur or tibia in order to attach an external device, with a likely possibility of infection.

Unusual left-hand Spiralock self locking fasteners now firmly join the limb-lengthener's lead screw with a redesigned nut-screw, and with appropriate torque applied, the screw joint will not loosen. When surgically placed in a patient's femur or tibia, the appropriate bone can now be lengthened up to eighty millimeters while the patient remains mobile.

Spiralock makes self locking threaded fasteners as small as #0-80 (80 threads per inch) as well as double lead threads, which spin on twice as fast with every rotation to decrease time in surgery.

Spiralock Corporation
Kate Turowska
Phone: (248) 543-7800
Fax: (248) 543-1403
Madison Heights
http://www.spiralock.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:41 PM | Comments (0)

ForeignTradeExchange.com Increases Offerings Of Processing Equipment Manufacturers

An online global industrial supply marketplace introduces a new directory and buying guide featuring thousands of processing equipment manufacturers and suppliers in over 54 countries.

Westboro, MA (PRWEB) November 15, 2006 -- ForeignTradeExchange.com, an import and export industrial supply portal and publisher of multiple international industrial directories announced today the launch of its new processing equipment buying guide and directory.

The new publication is intended for engineers, technical professionals, manufacturers and other industrial buyers of processing equipment primarily in Canada, United States, Mexico, Australia, United Kingdom, China, India, South Africa, New Zealand, Netherlands, Italy, Germany and other EU countries.

According to Mark Hamilton, Business Director of ForeignTradeExchange.com, the directory is the company's eleventh specialized buying guide published in 2006 and sixty fourth specialized industrial directory now available on its Web site.

The processing equipment offerings available in the directory include blowers, chillers, absorbers, static control products, blenders, apertures, blades, connectors, anti-freeze products, shields, tanks, coolers, steam equipment, towers, ultrafilteration, bags, ultraviolet, chemical processing equipment, barrels, heaters, corks, baffles, insulation, lamps, coolants, flakers, liners, desiccants, mixers, propellers, refrigerating equipment, cryogenic systems, dryers, extraction machines, fans, cooling and flushing equipment, condensers, filteration products, other processing equipment.

The directory can be instantly accessed at, http://www.ForeignTradeExchange.com/suppliers/processing_equipment.html

"The new buying guide includes offerings from thousands of suppliers that manufacture and/or sell processing equipment and accessories, including custom made and original equipment manufacturers," says Hamilton.

ForeignTradeExchange.com also provides on its Web site a specialized trade forum for members and users to post offers to buy and sell processing equipment and a wide range of other industrial equipment, machinery and supplies.

About ForeignTradeExchange.com

ForeignTradeExchange.com is an international Web based industrial supply trade directory and forum for buyers and sellers of industrial products, including manufacturers, exporters, importers, distributors, engineers and IT companies. Those seeking to expand into foreign markets are welcome to explore trade leads at, http://www.ForeignTradeExchange.com/forum/

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:40 PM | Comments (0)

New Online Packaging Industry Resource Unveiled

Packopedia.com, a new and innovative way to get answers to packaging questions, was unveiled today at its Northern Michigan headquarters.

(PRWEB) November 15, 2006 -- Packopedia.com, a new and innovative way to get answers to packaging questions, was unveiled today at its Northern Michigan headquarters. PackoPedia.com is designed to assist packaging professionals in finding the information that they need and don't have the time to research. It is the first website of its kind that focuses entirely on the needs of packaging industry personnel.

Packopedia.com was designed by a team of customer service, packaging engineering and web development experts as a comprehensive on-line resource for answers to everyday packaging questions as well as complex challenges facing today's busy packaging professionals.

"When we went looking around the internet, we found lots of information here and there, but no one place offered everything we needed." said Marketing Director Greg Starks. "I have heard countless stories of packaging engineers spending many frustrating hours searching for the single piece of the information they need. We designed Packopedia.com for them, as a clearinghouse of packaging industry-related information, as well as a forum where members can share ideas with others in the industry."

Although the site is in its early stages, the Packopedia team expects that it will grow exponentially as more information is added and more members participate in the forum. There are also plans to add new interactive features in the near future to provide an even more valuable resource to its members.

"With the industry feedback we've received so far, we really expect this site to take off quickly. We know it can be a win-win for everyone involved." Starks said. Good information is good for the company, good for the user, and good for their customers.

Packopedia.com provides several general services to all of its guests, including a packaging industry WIKI (a fancy FAQ), a calendar of major packaging industry events and the Packopedia image library. There are also links to other industry resources such as IoPP and PMMI.

Premium services available to Packopedia.com members include:

· Online packaging knowledgebase.
· Discussion board to trade ideas and information with other packaging professionals worldwide.
· Research by packaging experts for specific questions or concerns with answers sent via email.
· Packaging positions and Intern opportunities section of the discussion board where members can post notices for free to advertise for their company.

Packopedia is a member-based information site, not an advertising-based marketing site.

"We are not supported by advertising or sponsors, because we believe that it is impossible to provide a quality product that way," said Starks. "We believe that a quality site is reinforced by a subscriber base, since our subscribers will demand and provide quality information."

When a member needs information about a packaging industry company or product, Packopedia will help members find what they're looking for, without being beholden to any interest except that of their members.

For more information, visit the website at http://www.packopedia.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:39 PM | Comments (0)

YLA's Xponent™ Resin Family Replaces Metals, Yields Superb Down Hole Properties for High Value Composite-based MWD/LWD System Components

Significant improvement in the chemistry of resins employed for engineered composites enables YLA, Inc., headquartered here, to meet the demanding requirements of down hole exploration and production. YLA's newest resin family, Xponent(TM), enables down hole instrument manufacturers to design and fabricate a wide variety of measurement- and log-while-drilling (M/LWD) instrument housings, packers, diverters and other high value components that meet the toughest environmental conditions.

Benicia, CA (PRWEB) November 14, 2006 -- Significant improvement in the chemistry of resins employed for engineered composites enables YLA, Inc., headquartered here, to meet the demanding requirements of down hole exploration and production. YLA's newest resin family, Xponent(TM), enables down hole instrument manufacturers to design and fabricate a wide variety of measurement- and log-while-drilling (M/LWD) instrument housings, packers, diverters and other high value components that meet the toughest environmental conditions. YLA optimizes component manufacturing efficiency by offering Xponent BMI (bismaleimide) in various composite forms such as prepreg, towpreg and custom compression molded components and molding compound.

"Our motivation is to leverage our successful aerospace research for the benefit of the oil and gas industry, where extremely high performance is needed for M/LWD," said Samuel Sher, YLA's Director of Marketing and Business Development. "As our products prove daily in the most demanding aerospace and extraterrestrial applications, chemically-engineered high temperature thermoset resins like the new Xponent family are rapidly replacing metals." Sher predicts that composite materials like the Xponent family will supplant metals as a problem-solving solution in petrochemical exploration and production, mirroring current trends in aerospace.

Xponent resins provide a formidable alternative to machined and cast metals for M/LWD applications. In addition to superior physical properties compared with metals, housings fabricated using Xponent composites deliver substantially greater RF and magnetic transparency. Sacrificial down hole instrumentation in composite housings also enables rapid drill-through compared with metals. In volume applications, YLA's composites are often more cost efficient.

Survival of down hole instrumentation is an engineering challenge due to extreme pressure, heat and vibration. YLA's Xponent resins meet the challenge and offer substantial upside through ongoing research designed to yield improved characteristics.

The same technology lends itself to related uses in a variety of well applications. The Xponent family supports a full gamut of performance. Depending on structure and design, down hole pressures ranging as high as 20,000 psi (~1400 bar) and temperatures to 260ºC (~ 533ºK) may be tolerated. For offshore petroleum, Xponent resins are extremely resistant to the corrosive effects of saline at high pressure and temperature.

The Xponent name was chosen to represent the family's ability to gain performance features going forward. "Bismaleimide or BMI resins and carbon fiber composites like the Xponent family are rapidly evolving, superceding some of the highest performance metals," said Tom Jonas, YLA's Manager of Research and Development. "When used for down hole M/LWD in packers and telemetry housings, Xponent-based components gain qualities difficult to achieve with metals, including RF and magnetic field transparency and rapid drill-through. Typical uses for the housings include real time formation pressure, temperature, density, neutron porosity and magnetic measurements and geologic (seismic) data acquisition. From a life cycle standpoint, YLA's technology yields components that do much more at lower overall cost."

YLA customers are now completing successful test cycling of down hole components fabricated using Xponent resins. "Production volumes of key composite components will soon be available to the petrochemical market, from our customer-partners," said Sher. "YLA is seeking new active partnerships with M/LWD developers to advance the use of these and other composites in their line cards."

ABOUT YLA, INC.

YLA, Inc. is a recognized global leader in the development and manufacture of high performance lightweight composite materials for satellites, aerospace, petrochemical, commercial and military aircraft and radomes, defense, naval/marine, industrial, thermal management and recreational markets. The company is a unit of Sweden's Perstorp Group. A testimonial to YLA's dedication is the 2006 award by Northrop Grumman for an unprecedented third "Gold Supplier" declaration -- making YLA the only advanced composites manufacturer to be so recognized.

Headquartered in Benicia, California, YLA's facility houses research, development and manufacturing for a full line of advanced composite materials. YLA's multiple production lines provide the flexibility to accommodate extremely large production requirements as well as smaller developmental runs. Customers receive the most cost-effective production value possible. Learn more about YLA by calling the company at (707) 747-2750, or visiting www.ylainc.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:38 PM | Comments (0)

Brand New Software Set to Revolutionise Website Design Industry

SiteJourney LTD launches new software enabling SMBs to save £1000's on their web development.

London, UK (PRWEB) November 14, 2006 -- SiteJourney LTD (http://www.sitejourney.com/), is launching its brand new software which will enable small to medium businesses to save £1000's on their web development.

The only UK system to use Software as a Service technology, the software provides a one stop shop for website design and construction. This includes the provision of a content management system, a shopping cart facility, online forums and online recruitment tools as a complete package. This differs from traditional website designs, which rely on several different suppliers providing content, tools, license and hardware. Additionally it won't need updating as often as other websites as all the software upgrades are provided free of charge and delivered automatically.

The system is cheap, easy to install and comes with a complete maintenance package. In addition clients can make full use of SiteJourney's technical experts 24/7 at no extra cost.

SiteJourney's clients who have assisted in the three year development of the software include recruitment agencies, consultancies, sports clubs, as well as British landmarks such as the Cutty Sark.

Richard Doughty, Chief Executive of the Cutty Sark Trust quoted: "We are very grateful to SiteJourney for our brand new website. It is fantastic to have a site that will be able to do justice to our new project." The Trust can now manage their site with the freedom of making changes and updates as and when required. The new site incorporates all their initial goals and can help to promote their conservation project which goes ahead during 2006 - 2009.

Justin Dean of SiteJourney Ltd said: " We are very excited about the launch of this new product. In this digital age, all businesses must maintain a serious online presence in order to live up to the increasing expectations of their customers and clients. SiteJourney has deliberately been developed to provide enterprise level features at an affordable cost for Small and Medium sized businesses. With SiteJourney all businesses can afford to operate competitively and efficiently on line"

For more information please visit: http://www.sitejourney.com/

About SiteJourney:
Headquartered in London, SiteJourney (http://www.sitejourney.com/) is the leading UK provider of Software as a Service (SaaS) enabled web applications. SiteJourney's unique SaaS delivery model where the division between web design, licensing and hosting costs is removed has helped dozens of SMBs gain access to web technologies previously beyond their reach. Their diverse portfolio includes the recruitment industry, consultancies, sports clubs, as well as British landmarks such the London Cutty Sark.

Press Contact:
SiteJourney Press Office
Tel: +44 (0) 207 394 3870
Fax: +44 (0) 207 394 3879
Web: http://www.sitejourney.com/

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:36 PM | Comments (0)

Tanning Salon Owners Going Crazy Over New Colors and Designs

New colors, styles get big looks form salon owners. Progressive designs draws crowds at ITA show in Nashville, TN. Modular walls are considered a must have in this industry.

Nashville, TN (PRWEB) November 14, 2006 -- TanWall™ Modular Salon Wall Systems was once again the recipient of the ever-charming Southern hospitality of Nashville, Tennessee last month at the annual ITA WORLD TANNING SHOW held from October 27 - 29, where TanWall™ introduced their new colors and designs to enthusiastic show participants.

TanWall™ received rave reviews as their featured and newest colors, Ultra Violet, Electric Desire, and Chantilly Chic, were presented. The upscale and modern display also highlighted the nearly unlimited options TanWall™ offers in style, colors, design, electrical, lighting, angles, and configurations - options that set a TanWall™ salon apart from all others.

"TanWall™ introduced the hottest new colors for this season at this years show!" said Kristina Admire, National TanWall™ Sales Manager. "Our job is to make a tanning salon stand out from the rest and give the salon proprietor(s) an undisputed edge in today's competitive marketplace. Not to mention the distinct advantages of modular construction over hard in convenience, down-time and savings! These are standard in-stock items with TanWall™ and our delivery/completion time frame is a mere 3-4 weeks which everyone knows hard construction can't compare to!" Ms. Admire continues.

Tanwall is part of Allied Modular Building Systems, with manufacturing facilities in Nashville, Tennessee and Orange, California. Since 1989, Allied Modular Building Systems has secured its reputation as the best in the modular industry and with the recent growth of the tanning salon trade Allied Modular saw the need for an easier approach to the unique situations presented by salon designs. After providing more than a million square feet of office space, Allied Modular Building Systems launched TanWall™, providing an industry first with the innovation of SceneSations™ and SalonWall™.

For further information contact Kristina Admire at kadmire @ tanwall.com or call toll-free at 866-Tan-Wall or (866) 826-9255

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:35 PM | Comments (0)

Ativa Sativa Cashmere Designer Launches Rare Kashmina Form of Pashmina for Their Shawls and Wraps

Ativa Sativa's Kashmina Collection is made from a rare cashmere found only in Kashmir.

(PRWEB) November 14, 2006 -- Ativa Sativa, an importer and designer of cashmere based products, launches a new line of Kashmina -- a rare type of Pashmina that is far more exclusive and finely made than the rest of Pashminas on the American market. Ativa Sativa's Pashmina Shawls and Wraps come from Kashmir India and this unique form of cashmere feels as soft as butter to the skin; the ideal Pashmina shawl for winter 2006/2007.

Ativa Sativa's Kashmina Collection is close to that of Shahtoosh shawls in feel and texture. Shahtoosh (which literally means: king of all wools) wool production has been banned due to the goat from which it comes becoming an endangered species. Shahtoosh shawls retailed for $3,000.00 and up per shawl. Kashmina is the closest fabric on the market today in quality and feel and these shawls retail for $245.00 and up, through www.AtivaSativa.com.

Ativa Sativa's special Kashmina Pashmina Wraps, Pashmina Shawls, and Pashmina Scarves are extremely luxurious and can be worn in daytime or evening. Ativa Sativa is the only American company to carry and offer to their customers Kashmina, as opposed to standard Pashmina, which comes from Nepal and China.

Pashmina is not a passing fad but a deeply rooted historical fashion accessory that has been worn for centuries throughout the East and in Europe, as part of both formal and casual attire. Pashminas are a "must have" for all women.

Ativa Sativa has spun their rare form of cashmere into many "must have" accessories including lush Throws and Baby Blankets, warm and cozy hats, bathrobes, and scarves. Ativa Sativa carries cashmere accessories for men, women and children.

Ativa Sativa's cashmere creations are available in a wide variety of colors to fit every taste.

About Ativa Sativa
Ativa Sativa sells their premium cashmere designs to consumers through their website www.ativasativa.com, as well as selling their line in a business to business capacity to distributors and retailers who may either choose to sell the Ativa Sativa label, or through their own private labels. "Our goal is to help companies differentiate themselves from the competition by helping create value for their customers." Backed by our years of experience, exclusive relationships and dedication to excellence, Ativa Sativa provides innovative solutions backed by quality production and manufacturing," states Ativa Sativa founder and importer Javid Calcatti.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:34 PM | Comments (0)

BESTProto Inc., is Pleased to Announce the Online Availability of a One-On-One Interview (Podcast) With One of Its Principles, Garth Cates

This interview, found at http://www.podcasternews.com/programs/87/better-process-podcast/2856/ , Garth explains the unique challenges of the new product introduction process with respect to PCB assemblies. In addition he shares his insights on the changes in the market needs in the last 20 years and describes the trends in rapid PCB prototype assembly. Ken Rayment of "Better Process Review" (www.betterprocess.com) , a portal dedicated to the small and medium-sized manufacturers, conducted the short and to-the-point questioning.

Rolling Meadows, IL (PRWEB) November 14, 2006 -- BESTProto Inc., a prototype and specialty small volume PCB assembly operation, is pleased to announce the availability of an online one-on-one interview with Garth Cates.

About BESTProto

BESTProto has access to a variety of both tin-lead and lead free assembly, test and diagnostic tools. For assembly, BESTProto has print, automated SMT placement and reflow capabilities. X-RAY, endoscopic inspection equipment complement the company's IPC A610 inspection capabilities. In addition, BGA rework stations complement BESTProtos' assembly capabilities.

BESTProto provides PCB prototype assembly services for two types of customers. For the hardware development community BESTProto will provide fast, low quantity prototype build services for PCB assemblies. BGA assembly and troubleshooting as well an ability to provide circuit board modifications without a circuit board "respin" quickly is one BESTProto differentiator. For the specialty hand assembly or micro business BESTProto provides specialty hand soldering capabilities, box and cable set builds, specialized box build and test capabilities.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:34 PM | Comments (0)

Sustainable Vinyl Featured At Green Building Expo

Recycled content, innovation, energy and cost savings

DENVER (PRWEB) November 13, 2006 -- Vinyl’s numerous energy-saving, environmental and health benefits are on display this week at the nation’s principal green building expo.

The three-day GreenBuild International Conference & Expo in Denver features green and sustainable products ranging from non-slip flooring made from 100 percent recycled vinyl to insulated vinyl forming systems for building foundations, energy-saving vinyl windows and roofing, and huge PVC sewer pipes made with recycled content.

Architects and designers are increasingly finding that vinyl’s infinite flexibility, durability and well-established, energy-saving qualities represent one of the most effective ways of meeting the evolving standards for green buildings, noted Vinyl Institute president Tim Burns.

An increasing number of home-building and major construction products are also now using recycled vinyl, Burns said. The Plastic Pipe and Fittings Association booth at GreenBuild features sections of sewer pipe made with post-consumer vinyl content, including recycled vinyl siding.

Oscoda Plastics of Oscoda, Mich., is showing its "Protect-All" slip-resistant, fire and water resistant specialty flooring made from 100 percent recycled vinyl. Protect-All flooring resists mildew and other bacterial growth and is non-corrosive, even when exposed to chemicals or grease.

John Rouse, national sales manager of Oscoda Plastics, said the company recycled six million pounds of post-industrial vinyl from the automotive and roofing industries last year alone to produce Protect-All flooring. The non-slip flooring is ideal, he said, for building entrances, gymnasiums, locker rooms, industrial kitchens, pool decks and automotive service garages.

Also of special interest to builders at this year’s expo is Energy Edge, the new, energy-saving vinyl insulated edge forming system for slab construction. Made by Energy Edge of Wichita, Kan., the system saves time and labor, conserves natural resources and helps buildings qualify for the Green Building Council’s LEED points, noted vice president Casey Barbour.

"We are being sought out by every aspect of the building industry because we are the first to provide a product that effectively and efficiently insulates the slab edge, completing the building envelope and meeting code," she said. Building and home owners not only enjoy significant energy savings, but a reduction in molds, mites and mildews that often build up in traditional floors.

Energy Edge was formally introduced at the World of Concrete in January of this year.

Contact:
John Brown
1-877-234-9749

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:33 PM | Comments (0)

TCH sales Inc. is Now Offering Critical Components Designed for Display Companies and Exhibit Builders Helping Buyers Find Better Sources in the Trade

TCH sales Inc, manufacturer of case hardware and industrial products, is now offering it's variety of handles, hinges, castors, and extrusion along with custom design services to Exhibit builders. This will allow trade show exhibit builders find and build quality displays for trade show booths. Product offering and contact info can be found at http://www.tchweb.com.

(PRWEB) November 13, 2006 -- TCH Sales Inc. is now offering its industry standard product offering and solution based custom services to display companies and exhibit builders trade. While TCH's production abilities for components is limitless, TCH offers ready to use handles, hinges, casters, extrusion, and gas springs for immediate use.

TCH Sales follows a customer centered approach to serving its markets. "Whatever the need, we will design the solution" says Ken Hollebone, design manager at TCH. Every market offering has been designed to greater fulfill customer needs making TCH the greatest 'one stop shop' for all production component needs. TCH's broad product offering can be viewed at http://www.tchweb.com or contact us direct through our toll free customer service number at 1.800.465.6281.

"This is a great opportunity for Event Management customers and Exhibit Builders who purchase Defender Cable Protectors" Says Ryan Brown, Vice President of TCH. Now trade show organizers, special event organizers, and production crews can now further minimize their purchase costs by purchasing all from one place. Thus simplifying customer needs in sourcing out components for display companies and exhibit builders, allowing for better trade show booths.
The Defender MIDI III is a light weight durable walking platform perfect for covering cables that cross exhibit display floors while maintaining access.

By expanding further into customer needs TCH sales hopes to enhance the hassle free convenience seen by its Case Hardware and Industrial products customers. By doing so, exhibit builders and display developers should find convenience in sourcing needed components and custom projects. For events and displays that need audio, TCH also offers a full Eminence Pro Audio speaker lineup found at http://www.tchspeakers.com.

TCH Sales is the global solution center for industrial, laminate panel systems, foam fabrication and custom products. Established in 1976, TCH has been serving the Speaker Cabinet and ATA Case Manufacturing industries in North America for 30 years. With expanded coverage through the US and Canada TCH has proven a quality resource to the Transportation, Telecom, Enclosures, Medical and Metal Fabrication markets.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:32 PM | Comments (0)

Toyota's European Nine-Month Sales Rise 12%; Record Sept. Sales

Toyota Motor Europe (TME) sold a total of 870,079 units in the period from January to September 2006, an increase of 12% over the same period in 2005. (source: http://www.toyota-media.com/euen) TME's overall market share for the first nine months was up 0.5 percentage points to 5.8%. TME also achieved best ever September sales with 110,306 units (+17% compared to September 2005), with a market share that was up 1.0 percentage point to 6.4%. The Lexus brand's nine-month sales rose 97% to 39,906 units. In the nine-month period, Toyota produced 522,942 cars, 646,989 engines and 424,537 transmissions at its plants in the U.K., France, Turkey, Poland and the Czech Republic.

Brussels, Belgium (PRWEB) November 13, 2006 -- Toyota Motor Europe (TME) sold a total of 870,079 units in the period from January to September 2006, an increase of 12% over the same period in 2005. (source: http://www.toyota-media.com/euen) TME's overall market share for the first nine months was up 0.5 percentage points to 5.8%. TME also achieved best ever September sales with 110,306 units (+17% compared to September 2005), with a market share that was up 1.0 percentage point to 6.4%. The Lexus brand's nine-month sales rose 97% to 39,906 units. In the nine-month period, Toyota produced 522,942 cars, 646,989 engines and 424,537 transmissions at its plants in the U.K., France, Turkey, Poland and the Czech Republic.

According to http://www.toyota-media.com/euen/ for 2006, Toyota has set the challenge of 1.1 million units in combined sales -- including 48,000 units in Lexus brand sales. Operating at record volumes, Toyota's European capacity for 2006 is 806,000 cars, 860,000 engines and 575,000 transmissions.

The Toyota brand enjoyed best ever September sales of the Yaris (26,042 units; +18% compared to September of the previous year); the RAV4 (13,146 units; + 31%) and best ever monthly sales of the AYGO (10,152 units). Meanwhile, sales of the hybrid Prius achieved an absolute monthly record in September (2,895 units; +30%).

Strong sales of the Lexus brand's IS and RX models helped overall sales to almost double in the January - September period. Lexus Hybrid Drive made a real impact, as sales of the RX 400h (9,345 units) and GS 450h (1,343 units) represented almost 27% of total sales. Meanwhile, diesel sales represented 23% of total Lexus brand sales, thanks to the IS 220d (9,270 units).

For the January to September period, the U.K. was TME's largest national market in Europe, with 113,711 units sold (-1% from the same period last year), followed by Germany (105,252 units; +7%), Italy (100,041 units; +3%) and France (75,904 units; +12%). The highest growth market was Russia -- Toyota's fifth-largest market -- where sales rose 53% to 73,268 units.

Background information: This press release has been published on the Toyota's European Media site. To view the archived presentation of this press release go to http://www.toyota-media.com/euen/.

http://www.toyota-media.com/euen/ is exclusively reserved for media professionals, and contains information on Toyota & Lexus business activities and products, environmental solutions & technology, how to get in touch with us, and much more.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:31 PM | Comments (0)

SellFolio™ for Client Projects-Merchandising: First Software for Sales Managers to Deploy Sales Presentations and Training to the Field, Saving Thousands of Dollars

Sales managers want faster, cost-effective ways to get sales materials and sales training to the field and targeted promotions to prospects. Now SellFolio for Client Projects-Merchandising allows managers and their assistants to build unlimited, royalty-free Web & CD-ROM browsers to package and present their sales tools and promotions — without programming.

Lake Forest, IL (PRWEB) November 13, 2006 -- Sales managers want faster, cost-effective ways to get sales materials and sales training to the field and targeted promotions to prospects. However, many companies don't have an intranet or extranet, or the information is outdated and overwhelming. Now SellFolio for Client Projects-Merchandising allows managers and their assistants to build unlimited, royalty-free Web & CD-ROM browsers to package and present their sales tools and promotions -- without programming. According to Russ McNeilly, SellFolio VP of Sales, "SellFolio's rich media helps go-getter sales managers focus their message and imagery by including PowerPoint™ presentations, photos, movies, audio narration, web links and documents while the competition drowns their message in mere text." A downloadable free trial version of SellFolio for Client Projects-Merchandising ($329.00) is available.

With SellFolio for Client Projects-Merchandising, a sales assistant can create professional grade Web and CD browsers in about 30 minutes, yet produce results that look like the sales department spent thousands of dollars. According to Steve McNeilly, SellFolio VP of Technology, "In addition to SellFolio's use as a promotional tool, more sales departments want to package files, resources & training that help them sell. Plus, they want to keep the project in-house so they can make updates whenever they want." With step-by-step screens and excellent "how to" tutorials, users select from one of the twelve stunning Style templates, add photos with captions, and even add music & narration. Then they publish their work to the Web using their own hosting or SellFolio's 'one-button upload' ViewWork.com™ hosting. Plus, they can publish the same content on CD-ROMs that start right up when the user puts the CD in their drive. Russ McNeilly adds, "For example, we have a client with 500 field sales reps. Our client easily gets sales training and sales tools onto Web and CDs so every rep can access them. Now, regardless of location or web connection speed, reps have what they need to sell."

Key features in SellFolio for Client Projects- Merchandising:
* Build projects that showcase all your rich media
* Same content on the web and CD for online or off-line field staff and partners
* Automatically sizes and compresses photos from different sources & vendors for a unified look
* Add music & narration for a great mood
* No programming required
* A stunning visual look-and-feel
* Animated promotional introduction
* An interactive main menu
* Modules that can display Images, Files or Web links
* Pages of descriptive information, with web links and .PDF document downloads
* Contact information

About SellFolio LLC
SellFolio is a privately held company founded in Chicago in 2003 by Russ McNeilly and Steve McNeilly. Together they have over 35 years experience in the multimedia and software businesses. Russ McNeilly's career includes top marketing positions at world-standard software companies such as InstallShield and SPSS. He holds an MBA from Loyola University of Chicago. Steve McNeilly founded Aviation Tutorials in 1996, and holds a BS from the University of Illinois and Institute of Aviation. He is also a professional pilot who is rated to fly Boeing 737s and DC-8s. Steve and Russ have won various awards both jointly and separately for multimedia and web presentation, including top awards from Chicago Software Association, Pansophic and Forox competitions.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:30 PM | Comments (0)

Business Exit Planning Guru to Reveal 7 Step Process Online in Free Webcast Wednesday 11/15 at 11 a.m. (PST)

Noted Author of the best selling book "How To Run Your Business So You Can Leave It In Style" John Brown will be the featured speaker in the Webcast, which is being offered at no cost by Entrepreneur.com and Exit & Retirement Strategies, Inc. Free E-Book for all registrants. The event will be archived, but you must be registered to view the archived presentation. To register, click on www.ERSIwebcast.com

Irvine, CA (PRWEB) November 12, 2006 -- John Brown, noted Author and recognized as the "guru" of Business Exit Planning, will be the featured speaker in a free webcast targeted to Owners of Privately Held businesses of all sizes who are contemplating their "Exit Strategy" in the next 3-10 years.

"Most people spend months planning a vacation, but very few business owners really dedicate time to planning their ultimate vacation, the sale of their business" according to Bill Black, President of Exit & Retirement Strategies, Inc., a Southern California consulting company that is co-sponsoring the event. "Unfortunately, the statistics without planning aren't good - less than 1 of 5 business owners that initially try to sell are successful, the rest have to go back to the drawing board and figure out another strategy. And with the glut of Baby Boomer business owners out there, the task will be become much more difficult in the future. So it's vitally important to start planning now", Black says.

The webcast will discuss the 7 step process to develop a sound exit strategy, whether a buyer wants to sell an outside buyer, a management group, or simple wants to transition their management style to take more time off.

All registrants will receive a copy of the e-book from Entrepreneur.com entitled "Grow Your Business 1-2-3" and be eligible for a free e-newsletter subscription on the topic of exit planning. The webcast will also be archived if you can't see the live webcast, but you must pre-register at www.ErsiWebcast.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:29 PM | Comments (0)

World-class Golf Course Gets A Major Facelift Combining Traditional Style with New Seawall Materials

Golf courses and other high end facilities are turning towards alternate seawall materials for their landscape upgrades. Materials such as vinyl for seawall construction is becoming more common as the industry has evolved over the last 15 years.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) November 11, 2006 -- Medinah Country Club in suburban Chicago is home to one of the most prestigious golf courses in America. If you tuned in to see Tiger Woods blow away his competition at the 88th PGA Championship this year, you got a glimpse of Medinah's majestic course # 3. Although Medinah has hosted many other major championships in previous decades, the course provided exciting, uncharted territory for the professional golfers in 2006. Recent restoration projects at the Club have resculpted #3, returning the holes closer to their original early twentieth century design. However, Medinah is not your grandfather's golf course. If you look past the traditional, "old-school" sculpted bunkers and classic ponds, you'll see some innovative, modern technology at work.

A club of Medinah's caliber has to have courses that not only provide an athletic challenge but also look perfect all of the time. Unfortunately, the containment seawalls around the club's lake were starting to corrode. In some spots, the older steel pilings had completely rusted, compromising the seawalls' stability and appearance. Containment walls and bulkheads are necessary in order to combat shorefront erosion and flooding. In some cases, they also provide vital soil reinforcement.

In 2002, Medinah hired Bud Willitzer of LakeMaster Inc. to replace several thousand feet of sheet piling surrounding the water. Instead of installing more steel, Willitzer decided it was time to update the historic course with newer, high-performance construction materials. He immediately suggested vinyl sheet piling.

"I've been working with vinyl sheet piling since it was introduced," Willitzer said. "I primarily built docks in the past. I wasn't happy working with concrete, so I got into vinyl. I've found that it lasts for a long time, it's easy to install, and it's aesthetically pleasing. That makes it perfect for golf courses."

Willitzer chose C-Loc vinyl sheet piling for the Medinah project. The product is manufactured by Crane Materials International (CMI), the largest producer of synthetic sheet piling in the world. Industry experts say the demand for vinyl piling has skyrocketed over the last two decades because it provides an affordable, long-lasting alternative to steel, aluminum, concrete, and wood sheeting. Even the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has concluded that vinyl sheeting has advantages over steel in cost, durability and lightness.

"The fact that it is light is really important on a project of this nature," said Willitzer. "We had to be careful that we didn't hurt the greens. That's a big factor when you're working with six to ten foot sheets. C-Loc is much lighter than steel, so we could manhandle it fairly easily. It's a very easy product to install compared to other materials."

Although C-Loc has been used successfully in both light residential and heavy-duty industrial seawall projects, Willitzer said the Medinah Country Club placed a higher priority on appearance than most of his clients. According to Willitzer, C-Loc does a good job withstanding the impact of balls that occasionally hit the wall. Vinyl also never needs repainted and resists fading by the sun and other elements. In order to get the maximum visual effect, Medinah agreed to go with CMI's complete seawall system, including wales and caps. The finished result is a visually pleasing wall that maintains the historic integrity of the Club.

"We started the job in 2002 and worked on it in segments until we had to pull out for the PGA Championship in 2006. The televised pictures of the wall during the event sure looked great!" Willitzer said.

Willitzer isn't the only one who is impressed with the Club's new look. In 2005, Golf Digest ranked Medinah #15 in its list of "America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses."

PGA of America Managing Director of Tournaments, Kerry Haigh gave PGA.com News Services his take on the completed project. "For 80 years, the course has provided some of the most exciting major championship experiences," he said. "With the changes that have been made, we feel that Medinah is ready to challenge the world's strongest field in golf, not only for this year's (2006) championship, but also for the next 80 years of major championship golf."

Ask golfers what they like most about the restoration of Medinah's #3 Course and they will tell you about the removal of blind shots on some of the holes, the deeper bunkers, and the lush, contoured greens. However, for all the romantic talk of achieving a traditional appearance, the "return to the past" concept at Medinah succeeded because construction crews relied on thoroughly modern materials and innovation.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:27 PM | Comments (0)

Green Living Trend Growing in the Furniture Industry

Lately there has been a movement to a more environmentally conscious society. Home building, furniture, food, and transportation are just a few examples of industries that have made large strides in creating every day products that are more eco friendly.

Springville, UT (PRWEB) November 11, 2006 -- According to the latest news, there is a green revolution unfolding before our eyes. With the release of "The Inconvenient Truth" and a new focus on living 'green' (in an environmentally conscious manner), there is more attention than ever for the idea that people can make small changes that will impact the outcome of the environment's future. The United States is becoming more environmentally aware, more responsible, and more concerned about what will happen if changes are not made.

It seems that nearly everything has a green counterpart these days. From recycled paper to recycled cotton clothing, green furniture and gas-free cars, the world seems ready to take on the challenge of offsetting the twenty-two tons of carbon dioxide emissions each and every single human produces within the course of a year. 'Green' is becoming a trend of sorts; bringing in celebrity support as well as big names like ex-vice President Al Gore.

There are many benefits to buying and living green for the environment:

• Reduction of waste
• Reduction in landfills
• Less deforestation for new wood used in furniture and construction
• Less toxins required in manufacturing
• Fewer carbon dioxide emissions

But many people can't see these changes occurring as they make the decision to buy green furniture, so they want the bigger picture.

How about:

• Less ozone layer depletion
• Lessened chance of global warming
• Lessened chance of ice caps melting and water levels rising
• Fewer toxins and pollution from producing new items

In terms of green furniture, manufacturers have come up with new and innovative ways of making furniture from recycled products - old buildings, warehouses and barns, for example. With all of the strength and durability of traditional furniture, but without the environmental impact, consumers are finding the switch to green isn't sending them to the Stone Ages, but rather into a new Modern way of living.

For those in the 'green' know, buying green furniture is the best way to stop the spread of deforestation and encourage the growth of new trees. This helps to contain the increasing carbon dioxide levels, even bringing them down to normal levels over time. This will lessen the effects of global warming and allow animals to stay in their forest homes, rather than be pushed out by progress.

Green living can become a part of anyone's life with a little research and creativity. From cleaning products to clothing, green furniture to green cars - "green" living is the next 'in' thing to do.

www.1cabinfurniture.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:26 PM | Comments (0)

The O'Gara Group Receives First-Ever Night Vision Goggle Order from United States Marine Corps

U.S. Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance Group to use highly advanced night vision goggles from The O'Gara Group.

Cincinnati, OH (PRWEB) November 11, 2006 -- The O'Gara Group, Inc. today announced that its Sensor Technology Systems, Inc. (STS) subsidiary received a $6.4 million purchase order from the United States Marine Corps (USMC) for a significant number of STS's advanced AN/PVS-21 Low Profile Night Vision Goggles (LPNVG). While these highly advanced night vision goggles have been sold to Special Operations and other government agency customers, this order from the USMC is the company's first from regular military service groups of the U.S. Department of Defense.

"STS has worked with the U.S. Marine Corps over several years to understand its requirements and provide a solution that meets the specific needs of the USMC Force Reconnaissance Group for night missions," said Michael (Chip) Lennon, Chief Operating Officer of The O'Gara Group. "We look forward to providing long-term support to the U.S. Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance Group operators in the field with these advanced night vision goggles."

The order from the USMC will be delivered through 2007.

"This order represents The O'Gara Group's strategic efforts to expand its markets and extend its technologies to larger, regular military forces," said Bill T. O'Gara, CEO of The O'Gara Group. "Providing our products to the U.S. Marines significantly increases our customer base and further validates our technology."

The AN/PVS-21 Low Profile Night Vision Goggle is lightweight and has a rugged, low-profile binocular (or monocular) design that provides unmatched sensor fusion capabilities in diverse and aggressive operational environments. STS's LPNVG is the only production NVG with an integrated Heads-Up Display capability which allows video signals, such as navigation data or the output of a thermal scope, to be presented directly into the operator's night vision scene.

About STS – http://www.sts-eo.com
Sensor Technology Systems, Inc. (STS) is a leading designer and manufacturer of Low-Profile Night Vision Goggles (LPNVG) for counter-terrorism and low intensity conflict operations by Special Operations Forces for the U.S. and its allies. The AN/PVS-21 binocular NVG is the only production NVG with an integrated Heads-Up Display capability for "Sensor Fusion" applications. STS has fielded the AN/PVS-21 with U.S. Military forces, U.K forces, Canadian forces, Italian forces and other allies of the U.S. STS is a wholly owned subsidiary of The O'Gara Group and is part of the Company's Electro-Optics Division.

About The O'Gara Group – http://www.ogaragroup.com
The O'Gara Group is a global products and services company focused on solutions to support homeland security, counter-terrorism, and low intensity conflict. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Company was founded by Thomas O'Gara, Wilfred (Bill) O'Gara, and Michael (Chip) Lennon. Together the founders have more than fifty years of experience in management and acquisition of defense and security businesses on a world-wide basis, most recently with The Kroll-O'Gara Company, and O'Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt. The Company currently operates through two divisions, the Electro-Optics Division and the Training and Services Division.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 11:25 PM | Comments (0)

November 10, 2006

Nationwide Truckers Support High Performance Automatic Trailer Safety Locks Distributed by A Plus Warehouse

Special green and red indicator lights alert drivers to safely park, load, and exit docks to prevent serious injuries and accidents.

Lynn, MA (PRWEB) November 9, 2006 -- A Plus Warehouse, a leading nationwide business-to-business distributor of industrial storage equipment has answered the demands of truckers nationwide to promote and distribute these highly effective automatic trailer safety locks online.

"Every day at loading docks across the nation powerful trucks and men are tirelessly loading and unloading equipment. These safety trailer locks secure the trucks and protect workers from catastrophic and sometimes fatal injuries. That's why we are proud to be the only online distributor of these automatic safety trailer locks," claims Ed Stairman, President of A Plus Warehouse.

These premium quality trailer locks include an electric/hydraulic system that automatically grabs the truck's ICC bar. It installs easily in front of the loading dock allowing the operator to be notified immediately of any problems in deploying the hook. These trailer locks have an emergency hook release pin in case of a power outage, and they include a traffic light system displaying red and green stop and go safety indicators. As an added safety feature, these trailer locks have an electronic accumulator that allows the unit to ride up and down as the load leaves or enters the truck to prevent injuries and accidents.

These automatic safety trailer locks are one of the many quality industrial dock equipment products built for safety and durability that A Plus Warehouse maintains in stock and ready for shipment.

In addition to the built in safety features on all the automatic trailer locks, the automatic dock levers and the activated dock levers are also designed for sturdiness and safety. The automatic dock levers mechanically line up with the trucks to eliminate human error and avoid dock worker injury. The activated dock levers allow trucks to safely and securely dock and load, thereby significantly decreasing loading time and industrial accidents.

The galvanized rubber dock bumpers and wheel chocks are manufactured by T&S, Vestil, Pauling Rubber, and Tennessee Mat. The rubber dock bumpers reduce the risk of damage to buildings caused by trucks backing into loading docks. When the wheel chocks are in place, the trucks cannot pull out until the wheel chocks are removed. This simple and efficient safety device can eliminate costly accidents and time stoppage.

For more information about these safety trailer locks and other safe and durable dock equipment call 800-209-8798 or visit www.apluwhs.com.

About A Plus Warehouse
A Plus Warehouse is an online business-to-business distributor of quality industrial equipment including storage lockers, heavy duty cabinets, warehouse racks, conveyors, work benches, steel shelving, and dock equipment. With an extensive selection of brand name manufacturers, hard-to-find products and exclusive offerings. A Plus Warehouse has everything a business needs to maintain a high level of efficiency and productivity at one convenient online destination.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:39 AM | Comments (0)

Aetrex Introduces Socks With Copper Sole Technology™ At PFA (Booth #600)

Leading Foot Health Company to launch new sock line at the PFA Symposium in Atlanta, GA from November 9 – 11, 2006.

Teaneck, NJ (PRWEB) November 9, 2006 -- Today at the PFA Symposium in Atlanta, GA, Aetrex Worldwide, Inc. will introduce its new innovative Copper Sole Sock.

"As one of the leading foot health companies in the industry, we believe it's imperative to stay on top of industry trends," says CEO Larry Schwartz. "We aim to remain one step ahead with our new technologies and footwear products."

The antimicrobial properties of copper have been known for thousands of years. It is used today as a fungicide and bactericide treatment. Yet unlike some anti-bacterial textile treatments, bacteria have never formed a resistance to copper.

In a 2004-2005 study, Dr. Richard C. Zatcoff, DPM, tracked the foot health of 51 patients, including 21 with diabetes. His study showed that patients wearing Copper Sole Socks had significant improvement in the appearance and texture of their skin, particularly around their toes and the soles of their feet. "Our new Aetrex Socks, with Copper Sole Technology is not just another sock, it can actually help improve your foot health," adds Schwartz.

Copper socks rejuvenate the skin to improve appearance and can offer 99.9% prevention of bacteria and fungi to control odor. In addition, the socks wick away moisture to keep feet healthy, cool and dry.

The line includes athletic, non-binding, dress/casual and compression support styles. For additional information on Copper Sole Socks, please visit www.aetrex.com/copper or contact Lateefah Viley-Simpson at 800-526-2739 x216.

About Aetrex: Aetrex Worldwide, Inc. is headquartered in Teaneck, NJ and currently employs 170 people, including 28 board certified pedorthists. The 60-year old company is comprised of three divisions – Aetrex Performance Products, Aetrex Technology & Education, and Apex Therapeutic Footcare.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:38 AM | Comments (0)

Tag-It Pacific, Inc. Announces Conference Call to Discuss Third Quarter and Nine-Months Earnings Results for 2006

Conference call to discuss third quarter and nine-months earnings results for 2006.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) November 9, 2006 -- Tag-It Pacific, Inc. (AMEX: TAG), owner of Talon™ zippers and a full service trim management supplier for manufacturers of fashion apparel, announced today that it will host a conference call at 1:30 p.m. PST (4:30 p.m. EST) on Monday, November 13, 2006 to discuss the 2006 third quarter and nine months earnings results.

To participate in the conference call, please dial the following number five to ten minutes prior to the scheduled conference call time: 888-338-6760. International callers should dial 973-582-2858. There is no pass code required for this call.

If you are unable to listen to the live teleconference at its scheduled time, there will be a replay available through November 30, 2006 midnight Eastern time and can be accessed by dialing 877-519-4471 (U.S.), 973-341-3080 (Int'l), replay pin number: 8104706.

This call is being webcast by ViaVid Broadcasting and can be accessed at http://viavid.net/dce.aspx?sid=00003474.

About Tag-It Pacific, Inc.
Tag-It distributes zippers under its Talon™ brand name to manufacturers for apparel brands and retailers such as Levi Strauss & Co., Wal-Mart and JCPenney. Tag-It also supplies a full range of trim items to manufacturers of fashion apparel, specialty retailers, mass merchandisers, brand licensees and major retailers, including Levi Strauss & Co., Motherworks, Express, The Limited, New York & Co., Victoria's Secret and House of Dereon, among others.

Contact:
Tag-It Pacific, Inc.
Rayna Long, 818-444-4128

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:37 AM | Comments (0)

Testing Machines Inc. Presents the New Lab Master® Release and Adhesion Tester

Testing Machines is newly releasing the "Lab Master® Release and Adhesion Tester", 80-91 series, which is expected to be even more successful than the original 80-90 series.

(PRWEB) November 9, 2006 -- Testing Machines is newly releasing the "Lab Master® Release and Adhesion Tester", 80-91 series, which is expected to be even more successful than the original 80-90 series.

Some important features of this tester include:

1) A direct drive system (no chain). By use of the new servo drive system there is no lag time in getting up to speeds, regardless of what speed is set.
2) Easier calibration set-up with no pulleys to worry about.
3) A built in industrial computer with a flat panel display.
4) One-piece construction with all the cables built in so that the user need only plug in the load cell and test.
5) With the redesigned sled system, internal or drive vibration does not affect the reading.
6) Twist lock angle system with degree set markers, allowing test angles of 90, 135, and 180 degrees to be set.

The Lab Master® system allows for the instrument to be a node on a network or a lab management system. The standard load range for this system is 0 to 15.4 lbs. (7000 grams). Test speeds are infinitely variable from 2 to 1500 inches per minute. The Lab Master® Release and Adhesion accommodates samples up to 2 inches (5 cm) wide with a maximum peeling length of 12 inches (30 cm).

About TMI
Testing Machines Inc. (TMI) manufactures and markets physical property testing instruments for the paper, pulp, film, foil, ink, coatings, nonwoven, textile and corrugated industries. TMI has a network of sales offices and agents throughout the US and in over 50 countries.

The TMI Group of Companies consists of Testing Machines Inc., New York, Lawson-Hemphill, Swansea, Ma., Messmer Instruments Ltd., UK, Büchel BV, Netherlands, Adamel Lhomargy, France and TMI Canada.

For more information contact:

Testing Machines Inc.
2 Fleetwood Court, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 USA
Tel: 631-439-5400
Fax: 631-439-5420
Website: www.testingmachines.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:21 AM | Comments (0)

Crescent Manufacturing Kicking Off New Campaign at International Fastener Trade Show

Crescent Manufacturing, Co., an international manufacturer and supplier of mini screws and mini fasteners, will be rolling out a new look at the National Industrial Fastener Show.

Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) November 9, 2006 -- Crescent Manufacturing, Co., an international manufacturer and supplier of mini screws and mini fasteners, will be rolling out a new look at the National Industrial Fastener Show.

The 10th Annual National Industrial Fastener Show is in Las Vegas, Nevada is on November 16th and 17th, 2006. The show is hosted by the American Fastener Journal and Bannister & Associates. Crescent Manufacturing joined with many other exhibitors from around the world will be showcasing their fastener product lines and services.

New graphics and sharper colors in their trade show display will reflect Crescent Manufacturing's cutting edge technology used for the production of their screws and fasteners. The new brochure includes useful information as well as reference material specific to Crescent's products and services. Knowledgeable and experienced Crescent Manufacturing staff will be on hand to meet and discuss fastener requirements and specifications. For more information about Crescent's products and custom designed fasteners, come to booth #918.

Crescent Manufacturing, Co. located in Burlington, CT and has been a major supplier to fastener distributors since 1960. Crescent Manufacturing is ISO 9002 registered and is a QSML approved manufacturer. Crescent provides quality service at a competitive price and is proud to continue the tradition of a 1,000 part minimum. For more information about the 2006 National Industrial Fastener Show http://www.fastenershows.com or for Crescent Manufacturing click http://www.CrescentManufacturing.com or call 860-673-2591.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:20 AM | Comments (0)

Flexible Assembly Systems Announces Expansion into Mexico Manufacturing Market

Flexible Assembly Systems, a licensed distributor for Ingersoll-Rand, and AIMCO, has announced a major expansion into the Mexican light assembly marketplace.

Tijuana (PRWEB) November 9, 2006 -- Flexible Assembly Systems, a licensed distributor for Ingersoll-Rand, and AIMCO, has announced a major expansion into the Mexican light assembly marketplace. Its recent partnerships with manufacturing organizations in Tijuana, Guadalajara, and surrounding areas have established the company as a reliable bilingual source for electric screwdrivers, pneumatic tools, torque screwdrivers, and assembly tool accessories.

The firm recently added a full list of Makita cordless tools to its already robust list of light assembly tools. These tools may be important in manufacturing environments where pneumatic or electric sources may not be present. Because of the diverse list of tools offered for the manufacturing workplace, manufacturers in Mexico have found Flexible Assembly to be a natural choice. "Assembly firms and contract manufacturers in Mexico are always seeking a reliable partner for specific tools that give them freedom in the manufacturing workplace. Our recent partnerships confirm that we perform as an exceptional worldwide resource," states Eddie Silverberg, President of Flexible Assembly Systems, Inc.

Critical fastening applications, ergonomic tools, and torque calibration are just as important in Mexico as they are in the United States. Flexible's partnerships have enabled Mexican manufacturers to discover simpler solutions to local assembly concerns. "Torque analyzers, automated fastener systems, pulse tools, and material handling solutions have increased productivity dramatically for our Mexican partners", says Silverberg. By focusing on exact assembly specifications, Flexible increases productivity and accuracy, and decreases ISO 9000, IS0 9001, and Six Sigma certification issues.

Flexible Assembly Systems has been working together with firms requiring light-assembly solutions since 2003. The company's product list is extensive, and includes assembly tools, automotive tools, torque products, bits and fastener systems, and material handling systems.

For additional information, contact:
Eddie Silverberg, President
Flexible Assembly Systems
800.696.7614, x25
www.FlexibleAssembly.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:19 AM | Comments (0)

Bubble Supply, LLC Acquires and Re-Launches ShippingSupply.com -- The New Leader in Shipping Supplies Online

Welcome to the new face of shipping products. Bubble Supply, LLC is now Shipping Supply, LLC. With their recent acquisition of the shipping supplies giant, Bubble Supply, LLC is re-launching ShippingSupply.com with updated products and services.

Kenosha, WI (PRWEB) November 8, 2006 -- Welcome to the new face of shipping products. Bubble Supply, LLC is now Shipping Supply, LLC. With their recent acquisition of the shipping supplies giant, Bubble Supply, LLC is re-launching ShippingSupply.com with updated products and services.

"This merger makes complete business sense," explains ShippingSupply.com's President Christian L. Rano. "By combining our resources and areas of expertise, we can offer the consumer a more complete online shopping experience."

With this merger, Bubble Supply, LLC brings its expertise in bubble mailers to the world of ShippingSupply.com. Some of the more noteworthy supplies include XPAK Mailers, Bubble Mailers, Poly Mailers as well as a variety of traditional packing and shipping supplies. The XPAK Mailer is a newer packaging option that many customers are flocking to. It's a poly-mailer with a bubble-lined interior. Its resistance to water, durability and tamper evident exterior are just a few reasons for its rising popularity.

"The future of packing and shipping is here, and ShippingSupply.com is ready to lead the industry toward this new frontier of merchandising," says Rano.

It's more noticeable than ever that ShippingSupply.com is looking forward to expanding on its already extensive customer base. By uniting companies, ShippingSupply.com is well poised to accommodate the much larger demand due to the increase in customer traffic and orders.

"Previous customers of both Bubble Supply, LLC and ShippingSupply.com can still expect the same great service they're used to," adds Rano, "the only difference is that we now have a much wider selection of products to choose from and from a business perspective, it solidifies our stance in this increasingly competitive market. ShippingSupply.com will continue to offer both individuals and businesses the benefit of "per unit" pricing discounts when ordering multiple items. Additionally, ShippingSupply.com still offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee with every order we ship."

About ShippingSupply.com: To learn more about their extensive line of quality shipping supplies go to: latest offers and stay informed of the newest materials available for all types of shipping needs.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:18 AM | Comments (0)

Esnatech Solution Now Rated "Avaya Compliant"

Speech-enabled mobility application for small and medium firms is compatible with key Avaya IP telephony solutions. Helps businesses like Unity Telecom deliver productivity to their mobile workforce.

RICHMOND HILL, Ontario (PRWEB) November 8, 2006 -- Esnatech, a leading provider of unified communication solutions, today announced that its Telephony Office-LinX platform is compliant with key IP telephony solutions from Avaya, a leading global provider of business communications applications, systems and services.

The Telephony Office-LinX platform helps businesses use their office telephony system to deliver new mobility, presence and messaging capabilities. Mobile workers can access, manage and respond to voice, data and fax messages using any type of device – phone, PC or PDA. The Esnatech application now is compliance-tested by Avaya for compatibility with Avaya IP Office 3.2(17), a secure, intelligent, and easy-to-use converged voice and data system for small and medium businesses.

One of the companies benefiting from the interoperability of Esnatech and Avaya solutions is Unity Telecom, an Avaya BusinessPartner specializing in IP telephony and unified communications. Unity Telecom is using an Avaya-Esnatech solution for speech-enabled access to voicemail and the company directory.

"By adding Esnatech's Telephony Office-LinX platform to our Avaya IP Office communication system, employees on the go have hands-free access to capabilities that make them more productive," said Cam James, president of Unity Telecom. "By simply speaking commands they can reach a coworker, access our company directory or manage their voicemail from any phone or handheld device. The same capabilities make it possible for our customers to reach a specific staff member by simply speaking their name when the IP Office auto attendant answers their call. Knowing that Esnatech's Telephony Office-LinX platform has been compatibility tested by Avaya has given us renewed confidence in deploying speech-access capabilities both inside our own company and externally for the businesses we serve."

Esnatech is a member of the Avaya DeveloperConnection Program—an initiative to develop, market and sell innovative third-party products that interoperate with Avaya technology and extend the value of a company's investment in its network.

"Achieving Avaya compliance with Telephony Office-LinX allows us to provide customers with the level of quality they expect in applications that support and extend their Avaya telephony solution," Mohammad Nezarati, CEO, Esnatech. "The Avaya DeveloperConnection program has provided us with a forum for developing a top-quality, highly reliable platform based on open, standards-based Avaya interfaces. We now can go to market with a proven solution that delivers true value to Avaya IP Office customers."

As a member of the DeveloperConnection program, Esnatech is eligible to submit products for compatibility testing by the Avaya Solution Interoperability and Test Lab in Lincroft, N.J. There a team of Avaya engineers develops a comprehensive test plan for each application to verify whether it is Avaya compliant. Doing so ensures businesses can confidently add best-in-breed capabilities to their network without having to replace their existing infrastructure—speeding deployment of new applications and reducing both network complexity and implementation costs.

"By offering compliance testing to the many innovative companies like Esnatech who are members of our DeveloperConnection program, Avaya promotes fully interoperable solutions that help businesses unleash powerful new possibilities," said Eric Rossman, vice president, developer relations and technical alliances, Avaya. "They are able to use Intelligent Communications to connect employees and customers to information from wherever they are, over whatever device they have available – getting more out of their multivendor network and delivering new value to their bottom line."

About Avaya
Avaya Inc. designs, builds and manages communications networks for more than 1 million businesses worldwide, including over 90 percent of the FORTUNE 500®. Focused on businesses large to small, Avaya is a world leader in secure and reliable Internet protocol (IP) telephony systems and communications software applications and services.

Driving the convergence of voice and data communications with business applications - and distinguished by comprehensive worldwide services - Avaya helps customers leverage existing and new networks to achieve superior business results. For more information visit the Avaya website: www.avaya.com. For more information on the Avaya DeveloperConnection Program, visit www.devconnectprogram.com.

About Esnatech
Founded in 1989, Esnatech's mission is to provide communication solutions that are simply the best way to communicate. Esnatech solutions empower organizations by giving them the flexibility to conduct business at any time, from anywhere, so they can manage the information they need, when they need it. Esnatech markets and distributes its products through OEM and VAR partners in 28 countries worldwide.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:17 AM | Comments (0)

Renewal by Andersen Replacement Windows Feature Energy Star Efficiency and Low E-4 Glass to Weather all Seasons

New England and Massachusetts area window replacement specialist emphasizes 35% greater winter efficiency.

Northborough, Mass. (PRWEB) November 8, 2006 -- With the winter season rapidly approaching and many households anticipating high heating bills, window manufacturer Renewal by Andersen® is helping the Northeast keep energy costs down—and with style. The New England and Massachusetts replacement window specialists not only offer Energy Star® qualified and Green Seal certified windows, they do it through High-Performance™ Low E-4™ Glass that keeps the replacement windows cleaner and more enjoyable during the cold Atlantic winter.

Renewal by Andersen, the window replacement division of Andersen Corporation, specializes in vinyl replacement window installation with a commitment to an energy efficient window product. The company's High-Performance glass provides for up to 35% more winter time efficiency, a particularly important consideration for the New Hampshire and Massachusetts window replacement industries. "In all of our markets, customers are looking for more environmentally friendly, energy efficient replacement window products, but in areas like New England, where winters can be brutally cold, it becomes even more important," according to Steve Woodward of Renewal by Andersen.

The High-Performance™ Low-E4™ glass that makes Renewal by Andersen's replacement windows energy efficient also makes them lower maintenance than ordinary windows. A special exterior coating works with the elements to ultimately reduce water spots by up to 99%—another key benefit for customers of the Massachusetts and New Hampshire replacement windows manufacturer. Additionally Renewal by Andersen windows help keep UV rays outside and reduce sound penetration, particularly appealing to Boston area replacement window customers who experience more traffic and general noise.

The stylish Renewal by Andersen replacement windows are custom built for each home and offered in an array of elegant styles in multiple colors or woods. With a high concentration of historic homes, Andersen serves its Massachusetts and New Hampshire window replacement customers well with beautiful double-hung windows as well as more traditional casement windows—all expertly installed. The contemporary renovation is offered gliding windows as well as picture windows, and bay and bow windows lend sophistication to any home. The maintenance friendly nature of the High-Performance, Low E-4 glass makes all styles a pleasure to live with.

Renewal by Andersen is a recognized leader in the window and patio door replacement industry. Custom manufactured with showrooms in the New England area and across the United States, Renewal by Andersen offers homeowners a variety of design options through one of the largest nationwide networks of window replacement specialists. The company keeps the environment and energy efficiency as key factors in product development, which has led to the Department of Energy's Energy Star® rating, Green Seal environment certification, and the National Fenestration Rating Council's efficiency label.

Contact:
Steve Woodword
Renewal By Andersen
Northborough, Massachusetts
(508) 919-0900

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:16 AM | Comments (0)

Mountain View Data's PowerCockpit Provisions Enclarity's Clustered Blade Servers

Health care solution provider Enclarity has chosen PowerCockpit to provision and manage a production cluster in its remote data center. Enclarity was looking for software to manage its production cluster, and selected PowerCockpit over other products due to the technical fit and price performance.

Mountain View, CA (PRWEB) November 8, 2006 -- Mountain View Data, Inc.® today announced that Enclarity, Inc.™ has chosen its server provisioning software, PowerCockpit®, to provision and manage a large cluster of servers in Enclarity's data center.

Enclarity offers services to health care payers that increase the integrity and reliability of their provider data files through analyzing and correcting data. The company was looking for software to manage its production cluster, and selected PowerCockpit over other products due to the technical fit and price performance.

"We can turn a new production image into a cluster of servers in an hour and a half. Until then it was a twelve hour job," explains Thomas Suk, vice president of information technology at Enclarity. "PowerCockpit allows us to manage this operation end-to-end. Now we have a single point of management. "

PowerCockpit also plays an important role in Enclarity's enterprise disaster recovery plan, reducing the need for traditional tape backups, which it finds expensive and time-consuming.

Cliff Miller, CEO of Mountain View Data, said, "Enclarity is a leading health care technology company and their choice of PowerCockpit to support their mission critical infrastructure is a great endorsement. In the health care industry 'mission critical' is not just abstract mumbo jumbo – here accuracy can have a direct effect on human life."

About Enclarity
Enclarity brings new solutions to fight an old problem for healthcare and insurance payers: provider data errors. The company's software uses advanced analytics and proprietary technology coupled with a massive referential database and telephone verification to clean provider files, assuring the data is accurate and current, increasing the productivity and profitability of our customers.

From keeping provider records correct and up-to-date with integrated solutions to helping businesses prepare for the National Provider Identifier mandates, Enclarity dramatically improves the integrity and reliability of healthcare data. Enclarity, Inc. is a privately held company headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California. For more information, visit www.enclarity.com.

About Mountain View Data
Mountain View Data is a developer of server management and provisioning software for the enterprise. Its flagship product, PowerCockpit, is currently being used in over 100 corporate data centers and laboratories at IBM, HP, AMD, Sony, Toshiba, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Oracle, the National Institutes of Health, the US Department of Energy and others.

Mountain View Data was founded in October of 2000, and has offices in the US, Japan and China. Mountain View Data was selected in September of 2005 by Red Herring as one of the top 100 private companies in Asia. More information can be found at the company's website at www.mountainviewdata.com.

About PowerCockpit
PowerCockpit from Mountain View Data is server management software for deploying, provisioning and managing up to 1000s of servers running the Linux and the Windows operating systems. It can deploy to physical or virtual machines – supporting VMware and Xen VMs – in any combination of P2P, P2V, V2P of V2V.

PowerCockpit uses proprietary "Smart Imaging" technology to deploy and update complete OS and application stacks from a custom image repository to multiple hardware configurations in minutes, using multicasting. Its Request Daemon API and software development kit (SDK) allow system integrators and third parties to develop plug-in modules for specific tasks as well as applications for vertical markets. More information can be found at www.powercockpit.com.

Contact:
Mountain View Data
Tel: +1-650-265-2458 x 201

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:15 AM | Comments (0)

NuSil Technology Introduces One-Part Glop-Top for Electronic Packaging Applications

NuSil Technology -- a cutting-edge manufacturer of silicone-based materials for healthcare, aerospace, electronics and photonics -- announces the addition of EPM-2411-2, a low outgassing, one-part, silicone glop-top, to its line of electronic packaging materials (EPMs).

Carpinteria, CA (PRWEB) November 8, 2006 -- NuSil Technology -- a cutting-edge manufacturer of silicone-based materials for healthcare, aerospace, electronics and photonics -- announces the addition of EPM-2411-2, a low outgassing, one-part, silicone glop-top, to its line of electronic packaging materials (EPMs).

NuSil's EPM-2411-2 is designed for the encapsulation of chip packages in devices where outgassing-related contamination poses a problem. This product exhibits the low stress and wide operating temperature ranges that are characteristically associated with silicone-based materials.

"We constantly look for ways to increase the efficiency of our products in customers' production and assembly lines," said Brian Nash, vice president of Marketing and Sales. "This one-part material eliminates the time-consuming process associated with mixing a traditional two-part system and is ready to go out of the box."

EPM-2411-2 is stored and shipped frozen in 3cc and 30cc syringes, as well as 3- and 6-oz. tubes. For more information, please contact NuSil Technology directly at 805-684-8780 or visit www.nusil.com/glop_top.

About NuSil Technology

NuSil is a cutting-edge manufacturer of silicone compounds for healthcare, aerospace, electronics, photonics and other applications that require precise, predictable, cost-effective materials performance. ISO-9001-certified since 1994, NuSil operates state-of-the-art laboratories and processing facilities in North America and Europe and provides on-site, in-person application engineering support worldwide. More information about NuSil Technology can be found at www.nusil.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:13 AM | Comments (0)

Force Tester Ensures 8 Years of Quality at Owen Mumford

A tensile force tester has been used continuously on the production line for over 8 years at Owen Mumford, UK-based designer and manufacturer of blood glucose monitoring and control devices.

Horsham, UK (PRWEB) November 8, 2006 -- A tensile force tester has been used continuously on the production line for over 8 years at Owen Mumford, UK-based designer and manufacturer of blood glucose monitoring and control devices.

The system, supplied by Mecmesin Ltd, performs a retention test on lancet needles within the company's class 8 (manned) clean room production facility in Oxfordshire, UK.

The single-use lancet, designed for diabetes sufferers to obtain capillary blood samples, comprises a steel needle moulded into a plastic base with a twist-off cap covering the point.

To ensure the needle is not dislodged from its base when the cap is removed prior to use, stringent in-house production specifications dictate the minimum acceptable retention force of the needle within the plastic surround.

Owen Mumford use a Mecmesin AFG 500 force gauge mounted on an UltraTest stand (now superseded by the MultiTest 1) to assess the retention force of samples at 6-hourly intervals, in order to guarantee consistent manufacturing quality.

The plastic base of the lancet is placed beneath a custom-engineered mounting block, with the needle tip exposed vertically. A lever-operated pin vice is fitted to the tip and a tensile load applied to the needle at a rate of 200mm/min until it is dislodged from the plastic base.

John Potter, Systems Quality Engineer at Owen Mumford said, "We have been using Mecmesin equipment to perform retention tests on our range of lancet needles for over 8 years. We find the system easy to use for regular in-process checks, and generally reliable with prompt servicing from Mecmesin when required."

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:12 AM | Comments (0)

Bumper Year for International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA) Membership

The International Hologram Manufacturers Association has signed up a record number of members over the past year. Members of the IHMA include hologram manufacturers, converters and users.

London (PRWEB) November 8, 2006 -- The International Hologram Manufacturers Association (http://www.ihma.org) has signed up 16 new members over the past year from around the world – the largest number in a single year in its 14-year history – many from the emerging industries in Asia. These include Dongnan Industry and Mattie Hologram Technology of China; Holo Solution Inc of Taiwan; Laser Art of Hong Kong; Gopsons Papers, Bajaj Holographics, Holo Security Technologies and Holographic Origination and Machineries of India; Polinas, Methas Holografik Company and Buyuk Endustriyel of Turkey; Scientific and Technical Centre "Atlas" of Russia; Fasver of France; Topac Multimedia Print of Germany and Holo-Source Corporation of the USA. 3M Company, also of the USA, is a new associate member.

The main part of the IHMA membership comprises organisations directly involved in the production of holograms – either in the provision of design and mastering services, in producing holographic foils, labels and laminates, or in supplying origination and production equipment. But in addition to such companies, the IHMA is now actively promoting associate membership to companies that, although not involved in the production of holograms, are nevertheless closely aligned to the industry in that they either provide the equipment for the application of holograms, or supply finished products incorporating holograms.

These finished products are typically multi-layered security labels and laminates that incorporate holograms alongside other security technologies. The companies that produce such products may not manufacture the holograms themselves, but buy these in and integrate them into the finished product – often as a result of strategic supply relationships with hologram manufacturers. And while not manufacturers themselves, such companies play an important role in the promotion and use of holograms around the world, in recognition of which, and to harness the benefits they can bring to the industry, the IHMA re-established the category of associate membership last year.

It is hoped that, as a result, the ranks of IHMA members will be swelled by the addition of such companies – principally integrators and converters - adding their experience and weight to the collective voice that the IHMA expresses in support of holography.

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

Scientific Vision Systems Announces Availability of the Waterproof SUV-Cam -- Ultra Flexible & Tough Micro-Video MPEG 4 Camera

The lipstick size MPEG 4 compliant camera and miniature recorder connect via video cable. Applications include wearable camera applications, onboard use on various vehicles, surveillance applications, and inspections with borescopes in challenging environments limited by space, mis, dust or other impediments.

Carlsbad, CA (PRWEB) November 8, 2006 -- Scientific Vision Systems, one of the largest distributors of medical and security video equipment, announced the availability of the advanced Micro Elmo SUV-Cam. The lipstick size MPEG 4 compliant camera attaches by video cable to an extremely small compact recorder equipped with instant playback via a built-in 2.2 inch TFT QVGA LCD display. Diverse applications range from wearable camera applications, onboard use on various vehicles, surveillance applications, and for use with borescopes in challenging environments limited by space, mist, dust or other impediments.

The stainless steel camera unit measures 0.79 inches in diameter by 3.35 inches long and attaches by cable to the recording unit. Users can select from two cable lengths, either 31.5 inches or 59 inches. The miniature recording unit measures 2.2 inches wide by 3 inches high by 1.2 inches deep. The camera records successfully in low-light conditions down to 2 lux (1 lux is moonlight).

The recording unit includes a wide variety of features, which makes the SUV-Cam adaptable to a many challenging applications. Users can select recording settings from three variables; resolution, video quality, and recording speeds (see accompanying chart) to achieve a range of recording times from 33 minutes for the highest quality, resolution, and fastest recording speeds to over 54 hours for the slowest. Data in the accompanying chart is based on a 1 GB SD card, however, the SUV-Cam can support up to 2 GB SD card (SD card not included). Users can also utilize the intermittent recording capabilities for extended surveillance, scientific, or inspection applications. Recording times and size of data depend on the kind of SD card and the manufacturer.

The four user selectable resolutions include; 704 x 480, 640 x 480, 320 x 240, and 160 x 120. Users can also select three video quality settings; high, standard, and low. As well, five selectable recording speeds include (all in frames/second): 25, 15, 5, 3, and 1.

The recording unit allows users to immediately play back their recording at five different speeds; ½ x, 1x, 2x, 4x, and 8x. The recording unit also allows users to playback single frames in either forward or reverse mode. The unit uses MPEG 4 format for compressed images. The recording unit also includes a USB 2.0 terminal so users can upload firmware upgrades. Output is also user-selectable, either NTSC or PAL. An AV OUT jack also doubles as an earphone jack for audio monitoring. The unit operates on batteries and includes an AC adapter to recharge the lithium batteries. For more information, contact Scientific Vision Systems, Inc. at 760-929-8133.

About Scientific Vision Systems: Located in Carlsbad, CA, Scientific Vision Systems is one of the largest distributors of medical video equipment in the United States. The company supplies a wide variety of cameras, monitors, printers, and recorders from such leading manufacturers as Sony, Mitsubishi, Medicapture, Panasonic, Hitachi, JVC and Elmo.

Scientific Vision Systems

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:03 AM | Comments (0)

TDCI Partners with Scene7® to Deliver Rich Media Applications within BuyDesign® Guided Selling and Configuration Solution

TDCI is incorporating Scene7's platform solutions into BuyDesign to provide a rich media product configuration and ordering experience.

Columbus, OH (PRWEB) November 8, 2006 -- TDCI Inc, a leading enterprise solution provider, today announced that the company is partnering with Scene7, Inc., provider of the industry-leading Scene7 On-Demand rich media platform, to deliver several new capabilities within TDCI's BuyDesign guided selling and configuration solution. BuyDesign is a comprehensive software solution that helps companies increase sales and improve profitability by enabling them to become 'easy to do business with' while reducing order processing time, cost, and errors.

TDCI is incorporating Scene7's platform solutions into BuyDesign to provide a rich media product configuration and ordering experience. The Scene7 rich media platform is an easy-to-use, Web-based system that gives business users the control to upload, manage, enhance, and publish dynamic rich media content with minimal IT support.

BuyDesign Configurator combined with Scene7's capabilities for visually configuring product images online enables users to visualize all of a product's texture, material, color, pattern and surface options dynamically generated from a single master image with swatches applied while offering streamlined ordering, selection and status processing. BuyDesign eliminates the need to create individual part numbers for every valid product configuration and Scene7's image rendering eliminates the need to create individual photos for every possible product variation providing even greater content management ROI. Customers and channel partners can visualize all options to gain purchase confidence while the manufacturer avoids the need for photos of every SKU.

Scene7 eCatalogs combined with the BuyDesign Storefront or Channel Sales applications allow companies to integrate interactive versions of print materials with their online quoting and ordering systems. Dynamically assembled and served, Scene7 eCatalogs are ideal for delivering segmented, personalized interactive versions in real-time. Unlike pre-built online catalogs, eCatalogs are instantly reconfigured and updated on the fly allowing companies to deliver more relevant, targeted visual catalogs to drive multi-channel sales more cost-effectively.
"We've been impressed by Scene7's technology for handling images," stated Dan DeMuth, TDCI president. "It aligns well with our strategy to provide capabilities that enable companies to be completely self-sufficient in providing guided selling solutions to their channel partners and customers."

"TDCI shares a complementary approach with Scene7 about the value companies gain from having the ability to maintain a central repository of product content for use across all of their selling systems and channels," said Doug Mack, CEO of Scene7 . "The BuyDesign Configurator is an ideal tool to combine with Scene7 On-Demand for managing and distributing product content cost-effectively."

About Scene7
Scene7 – provider of the leading on-demand rich media platform – enables companies to grow revenues, enhance customer experience and cut production costs. Scene7's solutions are built on an integrated technology platform – for unrivaled breadth, depth, scalability and ease of use. Solutions include Dynamic Imaging, eCatalogs, Product Configurators, Targeted email & print, and Image Management. Available both as software and On-Demand, leading companies worldwide have selected Scene7, including Amazon, Harrods, Macy's, Office Depot, Levi Strauss & Co., La-Z-Boy and QVC – and partners IBM, Microsoft, Akamai and Adobe. Visit www.scene7.com.

About TDCI
TDCI is an enterprise solution provider that specializes in helping manufacturers and their distributors streamline the selling process for customized products. TDCI's BuyDesign® software is a guided selling and configuration solution developed to help companies increase sales and improve profitability by becoming 'easy to do business with' while reducing order processing time, cost, and errors. BuyDesign supports the entire 'interest-to-order' cycle with modular components for guided product selection and configuration, product visualization, quoting and ordering, drawing generation, and status inquiry. BuyDesign also includes applications for web-based interest generation and for product specification from within popular design products such as AutoCAD and others. For more information about TDCI and BuyDesign, visit www.tdci.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:02 AM | Comments (0)

Can-Eng Furnaces Limited Purchases Gasmac Incorporated's Intellectual Property

CAN-ENG FURNACES LTD., is pleased to announce the acquisition of GASMAC Incorporated's (Guelph, ON) intellectual property, (including engineering drawings/ records and spare parts) in a transaction completed November 6, 2006.

Niagara Falls, ON (PRWEB) November 8, 2006 -- CAN-ENG FURNACES LTD, is pleased to announce the acquisition of GASMAC Incorporated's (Guelph, ON) intellectual property, (including engineering drawings and records and spare parts) in a transaction completed November 6, 2006.

GASMAC has a rich history, reaching back to the 1920's, as a designer and manufacturer of industrial furnaces. GASMAC's industrial thermal processing designs include that of Wayne Forge, The Gas Machinery Company, Heat Engineering and Technology and Scarborough and Grant. CAN-ENG is proud to include the intellectual property of GASMAC and these firms with that of its own. GASMAC's main product offerings included Aluminum Stack Melters and Holders, Infra-Red Process Heaters, as well as custom designed Batch and Continuous Heat Treating Furnaces.

CAN-ENG FURNACES has operated continuously from its Niagara Falls location for the past 42 years and serves the Aluminum, Commercial/Captive Heat Treating and Iron and Steel industrial furnace market segments. CAN-ENG also offers a comprehensive After-market Support Team delivering system upgrades, technical support and spare parts. CAN-ENG has shipped equipment to over 20 countries around the globe and has active orders for the USA, Canada, Ukraine, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Ireland, Korea, and Mexico.

CAN-ENG FURNACES looks forward to providing GASMAC customers with a high level of support for aftermarket service, spare parts, field service and new industrial furnace equipment. The design and experience gained by this acquisition will allow CAN-ENG FURNACES to provide a wider product range to new and existing customers alike.

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

APSCREEN Introduces Service That Protects Employers That Hire Commercial Drivers

No way to hide previous driving infractions or licenses now, says background check pioneer.

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (PRWEB) November 8, 2006 -- Now commercial drivers have no way to hide previous driving infractions, accidents or back-up driver's licenses thanks to a new service provided by APSCREEN, the background check pioneer. According to Tom Lawson, APSCREEN CEO, the new service protects employers that hire drivers or contract independent drivers and truckers by allowing them to conduct a thorough commercial driving record background check via the Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS).

"The new service allows employers to check out their drivers including independently contracted ones through a search of the CDLIS which is a cooperative exchange of commercial driver information between jurisdictions nationwide," said Lawson who is a court-appointed expert on negligent hiring.

According to the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 (CMVSA), the basic purpose of CDLIS is to assure that commercial drivers have only one active driver's license, one active record and have passed state-sanctioned driving skills tests, thus helping employers comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act (FMCSA).

Lawson said this new service particularly helps employers who hire independent contractors who drive buses, service/delivery vehicles or trucks with a new level of protection. If an employer hires a driver, they are eligible for the Employers Pull Notice (EPN) program, available in several states which provide automatic updates at the time of an infraction. When a company contracts with an independent driver, however, they are not qualified for the EPN program but must request that the driver provide a K3-style driving record from the DMV.

"Now all drivers are subject to the same pre- and post-employment screening processes," Lawson said. "This not only protects the employer from unknown risks, but also other drivers out there on the road like you and me."

The service will be added to APSCREEN's comprehensive background check services for pre-employment screening. However, employers may also conduct the CDLIS search frequently to monitor its driver's behaviors after being hired, because some drivers will try to hide infractions -- or tickets -- from other states under alias names.

Under APSCREEN's proprietary approach to implementation of this new service, prospective driver candidates are given ample opportunity to disclose information about their driving history and licensure which concentrates the focus on integrity as well as on the substance of discovered record(s). The primary reason for APSCREEN's omission strategy is the lack of plaintiff cases involving omission-based elimination of candidacy claims.

"For example, if a driver is contracted for a job in California, the employer can search the CDLIS prior to hiring and six months down the line," Lawson said. "This gives a much needed opportunity to determine if a driver has more than one license and a window into post-employment driving acts which could affect employer liability."

Employers are subject to a penalty of $10,000 if they knowingly use a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle without a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL), and untold liability if a driver has been found to have been negligently hired. Lawson added, "This is yet another tool for the employer's toolbox to avoid negligent hiring lawsuits and make transport a safer environment for all motorists."

Founded in 1980, APSCREEN is based in Rancho Santa Margarita, California and is the originator of the factual employment-screening concept. APSCREEN provides nationwide coverage for businesses seeking the highest caliber, most comprehensive background checks for pre-employment screening. Thomas Lawson, CEO of APSCREEN and a Certified Fraud Examiner, authored the Pre-Employment Screening series, published in The Complete Workplace Violence Prevention Manual, which is used as the gold standard in Best Hiring Practices. APSCREEN also offers tenant screening and employee locate services. More information is available by calling toll-free (800) 277-2733 or register online at www.APSCREEN.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:00 AM | Comments (0)

New Acquisition for the DELACHAUX Group

Delachaux S.A. acquires Germany's Wampfler AG, the global leader in energy supply systems for urban transport and industrial moving equipment.

(PRWEB) November 8, 2006 -- As part of its strategy to expand into high value-added niche market areas, on November 5, 2006, Delachaux S.A. signed a protocol agreement to fully acquire Germany's Wampfler AG.

Wampfler AG, an international corporation based in Weil am Rhein-Märkt, Germany, is one of the world's leading suppliers of energy supply systems for industrial moving equipment, such as bridge cranes and portal cranes, and for urban transport applications. The company generated revenues of €82 million in fiscal 2005, and €45 million in the first half of 2006.

This acquisition will allow Delachaux, which generated consolidated revenues of €468.6 million in 2005 and €264.1 million in the first half of 2006, to significantly enhance its Conductic business.

Delachaux will maintain a global leadership position in systems combining power supply and data transmission by operating the acquisition through four divisions: Lifting and Handling (for shipyard, airport, mining, and nuclear applications), Transport and Leisure (theme parks), Cable and Fiber Optics (energy and telecom), and Specialized Slip Rings (robots, machine tools, packaging, and automotive).

The new Conductic business is expected to generate revenues on the order of €190 million, with complementary geographic regions and technologies, strong capacity for R&D and innovation, and considerable synergies. It will be positioned as the global leader in highly productive industrial equipment, in markets experiencing rapid growth in international trade.

The transaction will be finalized in January 2007.

This acquisition represents another significant step forward for Delachaux along its growth strategy, following the successful acquisition of Pandrol in its railway business.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 12:59 AM | Comments (0)

November 07, 2006

National Webcast Addresses Top Concern of Privately Held Business Owners

On November 15, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. (Pacific Time), several major financial sponsors have teamed up to address the largest planning issue facing Baby Boomer business owners today -- the "Succession Planning" issue. Register at http://www.ErsiWebcast.com

Irvine, CA (PRWeb) November 7, 2006 -- On Wednesday, November 15, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. (Pacific Time), don't expect to be able to reach an Owner of a Small or Medium sized business. That's because they will likely be tuning in on their computer to the largest national webcast effort ever orchestrated to specifically address the "Succession Planning" issue.

The Webcast, entitled "Exit Your Business in Style by Implementing the Seven Step Exit Planning Process", is being offered at no cost to any business owner with a computer as the result of a coordinated effort by Entrepreneur.com, Business Enterprise Institute of Denver, Colorado, Exit & Retirement Strategies, Inc. (ERSI) of Southern California and Denver, Colorado, and PartnersFinancial of Austin, Texas.

"Bringing this information together for the benefit of the U.S. Business Owner was a monumental effort," according to Bill Black, President of ERSI. "And recognizing the scarcity of time for the average business owner, bringing the information to the owner via webcast seemed like a logical way to get the information out to the greatest number of people."

"This is a very important topic. There are over 9.5 million Privately held businesses in the U.S. today, and over 40% of the owners are facing the succession planning issue, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration," Black said. "And the primary cause for failure is lack of planning. We want to make sure as many people get access to the seven step process as possible so they don't make that mistake".

Black added, "The Succession issue is a retirement issue, and it can't be ignored because it won't go away without substantial planning well in advance. We suggest that owners begin planning at least three but preferably 10 years before their planned SET (Succession, Exit by sale or Transition to absentee ownership) strategy."

The featured speaker for the webcast is John Brown, noted author of "How To Run Your Business So You Can Leave It In Style", a best-selling book on Succession Planning, and President and Founder of Business Enterprise Institute. "At some point, every Owner leaves his business – voluntary or otherwise," Brown says. "At that time, every owner wants to receive the maximum amount of money in order to accomplish personal, financial and estate planning goals."

Early registrants can get access to a free e-book that Entrepreneur.com is making available called "Grow Your Business 1-2-3". For information or to register, go to http://www.ErsiWebcast.com

To view information about Exit & Retirement Strategies, visit their web page at http://www.Exit-Retire.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:41 AM | Comments (0)

Screaming Circuits Announces PCB Design, Layout and Assembly Blog

Screaming circuits, specialists in real-time prototype and short-run pc board assembly, today announced a new blog designed to assist and inform electronic design and layout engineers. The resource for engineers covers rapid electronics prototyping tips and techniques, Screaming Circuits company information and website use guidelines. Find it at blog.screamingcircuits.com.

Canby, OR (PRWeb) November 7, 2006 -- Screaming circuits, specialists in real-time prototype and short-run pc board assembly, today announced a new blog designed to assist and inform electronic design and layout engineers. Find it at blog.screamingcircuits.com.

New parts, packages and processes are being introduced at a rapid pace while product design schedules are getting compressed. The new Screaming Circuits blog has been launched to help engineers filter through the volumes of information being presented by the electronics industry by finding and presenting the most valuable bits in an easy to use format.

"We spend a lot of time looking at a lot of different components and thus get constant exposure to new parts and pcb assembly challenges" said Duane Benson, Screaming Circuits marketing manager. "We then study those parts and procedures independently and collect and summarize guidelines along with our best-practices."

Screaming Circuits keeps the research on these pcb assembly challenges separate from the manufacturing floor so that all customer confidential information remains confidential.

Screaming Circuits strives to make its website operate as a valuable technical library. The blog is a faster and less "corporate" way to deliver technical and industry information to a broader audience than is possible with a company website. The blog allows near instant publishing of knowledge acquired from assembling a staggering variety of components under a diverse set of conditions. For more information, go to the Screaming Circuits blog at blog.screamingcircuits.com. The Screaming Circuits company website, with online quoting and assembly service sales can be found at www.screamingcircuits.com.

About Screaming Circuits

Screaming Circuits issues quotes and takes orders online for quick-turn prototype pc board assembly from customers nationwide at www.screamingcircuits.com. We assemble kitted, turn-key and RoHS designs. With automated ordering, live phone support, an on-time guarantee and a 10% first-order discount, Screaming Circuits is a full-service Internet-based prototype specialist.

Screaming Circuits was formed in 2003 as a dedicated prototype division of MEC Northwest, a privately held ISO 9001 certified contract manufacturer, offering design and turnkey production volume assembly services to blue chip OEMs.

MEC Northwest and Milwaukee Electronics Companies (MEC) have been in business for more than 50 years. While Screaming Circuits specializes in quick-turn and prototype to low-volume production needs, MEC Northwest and MEC provide volume manufacturing, design and layout services. Once the prototype board is complete, MEC Northwest can build production-level quantities of a circuit board.

Trademarks

Screaming Circuits, and the Screaming Circuits logo are registered trademarks of Screaming Circuits, a division of Milwaukee Electronics Companies. MEC, MEC Northwest and Milwaukee Electronics Companies are trademarks of Milwaukee Electronics Companies.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:39 AM | Comments (0)

Phone Cards Now a World Wide Phenomena

From their humble beginnings as prepaid phone cards in Europe in the 70s, to the sophisticated demands of world wide users, plastic card printer Card Printing US has met the challenge of new and innovative card designs, sizes, configurations and security features.

Monsey, NY (PRWeb) November 7, 2006 -- In the mid 1970s, the first prepaid phone cards appeared on the market in Italy to combat payphone vandalism. In the throes of a coin shortage, cards were introduced with a magnetic strip on the back for use in special phones to combat the shortage. Despite this great idea, the first cards were too thin and jammed frequently.

It actually took almost eleven years for a significant phone card product to take hold in the United States. Fast forward to today and phone cards have become a worldwide phenomena and are light years more advanced than the cards first used back in the 70s.

Enormous usage globally results in an equally massive demand for phone card printing services. One company on the cutting edge of phone card manufacture and supply is Card Printing US (a division of Tele-Pak Inc.)

"With phone cards firmly entrenched in just about every area of the world, we work with customers around the globe for their phone card printing needs," David Geyra from Card Printing US comments.

"We have invested considerably to ensure we are the most technically advanced phone card printing company out there. In fact, with the staggering amount of cards printed, diverse regional requirements and economic considerations, card printing companies like ours have had to create new and innovative card designs, sizes, configurations and security features to remain competitive," Geyra explains.

The development team at Card Printing US has been hard at work ensuring that current and potential customers get the best phone card printing services to meet their specific and diverse needs.

Some of their innovative advances have included creating a new line of Multi-PIN / Multi-Voucher cards aimed at satisfying the numerous requirements of developing markets. For example, they have created credit card size cards that can be split up into five separate cards. Another newer product includes large format ten pin cards.

Demand for all different types of phone cards shows no signs of letting up. In fact, industry experts predict that sales for the calling card industry alone will reach ten billion dollars per year by the year 2010.

Companies like Card Printing US will be well positioned to continue offering innovative, new and technically superior phone card printing services to meet the diverse needs of the global marketplace.

About Card Printing US:

Card Printing US and its parent company Tele-Pak Inc. are plastic card printers that produce the finest quality plastic and laminated cards. From one color to beautiful full color printing (4-color process) with die cut rounded corners for a brilliant finish. What ever your needs may be, 500 plastic gift cards or 500,000 phone cards we pride ourselves with quick production service, reliable delivery and an art department that can help with full design services to create the perfect card for you.

We offer card design and fulfillment from conception to completion. Our client involvement, creative solutions and high quality control standards ensure expertly finished cards by a company that stands behind its product. Our individually tailored printing and packaging solutions, up to date technology, and years of experience make us the choice of discriminating customers everywhere.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:39 AM | Comments (0)

OC Robotics Snake-Arm Robots Steer Aircraft Assembly in a New Direction

OC Robotics has achieved the first major milestone for a snake-arm robot designed for assembly and inspection tasks within aircraft wings – an area previously inaccessible to automation. OC Robotics has completed build and initial testing of a demonstration snake-arm robot capable of sealing, swaging and inspection inside a mock-up of a rib bay. The robot is due to begin an intensive programme of trials in the near future.

(PRWeb) November 7, 2006 -- Working with Airbus, OC Robotics has achieved the first major milestone for a snake-arm robot designed for assembly and inspection tasks within aircraft wings – an area previously inaccessible to automation.

OC Robotics has completed build and initial testing of a demonstration snake-arm robot capable of sealing, swaging and inspection inside a mock-up of a rib bay. The robot is due to begin an intensive programme of trials in the near future.

Compared to the automotive industry, the aerospace industry has been slow to introduce industrial robotics onto its assembly lines. This is mainly due to the high accuracy needed over large structures. Recently there has been a general move towards automation in order to increase throughput and standardise processes, however tasks within rib bays and other confined spaces inside aircraft structures have remained practically impossible, until now. Unlike standard robots, snake-arm robots do not have prominent 'elbows'. They have a continuous curving shape – like a snake. This means that they are ideal for applications in confined spaces and can reach lots of awkward places.

Airbus UK has been working with Kuka, a global supplier of industrial robots, to develop aerospace robots to deliver end effector packages capable of inspection, swaging and sealing. When approached by Airbus to find a solution to low access automation, OC Robotics proposed using a snake-arm robot as an additional tool that the larger industrial robot would deliver. The snake-arm robot acts as a flexible extension to the industrial robot and is fed through the access hole by the Kuka robot. The snake-arm can follow a path into the wing box using the Kuka as a delivery tool.

The snake-arm robot is equipped with a wrist and tool interface to allow attachment of a variety of different tools designed by OC Robotics. Initial tests show the arm is flexible enough to deliver the required tools to areas of the wing box that were previously inaccessible to automation, to perform tasks such as final sealant application and swaging.

In the future the OC Robotics Extender range of snake-arms will mean that every industrial robot will be able to have a suitable snake-arm extension for reaching into confined spaces.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:33 AM | Comments (0)

AEC Technology Announces The Official Launch of Their Website Aectec.com; The New Website Offers a Cost Effective Alternative to New Equipment With Refurbished Like-New Used Plotters

The website will provide new and existing customers with ecommerce functionality for sales and service of equipment, supplies and parts. Also providing equipment specifications and user manuals. It will be a one stop website providing help for all plotter needs.

(PRWeb) November 6, 2006 -- Jerry Rushing has been in the business of refurbishing large format printers, commonly known as plotters, for 15 years. "Servicing clients all over the country has facilitated the need for our business to go online", stated Jerry. AEC Technology primarily provides fully certified reconditioned large format plotters, copiers and scanners; with most of the focus on plotters.

We asked Jerry to walk us through his services and we found that he has a very high standard set for each of his products and services; with the highest standard being quality. Jerry said, "the most important thing to me is the quality of my customer service; from handling $25.00 ink cartridges to $25,000 new equipment purchases". Creating the quality customer service atmosphere all the way through the entire company is the most important thing at AEC Technology. It is so important they offer 50% savings over the purchase of new equipment, the same standard warranty as new equipment, a Full Money Back Limited Guarantee; Life Time Tech Support; free local delivery and setup. AEC Technology also has a very good trade- in program. By using a trade-in and purchasing a like-new refurbished machine the savings could be almost 75% off from the costs of new equipment.

AEC Technolgy is located in Chicago, Illinois. They provide U.S. wide services and offer fully refurbished plotter, copiers, and scanners at a fraction of the price of new equipment. They are fast becoming the number 1 source for architects, engineers, and contractors in the United States.

AEC Technology, Inc.
10200 S. Mandel St.
Plainfield, IL 60585
Toll Free Phone: 1-877-723-2832
Phone: 1-630-428-2322
Fax: 1-630-428-2332

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:32 AM | Comments (0)

Durand Glass Manufacturing Proactively Pursues Corrective Action Best Practices with i-Sight Quality & Complaint Management Software

Customer Expressions announced today that Durand Glass Manufacturing has successfully implement the i-Sight Quality and Complaint Management Software to improve the handling of customer complaints, internal corrective actions, supplier corrective actions and health and safety incidents. Homes, restaurants and hotels in dozens of countries around the world rely on quality glassware from trusted names like Luminarc, Arcoroc and Mikasa. Behind those brands is Durand Glass Manufacturing Company (DGMC). "i-Sight was far and away the best of the solutions we looked at," Peters said. "It is much more user friendly than any of the other systems, and had the critical follow-up and reporting capabilities we need to ensure effective corrective action."

Ottawa, ON (PRWeb) November 6, 2006 -- Customer Expressions announced today that Durand Glass Manufacturing has successfully implement the i-Sight Quality and Complaint Management Software to improve the handling of customer complaints, internal corrective actions, supplier corrective actions and health and safety incidents.

Homes, restaurants and hotels in dozens of countries around the world rely on quality glassware from trusted names like Luminarc, Arcoroc and Mikasa. Behind those brands is Durand Glass Manufacturing Company (DGMC).

As glass craftsmen, New Jersey-based DGMC carries on a more than 180-year-old tradition established by its parent company, international leader, ARC International Group. Established in 1825 by the Durand family as a traditional glassmaking workshop in Arques, France, ARC now operates worldwide subsidiaries and offices, serving 160 countries. The 100 percent family owned company produces six million items per day and generated 1.2 billion euros in sales in 2004.

ARC and DGCM have built the reputation of their brands, and their businesses, on quality products and customer service. Key to that is following best practices when it comes to managing internal, customer and supplier issues – and taking corrective action to support continuous improvement.

The Challenge

In 2006, DGCM determined it needed to pursue corrective action more proactively in four areas: customer complaints, internal processes, safety and supplier issues. At the time, managers across the various departments tracked this information with Excel spreadsheets.

Without a centralized system, employees were not always on the same page about the status of issues, nor did they know which cases took priority over others. In the absence of a workflow guiding them, many closed issues upon resolution – before identifying root causes and counter measures.

"We needed one system to pull together all the different people working across different projects, and to ensure we see everything through to corrective action," said Jim Peters, process improvement manager at DGCM.

The Solution

The company extensively evaluated corrective action solutions and the option of creating its own system in house, even taking the steps of developing a priority matrix with weighted criteria. Topping the wish list: built-in mechanisms for follow-up audits and corrective action; email notification and reminders; ease of use; and reporting/data analysis.

Decision-makers scored products and viewed demos before selecting i-Sight Corrective Action Software (CAPA) for Quality Management from Customer Expressions. The solution outweighed all other commercial products it considered, and the option of creating a system internally.

"i-Sight was far and away the best of the solutions we looked at," Peters said. "It is much more user friendly than any of the other systems, and had the critical follow-up and reporting capabilities we need to ensure effective corrective action."

Customized Workflows Enforcing Best Practices

"We were also attracted to i-Sight's customizability," Peters added. "With others, we would have to fit our processes into a pre-defined track that didn't address our specific needs."

Customer Expressions delivered on that promise of flexibility, mapping company processes and designing custom fields and templates specifically for the glass company's various workflows. In DGMC's case, that meant enforcing its seven steps of corrective action.

Throughout the initial deployment and ongoing, Peters has appreciated the exceptional support behind the product. "Customer Expressions has given us everything we need and responds within a day whenever we call," Peters said. "They're bright, easy and pleasant to work with, which for me is the most important thing."

Once in place, i-Sight quickly demonstrated its ease of use, with employees rapidly integrating it into their regular workflows. About 50 of the company's 900 employees have access to the web-based solution. DGMC runs three processes through i-Sight and will soon go live with a supplier workflow.

DGMC takes each customer complaint seriously, logging every issue in i-Sight. The software immediately routes them to the responsible managers, who then own complaints through to corrective action. This improves the visibility of issues, helping the company identify and resolve recurring problems.

A workflow that tracks internal matters helps the company pinpoint sources of inefficiency or problems in quality, such as repeated process failures, to ultimately put better methods and practices in place.

A Safer Place to Work

Perhaps most critical, i-Sight gives DGMC a means of tracking, reporting on and remediating safety incidents. A capture form ensures supervisors enter all the key information needed. From there, i-Sight routes it to a nurse and safety manager to follow.

With consistent information capture, the company has much more accurate, real-time data, all in one location. This allows managers to view and analyze safety matters and find resolutions, making for a safer work environment.

i-Sight integrates the company's approval steps into each workflow, ensuring that each issue has the necessary approval before moving on to the next stage – and that no issue ever just falls through the cracks. Within that, each person has a certain amount of time to address it as i-Sight guides them through the steps of correction action.

The Results

i-Sight reporting enables DGMC to measure performance against current goals, and set ever-more-ambitious targets for the future. In response, DGMC expects to realize several valuable improvements:
- Reduce the number of safety incidents by analyzing and following cases through to corrective action.
- Improve overall efficiency, measured by factors like production yield.
- Lower the number of customer complaints, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction.

"With i-Sight in place a short time, we already know we're resolving safety incidents more quickly, and other issues in the desired timeframes," Peters said.

About Customer Expressions

Based in Ottawa, Canada, Customer Expressions (www.customerexpressions.com) is a leading provider of web-based case management solutions for regulators and enterprises focused on quality assurance and customer service. Customer Expressions has gained an international reputation for best-in-class software that enables managers to improve customer retention and profitability. The privately held firm provides i-Sight, integrated case management software for complaint handling, corrective and preventive action management (CAPA Management), compliance monitoring, and other business processes that require case management.

For further information, please contact:
Joe Gerard, Vice-President, Sales & Marketing
800-465-6089 or media @ customerexpressions.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:31 AM | Comments (0)

Quality Fusion Electrodes at 50% Off OEM Prices

The "Tungsten Electrode Experts" at Diamond Ground Products are now proud to offer replacement fusion electrodes for the following manufactures*: • Alcoa Fujikura® • Sumitomo® • Fitel® • Ericsson® • Corning® / Siecor®

Newbury Park, CA (PRWeb) November 6, 2006 -- The "Tungsten Electrode Experts" at Diamond Ground Products are now proud to offer replacement fusion electrodes for the following manufactures*:

• Alcoa Fujikura®
• Sumitomo®
• Fitel®
• Ericsson®
• Corning® / Siecor®

Diamond Ground Products replacement fusion electrodes last just as long as the original equipment parts they replace but at a savings of 50% when compared to OEM list price. Contact DGP today or visit their web site at www.diamondground.com

Diamond Ground Products is dedicated to the improvement of weld quality & welder productivity, and maintains a reputation as the industry leader in tungsten and tungsten preparation. Their ongoing management philosophy is to provide quality product and receptive service that exceeds even the most stringent expectations. Contact DGP today to see how they can help with your current or future welding applications.

For more information, contact:

Jim Elizarraz
Diamond Ground Products
2550 Azurite Circle Newbury Park, CA 91320
Ph: (805) 498-3837
Fax (805) 498-9347
Website: www.diamondground.com

*Diamond Ground Products is in no way affiliated with the above-named manufacturers. References to the above-named machines, model numbers and part numbers are for your convenience

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:59 AM | Comments (0)

Fractal:Intelligence SQL Server 2005 Edition Leverages Latest Innovations - Valuable Addition to Microsoft Analysis and Reporting Capabilities

Fractal:Edge, working closely with Microsoft and its clients that are embracing SQL Server 2005 and Reporting and Analysis Services as strategic components of their BI architecture has incorporated the latest Microsoft querying and business intelligence features in Fractal:Intelligence SQL Server 2005 Edition; a key data source to create powerful interactive and visual Fractal Maps.

London, UK (PRWeb) November 6, 2006 -- Fractal:Edge, recent winner of the Waters Magazine Award for Best Visualization Provider, announced today that Fractal:Intelligence SQL Server® 2005 Edition is now available as a beta release for users looking to take full advantage of the latest querying and business intelligence features introduced with Microsoft SQL Server® 2005.

Key features of Fractal:Intelligence 2.2 SQL Server® 2005 Edition include:
• Addition of new Active Data Object (ADO), Analysis Services (AS) and Reporting Services (RS) data adapters.
• The ADO adapter leverages performance enhancements in SQL Server® 2005 to deliver superior connectivity to relational data sources.
• The AS data adapter leverages the new Unified Dimensional Model (UDM).
• Full visual drag and drop configuration of Fractal Map projects removes need for any MDX coding by end users.

"Being able to utilize powerful interactive visual Fractal Maps with Microsoft's Analysis Services and scalable SQL Server® 2005 new features is a winning combination for business users looking to get the most intelligence from their large and complex information resources," said Kerry Gerontianous, President of Incremax Technologies, a Gold Certified Microsoft Partner and a Fractal:Edge Solution Partner. "With these new features we can also create thin-client Fractal Map projects for delivery by Fractal:Server within SharePoint® portal environments further enhancing productivity."

Fractal:Intelligence is the cornerstone of the Fractal:Edge productivity suite, allowing users to configure Fractal Maps quickly and easily. The unique presentation of multidimensional data in Fractal Maps makes outliers, anomalies and patterns instantly recognizable. By reducing the time taken to spot opportunities or threats, Fractal Maps deliver a competitive edge – especially when the data contains the richness and dynamism afforded by SQL Server® 2005.

"We find increasing numbers of clients embracing SQL Server® 2005 and Microsoft Reporting and Analysis Services as strategic components of their BI architecture." said David Lincoln, Fractal:Edge's Director of Product Development. "Feedback from customers and relevant Microsoft product groups confirms this special edition of Fractal:Intelligence has all the right integration points to leverage the power of Microsoft's BI product stack and add value to its reporting capabilities by delivering more effective analysis and enabling rapid action."

Fractal:Intelligence 2.2 SQL Server® 2005 Edition is available now in Beta Release through http://www.fractaledge.com/products-fractalintelligence-comparison.htm. The production version will be available in Q4 2006.

Microsoft, SQL Server 2005 and SharePoint are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation.

About Fractal:Edge
Fractal:Edge delivers software products for the interactive visual analysis and navigation of large, complex or fast-moving information sources. Our patented data visualization solutions are used by blue-chip clients worldwide in multiple industries and business functions to analyze information quickly and accurately.

Fractal:Edge is committed to working with dynamic and innovative partners to deliver targeted Fractal Map applications and custom Fractal Map solutions to commercial and public sectors worldwide. For more information, go to http://www.fractaledge.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:57 AM | Comments (0)

Belkin Transitions Clamshell Packages into AVC Corp.'s Environmental Rigid Blister

AVC Corp., a one-stop vertically integrated custom retail packaging manufacturer, is working with Belkin to transition its iPod accessories, cables and wireless router products from traditional clamshell packages into an environmentally sustainable packaging alternative.

Torrance, Calif. (PRWeb) November 6, 2006 -- The retail industry is in the midst of an environmental overhaul and packaging is becoming a major focal point for product manufacturers as a key area in which they can make a positive impact on the supply chain.

Environmentally responsive companies are re-evaluating current packaging configurations to find ways in which they can reduce the amount of materials used and take advantage of more reusable, recyclable and renewable packaging materials.

Popular iPod accessories and electronics manufacturer Belkin turned to environmental packaging experts AVC Corp. (www.avccorp.com) for suggestions on how they could improve packaging configurations to reduce their overall impact on the planet.

After working with the Torrance, California-based custom retail packaging company (www.avccorp.com) for several months, Belkin is taking steps to reduce its impact on the environment by transitioning all of its PVC clamshell-packaged products into AVC's newest environmentally sustainable packaging design, the Environmental Rigid Blister (ERB). Widely accepted by retail and club stores, AVC's ERB utilizes more blister board and corrugated – both renewable resources – and less plastic than traditional clamshell and blister-style packages.

"We chose to replace the old-style clamshells with the new ERB packages because they are made with recycled plastic and paper materials, and the packages themselves are recyclable," said Cindy Anderson, Belkin's Sr. MarCom Manager. "And, they look better aesthetically! Customers can see the products easier and retailers don't deal with as much bulk and weight."

Because it cuts down on the amount of thermoformed plastic and eliminates the need for a paper insert, the ERB is lighter in weight and can save the product manufacturer money on transportation costs. The clear thermoformed window entrapped within the blister board offers high clarity so the consumer can see the product before purchasing. This concept reduces the amount of overall packaging materials used, which in turn saves money while diminishing the impact on the environment.

What makes the Belkin ERB even more environmentally friendly is that the company chose to move from PVC into RPET, which is previously recycled PET plastic and is the ideal option to encourage continued global recycling efforts.

Though Belkin has long been conscious of its footprint on the environment, only recently has retail culture embraced the notion of reduced packaging. The trend of yesterday was to double and triple package items for security purposes without taking into environmental impact into consideration. Responding to consumers' heightened awareness of the benefits of a clean environment and growing concern over rising pollution rates and the use of potentially hazardous packaging materials, major retailers are changing their thought patterns to become more ecologically sensitive.

"Belkin is committed to providing our channel partners and customers with the best possible experience with our products," Anderson said. "That experience includes presenting the easiest and best choices in the store. We're excited to be able to give shoppers the opportunity to choose innovative products packaged in environmentally friendly materials, and we believe so far it's been a win-win for both retailers and our customers."

Belkin has a number of products that are already utilizing the new clamshell alternative – the new packages can be seen on the shelves at major retailers such as Best Buy, Costco, BJ's and Kohls. For more information on AVC's environmental packaging systems, please contact Guy Marom at (310) 533-5811, ext. 112 or visit www.avccorp.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:56 AM | Comments (0)

Leading Industrial Brushes Supplier Launches New Website

Solo Horton Brushes now offers more than 1,000,000 industrial brushes online.

Torrington, CT (PRWeb) November 5, 2006 -- Solo Horton Brushes, a leading supplier of industrial brushes, today announced the launch of its newly enhanced website, solobrushes.com. The user-friendly site provides customers with immediate access to the company's extensive inventory of more than 1 million items including acid brushes, chip brushes, wheel brushes, artist brushes, glue brushes, and more.

"For more than 85 years, Solo Horton Brushes has been an industry leader providing unparalleled products and service," said L. J. Skeie, President of Solo Horton Brushes. "We are excited to further extend our reach by offering 24/7 accessibility of our products via the new website. The site provides search capabilities, as well as detailed product descriptions, product images and full shopping cart functionality to make the user's experience easy and productive."

Via the website, businesses can easily find the brushes that fit their jobs. Solo Horton Brushes delivers one of the most comprehensive selections of industrial brushes in the industry. The company keeps nearly every item in stock, and ships most orders the same day as placed.

About Industrial Brushes Provider Solo Horton Brushes
Solo Horton has set the standard for industrial brushes since 1920. The company offers an extensive inventory of brushes that blend quality and economy at every price level. All industrial brushes are in-stock and ready for immediate shipment. Quantity discounts are available. For more information, visit solobrushes.com or call 1-800-969-7656.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:54 AM | Comments (0)

Military Job Placement Firm Bradley-Morris Profiled in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Article demonstrates how leading corporations are looking to former military personnel to fill civilian jobs.

Atlanta, GA (PRWeb) November 5, 2006 -- Bradley-Morris, Inc. (BMI), the largest military job placement firm in the U.S., was recently featured on the cover of The Atlanta Journal Constitution's Jobs section (click here for a print version of the article). The piece was entitled "You're NOT in the Army now – Former military personnel find that Uncle Sam's not the only one looking for a few good men and women."

The article focuses on the value that the perpetual military-experienced talent pool holds for employers, and interviews two ex-military service members who recall their road to accepting challenging and fulfilling positions with leading companies in their respective industries.

Shaun Bradley, co-CEO and president of BMI, spoke to the demand for military-experienced talent in the article: "The only companies who don't make hiring former military a priority are the companies who haven't talked with them yet. These are the Mercedes of job candidates."

Sandra (Sandy) Morris, co-CEO and treasurer of the company, was asked about the key role BMI plays in helping the job seekers connect with companies who are looking for their high demand skill sets. She commented, "We're in the education business. We teach candidates about what is different about the civilian job market and give them the tools to navigate it, and we tell our corporate clients why they should hire former military (personnel)."

Employers who are seeking high caliber job seekers currently experiencing military transition can utilize BMI, especially if these employers are seeking leadership and management positions; project engineers; production engineers/supervisors; manufacturing engineers/supervisors; operations and logistics engineers/supervisors; electrical, mechanical and maintenance technicians; field service technicians; and sales/sales management personnel.

To register for a BMI Hiring Conference event, employers and job seekers can go to Bradley-Morris.com.

About Bradley-Morris, Military Job Placement Firm
Bradley-Morris, Inc. (BMI), the largest military job placement firm in the U.S., expertly matches the top leadership, technical, operations, sales and diversity candidates who are experiencing military transition with the leading civilian jobs in the Fortune 1000 and emerging company sectors. Our client-focused approach yields superior return-on-investment and results in a 96% customer service satisfaction rating from the valued companies that partner with us. In addition, 90% of our military job seekers receive interest from these companies by taking advantage of our free Hiring Conference process. Serving the U.S., Europe and Asia, Bradley-Morris is headquartered in metro-Atlanta, GA, and can be found on the web at Bradley-Morris.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:53 AM | Comments (0)

November 03, 2006

Isotech Motorized Positioning Tables Offer Solutions for Both High Accuracy and Heavy Duty Linear Motion Applications

Motorized positioning tables are used in many different applications from robotics and packaging to video production and automation. Isotech Inc., located in Hatfield, Pa, has announced the offering of four different lines of motorized positioning tables that can be customized to fit the unique needs of both high accuracy applications and applications found in heavy duty industrial automation. All of Isotech's motorized positioning tables produce zero backlash.

HATFIELD, Pa. (PRWeb) November 3, 2006 -- Isotech Inc., a supplier of precision linear motion products, today, announced the offering of a complete line of motorized positioning tables that produce zero backlash and are designed for custom applications ranging from high accuracy positioning to heavy duty industrial automation uses.

"All of our motorized tables are designed with friction-free linear ball or cross roller bearings," said Joe Casillo, president of Isotech, Inc. "This allows for zero backlash and accurate, repeatable linear travel."

Motorized tables, sometimes called positioning stages, are flexible positioning systems consisting of highly accurate ball screw drives that can provide both horizontal and vertical operation. Applications range from pick and place, video production, automation, sorting and inspection, robotics, packaging, dispensing, and product lift systems.

Built in a compact, adaptable configuration, each Isotech motorized table is customizable to suit unique applications and are adaptable to NEMA standards. Each motorized table can be designed as a complete system that includes application specific motors and controls.

High precision motorized positioning tables use posi-drive designs. These models offer straight line accuracy up to .0001 inch per one inch of travel. These units can be used for one, two or three-axis configurations, offer travel up to 12 inches, and are capable of handling load capacities from 30 to 180 lbs. Special configurations including motor mounts, hand crank actuation, and custom leads and pitches are available.

In addition, Isotech offers heavy duty motorized tables that are suited for applications where durability and longevity are of greater concern than high accuracy. These units offer a U-shaped guide rail and slide block which promotes a highly rigid structure. These units can be easily integrated into the frameworks of machinery or equipment. Isotech heavy duty motorized tables provide up to 48 inches of travel, up to one ton of load capacity, straight line accuracy of .005 inches per one inch of travel, and a maximum speed of 18 inches per second.

Isotech motorized tables are in stock and available for quick delivery. Isotech personnel are available to assist with building a customized system for any application. Custom configurations are usually available to ship within three weeks. Call Isotech at 267-663-5555 or visit www.isotechinc.com for more information.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:32 AM | Comments (0)

WorkZone Enhances Project Management Tools

Trichys releases version 5.0 of its leading collaboration extranet/intranet

Conshohocken, Pa. (PRWeb) November 3, 2006 -- Trichys (www.trichys.com), the developer and marketer of WorkZone™ collaboration extranets and intranets, today announced the release of WorkZone 5.0.

"In response to our customer's increasing requirements to support project management, we added several powerful tools in our new release that further enhance the collaboration process," said Rick Mosenkis, Trichys CEO. "The enhanced project management tools include project tracking, a group project calendar and approvals function. The project management functions enhance the established document sharing capabilities of WorkZone, and were created in the tradition of assuring that no technical expertise is required to implement, learn and use WorkZone."

To learn more about WorkZone, or to receive an online demonstration, visit www.teamworkzone.com.

About WorkZone
WorkZone is a market-leading online extranet and intranet designed to support team collaboration, document management and project management. Designed for non-technical users with no IT support, WorkZone is used by over 20,000 business professionals throughout the world.

About Trichys
Trichys is a leading provider of web-based collaboration products designed to be implemented, used and maintained by non-technical business professionals. Privately held, the company is led by communications and technology professionals committed to creating easier and more powerful ways for business partners to communicate. For more information, visit www.trichys.com.

Contact:
Malcolm Brown
Trichys
610-828-2877 ext 111

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:31 AM | Comments (0)

To Maximize Storage Space Safely and Economically, Look to Portable Storage Racks

For fluctuating or constantly-moving inventory, or simply to save space, portable storage racks can be a cost-effective answer.

(PRWeb) November 3, 2006 -- Warehouse space is always at a premium, and maximizing it is always a burden upon a company. Fluctuating or constantly shifting inventory can cause space to be wasted within fixed storage such as selective pallet racking. A traditional solution to this problem has been simply stacking wooden pallets on top of each other, which puts inventory, personnel and facilities at risk. In such cases, it is well worthwhile for an operation to consider portable storage racks.

"A company can use portable racks in place of wooden pallets simply because they can be loaded with product and safely stacked several units high," says Garry Grzesiak, Director of Container Design and Sales for Steel King, Inc., a leading provider of pallet racking. "They're fully supported by steel corner columns, completely protecting the inventory."

By the nature of their portability, such racks allow the user to maximize storage density (like a drive-in or flow rack), or to maximize selectivity (like traditional selective pallet rack), or anything in between, all with the same rack. Changing rack layouts is simple, with no expensive installation or dismantling costs. They protect product during handling, stacking and shipping and act as their own pallet, many times eliminating the need for wooden pallets, and offer complete product visibility and ventilation.

Many different industries have utilized Steel King portable storage racks to solve their storage problems. In multi-step manufacturing or any situation requiring frequent movement of components or products from one location to another, portable racks can be picked up, transported and utilized wholly in the new location, eliminating the need to remove items from the rack. One example in actual practice is tire manufacturing; a portable rack is packed with a certain tire and stored in a distribution center, and the same rack is used to ship a quantity to the dealer. Removal from the rack is never required until the final destination.

Another common use is in frozen foods--a slip sheet or pallet will be loaded with an item, then placed into a portable storage rack and then into a refrigeration unit. This method makes for maximum storage density within a freezer--and with the cost of storage and electricity, every square inch is at a premium. When the items are needed for shipment, the slip sheet or pallet can be removed from the portable rack and shipped. When not in use, the legs (columns) can then be removed from the portable rack, allowing easy storage until again required.

Another unique use has been for book fairs, for which 3 metal book carts can be safely stored in a portable storage rack until needed. When a book fair occurs, the book containers are removed and shipped to the fair location. The portable rack can be taken down or moved about as needed, so that the space is constantly utilized.

"Practically every industry or operation has some use somewhere in their facilities for portable storage racks," Grzesiak says. "Steel King has provided portable Stac-King racks for airplane and automotive manufacturing, lawnmower manufacturing, door and window manufacturing, lumber yards, dry storage warehouses, book storage, electronic industry, and manufacturing of heavy machinery and equipment, among many others."

For more information about this article contact Donald Heemstra at Steel King, 2700 Chamber St., Stevens Point, WI 54481 or call at 1-800-826-0203, or visit the website at www.steelking.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:30 AM | Comments (0)

ACOM Solutions, Inc. Ships EZConnect 8.0 EDI-XML Translation Software with Simplified Data Mapping, Online Syntax-Checking

The popular EZConnect EDI-XML B2B e-commerce solution form ACOM Solutions, Inc. has been enhanced with a new drag-and-drop interface and other user convenience features that make the mapping of electronic documents easier and faster. Customers save significantly by mapping their owndocuments rather than incurring consulting fees. The affordable solution is in daily use by more than 150 corporations, including both SMB and Fortune 500 firms.

Long Beach, CA (PRWeb) November 3, 2006 -- ACOM Solutions, Inc. has commenced shipment of Version 8.0 of its EZConnect EDI-XML data translation and connectivity solution, with drag-and-drop data mapping and online syntax-checking among the ease-of-use features incorporated in the new release, it was announced today by Sam Mikhail, vice president. With the addition of the GUI-based interface, EZConnect is an even more viable option for mid-tier companies engaged in electronic commerce, Mikhail said.

In production at more than 150 corporations to facilitate B2B e-commerce, EZConnect is a Windows based, any-to-any data translation, data management and complete partner communications platform. It supports direct integration to one or multiple databases as well as flat file and XML interfaces to applications, and it is compliant with all EDI standards, including ANSI X.12 and EDIFACT. It also supports various forms of XML data formats.

"The drag-and-drop user interface creates an intuitive and extremely flexible user experience," Mikhail said. "The on-screen presentation is easy to understand as well as customizable to user preferences, providing unprecedented user control. It dramatically simplifies the addition of new trading partners to the B2B e-commerce initiative as well as making changes to existing data maps. It also makes it easier to map flat files to and from the ANSI X.12 documents in use."

Using the on-line syntax-checking capability, users can validate commands and check their EDI mapping for errors online and interactively via a split screen, with the software taking the mapper directly to errors for repair. Previously, it would have been necessary to bring the system up to production mode before being able to isolate anomalies.

The upgrade to EZConnect Version 8.0 is available without charge to existing users under maintenance contracts and can be ordered by contacting ACOM. Any necessary professional services are chargeable at the normal rate.

"Early response tells us that Version 8.0 is not only easier to use than previous versions of EZConnect, but that it is also more powerful and more flexible than competing products," Mikhail said. "It helps users to get started with their own mapping and changes once we have completed training and installed the first couple of maps.

EZConnect is compatible with all ERP/Accounting software suites as well as data transports, including value-added networks (VANs), proprietary networks and the Internet. Importantly, it accommodates the AS-2 e-commerce protocol, which normally is a condition for doing business with Wal-Mart.

EZConnect users range from large manufacturers such as Lockheed to mid-size firm such as St. George Crystal, Inc., SK Foods, Inc. and Leopold & Stevens, Inc. in the U.S. and CanWel Distribution, Ltd. and Hospital Logistics, Inc. in Canada.

About ACOM Solutions, Inc.

Now in its 23rd year of business, ACOM Solutions, Inc. develops and implements advanced modular software systems for document output management, enterprise content management, secure corporate payments, and B2B EDI/XML e-commerce applications, marketing them domestically and through overseas partners. Corporate headquarters are in Long Beach, California; System i Software Division headquarters are in Duluth, Georgia; and regional offices are located in several major U.S. cities. For more information call 800-699-5758; email e-mail protected from spam bots, or visit http://www.acom.com .

CONTACT:
Mark Firmin
562-424-7899

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:29 AM | Comments (0)

Growing Companies as an Art Form

Oregon-based wholesale ISP company achieves 25% monthly revenue growth after working with strategic business management and marketing professionals at One Straight Line.

Aptos, CA (PRWeb) November 3, 2006 -- One Straight Line, LLC (http://www.onestraightline.com) has breathed new life into the sweet spot that connects what a company does best and their customers' emotional needs.

The strategic communication planning process works so well, in fact, that the results can tax a client's internal resources. Such has been the case with Visp.net, the nation's oldest wholesale ISP, which is creating more efficient methods of processing new, qualified leads.

That's not to say Visp.net is complaining.

"One Straight Line has been huge in helping us understand who we are and who we serve," said Todd Grannis, Visp.net CEO. "The result has been growth fulfilling our wildest dreams."

The Path to Mindful, Strategic Growth
When Visp.net contacted One Straight Line, the company had reached a plateau. The 10-year-old wholesale ISP was doing well, but Grannis was anxious to take his business to the next level. His goal: to increase sales by 12 percent a month -- every month.

"We help our clients focus on what they need to do in order to grow," said Michael Knowles, principal, One Straight Line. "A company can't do business as usual and experience dramatic growth at the same time."

An intense two-day meeting with Visp.net stakeholders yielded startling results. As it turns out, Visp.net had been performing marvelously considering it had never strategically identified its ideal customer.

"One Straight Line provided the ideal catalyst for taking the time to do something that we should have done quite some time ago," Grannis said. "After we identified our ideal customer, we were able to craft vertical messages that maximized all of our marketing efforts."

How to Accommodate Rapid Business Growth
Armed with detailed knowledge of its customers' pain points, Visp.net revamped its website and began a series of direct-mail campaigns to targeted audiences. Their customers -- in this case medium-sized ISPs -- quickly responded, and business revenue soared.

"Before we approached marketing strategically, we would get responses from our direct-mail campaigns," Grannis said. "But the leads weren't qualified so most of them ended up taking our sales team's resources without yielding any quantifiable results."

One Straight Line is now helping Visp.net re-evaluate its internal sales process, so potential leads are categorized and addressed quickly. "We've seen this dilemma happen with other clients," said David Leland, principal, One Straight Line. "It's a good problem to have. It certainly beats the alternative.

Meanwhile, Grannis had far exceeded his business expectations. It appears that 12 percent a month growth was a bit conservative. Last month, Visp.net grew at 25 percent.

About One Straight Line
One Straight Line works with business owners and executives who are struggling to grow their companies. The business strategy and marketing firm has developed the Step Zero™ process, which helps clients become focused on effective strategies. Knowles and Leland also co-wrote The Entrepreneur's Concept Assessment Tool Book.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:28 AM | Comments (0)

eBay Certified Solution Provider, Worldwide Brands, Answers the Most-Asked Question in E-Commerce: Where Do I Find Products To Sell Online?

Worldwide Brands, publishers of the Internet's largest database of pre-qualified, e-commerce-ready Wholesalers, announced today the launch of their newly redesigned website at www.WorldwideBrands.com. Well known for many years as the leading authority in e-commerce Product Sourcing information and education, the new site is intended to provide even more free product sourcing educational materials, in a well-organized, easily-navigable experience.

MAITLAND, Florida (PRWeb) November 2, 2006 -- The most frustrating business issue for e-commerce newcomers and veterans alike is locating legitimate wholesale suppliers of products to sell online, in an information market flooded with product sourcing scams and intentional misinformation. Small eBiz owners often learn the ins and outs of product sourcing by costly and time-consuming trial and error.

Worldwide Brands (www.worldwidebrands.com), whose product sourcing education is used by eBay University, is dedicated to empowering online retailers with the knowledge and genuine wholesale sources they need to succeed. To that end, their upgraded site is now offering free instructive video content, including five eye-opening tips that every online retailer should know about finding legitimate wholesalers.

In addition to videos, Worldwide Brands' is also releasing a new free eBook, "Successful Product Sourcing: How to Find Real Wholesale Products You Can Sell Online" by CEO Chris Malta.

"With even more free educational materials and an easier-than-ever navigational setup, the new and improved WorldwideBrands.com presents an even greater resource to online retailers looking for legitimate Wholesalers," says Robin Cowie, President of Worldwide Brands.

About Worldwide Brands
Worldwide Brands product sourcing information is so comprehensive that it is being used by eBay University. They are also the writers and hosts of Entrepreneur Magazine's eBiz & Product Sourcing Radio Shows and the official product sourcing editors for eBay Radio.

Their website offers a variety of free educational tools, including instructional videos, radio show archives, eBooks, articles, and an extensive knowledge base, all designed to help eBiz owners achieve success.

They also publish the internet's largest database of genuine, authorized wholesalers willing to work with online retailers. To learn more, visit www.worldwidebrands.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:26 AM | Comments (0)

D&H Selects the Boomi Integration Platform to Automate Order Processing for Its Network of 120 Trading Partners

Boomi to help D&H process $1.5 billion in orders by connecting the company directly to its partners and customers through the Internet via EDI, XML and RosettaNet.

BERWYN, PA (PRWeb) November 2, 2006 -- Boomi Software, a leader in business integration software for mid-market companies, today announced D&H Distributing selected the Boomi Integration Platform to simplify its automated connections to trading partners. Boomi will streamline D&H's business-to-business (B2B) connections with its 120+ partners, helping automate the company's annual ordering and shipping processes which reach $1.5 billion annually.

D&H is one of America's oldest and largest wholesale products distributors. It specializes in emerging trends across information technology (IT), electronics, entertainment and gaming. During its 88-year history, D&H distributed the first color television, the first home computer, even the very first gaming system. It puts resellers in touch with more product categories than any other distributor.

D&H built its business on servicing the channel with individualized attention for customers and manufacturer partners alike. The desire to cater to its partners' needs is exactly what drove the decision to purchase the Boomi Integration Platform.

"As a distributor, we don't dictate when and how our partners connect to us. We need to be responsive," said Jim Schwab, Executive Vice President for D&H. "When a customer provides us with their requirements for connecting electronically, we need to meet them. By using the Boomi offering, we can connect to our business partners through EDI, XML, AS2, FTP, RosettaNet and other means – all from one product. Now we can be much more flexible and responsive to our partners' needs without heavy lifting on our end."

Prior to switching to Boomi, D&H was using two EDI offerings concurrently to meet its needs. Having two offerings required considerable management and maintenance, and the offerings still failed to meet the company's requirements. Complicating things further, to scale the offerings with D&H's growth, it would have had to make significant additional investments in software, hardware and maintenance.

D&H opted to begin a vendor evaluation to avoid the growing complications arising from its hybrid integration approach. It wanted an all-encompassing integration product that would be easy to install and maintain moving forward. It also wanted an offering that required little-to-no programming in order to make the connections easier for itself and for its partners. It worked with EDI Specialists to identify the leading ten vendors, and after a technical evaluation of the offerings, D&H selected the Boomi Integration Platform.

"The Boomi Integration Platform offers product management, scheduling, alerting and scalability out-of-the-box. And it's easy to set up integration processes using the visual modeling tool which allows us to create new connections on screen with drag-and-drop ease. Though we're not finished upgrading our entire trading network to the offering, we're already pleased with the results," continued Schwab. "We have several of our key accounts live now, and we expect to have considerably more online in November in advance of the holiday rush. Whenever we've had questions, the Boomi team has been extremely responsive, and we're on track to meet our deployment deadlines. We expect Boomi's offering will get us through the next five years and maybe more."

D&H can now connect to its trading partners regardless of the partner's requirements. As the company continues on its growth trajectory, its current Boomi license will continue to meet those needs – the company would only have to purchase extra servers to accommodate the growth.

"It's been exciting working with D&H. They truly understand customer service," said Rick Nucci, Boomi's chief technology officer. "D&H projects that its 120 current trading partners will grow by 15% annually. Their network of customers and partners will account for hundreds and even thousands of orders per day through the Boomi Integration Platform. So whether their trading partners are sending in orders every 15 minutes or once a day, D&H is better equipped to handle the order load that their distribution channel handles so well."

The full deployment is expected to be completed in December 2006.

About Boomi Software
Boomi Software improves the efficiency and effectiveness of mid-size businesses by enabling B2B, application and data integration in one easy-to-deploy, simple-to-use product. Boomi's unique visual integration approach allows users to design and build powerful configurations to handle a broad range of integration needs with point-and-click, drag-and-drop ease. Boomi's integration projects are up and running in weeks, not months, and do not require any programming resources. Backed by its extraordinary support services, customers quickly see the benefit of their investment in Boomi. For more information about Boomi Software, visit www.boomi.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:25 AM | Comments (0)

EMS Consulting Group Announces Lean Manufacturing Certification Program in Southern California

EMS Consulting Group, Inc. has just announced a public Lean Manufacturing certificate program beginning in February 2007 in Orange County, CA. The program will assist manufacturers with the challenge of implementing lean and maintaining continuous improvements. It includes a series of eight course modules designed to provide participants with targeted managerial and technical competencies in lean manufacturing.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWeb) November 2, 2006 -- EMS Consulting Group, Inc. has just announced a public Lean Manufacturing certificate program beginning in February 2007 in Orange County, CA. The program will assist manufacturers with the challenge of implementing lean and maintaining continuous improvements. It includes a series of eight course modules designed to provide participants with targeted managerial and technical competencies in lean manufacturing. Participants will learn how to apply the key techniques of lean manufacturing: Value Stream Mapping, Lean Production Control and Inventory Management, One-Piece Flow, Cellular Manufacturing, Material Flow and Kanban, Five S, Total Productive Maintenance and Kaizen Events and tools. Lean Certification also requires participants to complete lean manufacturing projects at their own companies to reinforce the classroom learning.

This is the fourth consecutive year that EMS will be offering the lean certification program publicly. "We have had attendees from almost every industry including medical device, capital equipment, biotech, electronics, semiconductor, consumer products, and industrial products," said Darren Dolcemascolo, Sr. Partner with EMS Consulting Group, Inc. "Attendees gain the benefit of discussing challenges and successes with their peers from other companies and industries; this increases their learning significantly."

The program will take place at the Doubletree Club Hotel Orange County Airport in Santa Ana, CA, in eight Thursday sessions. The dates are February 1, 22; March 8, 22; April 5, 19; and May 3, 17. The sessions will run from 8:30 am to 4:30 p.m. The training sessions may also be taken separately.

Pricing will be discounted for participants who register before the end of 2006. To register or obtain additional information, visit www.lean-manufacturing-training.com and view the public workshop schedule.

About EMS Consulting Group
EMS Consulting Group is a management consulting company providing training and consulting services in lean manufacturing, six sigma, and world class manufacturing and design. EMS Consulting Group collaborates with its clients to help them become world class businesses. With an industry-diverse portfolio of clients and experience, EMS can mobilize the right people, skills and technologies to help clients improve their performance. Its website, www.emsstrategies.com, contains several resources to help companies improve performance.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:24 AM | Comments (0)

Altico Sponsor Special Event at Microsoft Technology Center

Altico Advisors LLC, www.AlticoAdvisors.com, a Microsoft Certified Partner, today announced that they will be sponsoring a special "technology envisioning" event on November 15th at the Microsoft Technology Center (MTC) in Waltham, Massachusetts. The presentation, entitled "It's a Small World: Connected Workers, Connected Systems," will include two collaborative scenarios to illustrate how typical day-to-day business issues are quickly and efficiently resolved using integrated Microsoft systems.

Marlborough, MA (PRWeb) November 2, 2006 -- Altico Advisors LLC, a Microsoft Certified Partner, today announced that they will be sponsoring a special "technology envisioning" event on November 15th at the Microsoft Technology Center (MTC) in Waltham, Massachusetts. The presentation, entitled "It's a Small World: Connected Workers, Connected Systems," will include two collaborative scenarios to illustrate how typical day-to-day business issues are quickly and efficiently resolved using integrated Microsoft systems.

The live applications being demonstrated are Microsoft Dynamics GP for financial and business management, Microsoft Dynamics CRM for customer relationship management and sales force automation, and SharePoint Services for executive dashboards and key performance indicators (KPIs).

The MTC's Envisioning Center is an exclusive venue for small group presentations. Two sessions are available on Wednesday, November 15th. The morning session will run from 8:00 to 11:00am while the afternoon session will run from 1:00 to 4:00pm. Attendance is limited to 25 business executives at each session.

Interested parties can contact Altico Advisors by phone or e-mail for more information. e-mail protected from spam bots or 508-485-5588 x107

About Altico Advisors
Headquartered in Massachusetts, Altico Advisors implements and supports business and financial management software solutions for mid-market companies throughout New England. Altico is a certified Microsoft Business Solutions partner, specializing in Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains) systems for manufacturing and distribution companies. In addition, Altico provides a wide variety of consulting and advisory services, such as outsourced financial services, business and IT strategy alignment, software selection, and business analytics. www.alticoadvisors.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:23 AM | Comments (0)

National Ribbon Launches New Website

WSI is proud to announce the launch of the new National Ribbon Website. National Ribbon is an international manufacturer and supplier of Lady Fair flower corsage wristlets, ribbon and cord. Please visit their new website at www.nationalribbon.com.

(PRWeb) November 2, 2006 -- WSI is proud to announce the launch of the new National Ribbon Website. National Ribbon is an international manufacturer and supplier of Lady Fair flower corsage wristlets, ribbon and cord. Please visit their new website at www.nationalribbon.com

Together, Bill Wilde, president and owner of National Ribbon and the WSI Team have developed a professional website that will enable the floral industry to order and view the products that National Ribbon manufactures.

The new National Ribbon website includes a product catalog and an order form section. The product catalog will enable current and future customers to browse the products and determine if it will suit their needs or not. Once a customer decides that they want to purchase a product, they can submit an order form requesting these products.

In order to keep users informed about trends and news, Bill wanted to include a Hot News section. Mr. Wilde and his marketing team conducted a survey of floral education schools and learned some very interesting trends for wrist corsages. Visit the Hot News Section to read more about it.

National Ribbon is also engaging in an e-marketing campaign with search engine optimization and Internet advertisements which will further improve their Internet presence and website traffic.

Come and explore this beautiful, informational site that is helping National Ribbon increase their presence in the floral industry. www.nationalribbon.com.

National Ribbon is a privately owned manufacturer of floral wristlets, ribbons and cord based in Coventry, Connecticut. It is currently owned by the Wilde family. National Ribbon opened for business over 65 years ago and has maintained a large client base through four families of ownership. Please call 1-800-523-9324 for more information on Lady Fair and National Ribbon products.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:22 AM | Comments (0)

Microsoft Emerging Business Team Highlights Fractal Edge as Leading Innovation Partner

Fractal Edge award-winning active data visualization technology showcased by Microsoft's Emerging Business Team as a successful partner helping customers gain a competitive edge. Fractal Edge products are Microsoft Certified and tightly integrated with Microsoft information productivity and business intelligence products.

New York (PRWeb) November 2, 2006 -- Fractal:Edge, the market leading visualization provider, announced the showcasing of its award winning technology in Microsoft's Innovation Starts Here book. The company was selected by the Emerging Business Team (EBT) for successfully partnering with Microsoft to help customers gain a competitive edge. Fractal:Edge's premier active data visualization products are Microsoft Certified and integrate with, and extend the power of, Microsoft information productivity and business intelligence products.

Citigroup Equities Division's Best Execution Consulting Service product provides the case study for Fractal Maps in the Innovation book. Delivering pre- and post-trade analytics to a broad range of institutional clients, the BECS team recognized the need for visualization which went beyond the standard grid and graph approaches. As a result of the inclusion of Fractal Maps, according to Head of Client Facing Products, Stavros Kokkoris, "now relevant information is highlighted and accessed more quickly by our users."

Fractal:Edge's patented Fractal Mapping technique, with its distinctive 'circles-in-circles' approach, enables people to spot the key patterns and outliers within a data set much more rapidly -- giving a crucial edge in time taken to act. Leveraging the ability of fractals to show multiple dimensions in one image and providing powerful zooming features, interaction with data becomes much more intuitive and revealing.

The Fractal:Edge Enterprise Product Suite provides the capability to design, configure and disseminate Fractal Maps which are easily integrated into Microsoft SharePoint® Portals, provide a compelling visual extension to SQL Server® 2005 Reporting and Analysis Services solutions, add a new interactive dimension to Excel® 2007, and can be incorporated into any existing business applications in a native Windows or .NET environment using Visual Studio.

"It is very important for us to provide Fractal Map Active Data Visualization capabilities to the millions of Excel® users with a low cost solution, and to address the industrial strength of Microsoft's Business Intelligence product stack," said Gervase Clifton-Bligh, Fractal:Edge's VP, Product Strategy & Development. "We have worked closely with Microsoft product teams to maximize integration with their existing and latest products and are pleased that the Emerging Business Team chose us to be included in their Innovation Starts Here booklet."

The Microsoft EBT works with venture capitalists (VCs) and start-up companies worldwide to enable innovation and accelerate the software ecosystem. The Microsoft EBT mission is to identify and facilitate opportunity for start-ups and VCs, acting as the single point of contact and accountability to Microsoft. Since its inception in 1999, the EBT has helped connect thousands of start-up companies with technical assistance, sales and marketing opportunities, venture capital support and other assets to give them a competitive edge.

The Microsoft Innovation Book can be viewed in soft copy form through http://www.fractaledge.com/experience-clientcasestudies.htm.

Microsoft, Excel, SQL Server 2005 and SharePoint are trademarks or registered trade marks of the Microsoft Corporation.

About Fractal:Edge

Fractal:Edge delivers software products for the interactive visual analysis and navigation of large, complex or fast-moving information sources. Our patented data visualization solutions are used by blue-chip clients worldwide in multiple industries and business functions to analyze information quickly and accurately.

Fractal:Edge is committed to working with dynamic and innovative partners to deliver targeted Fractal Map applications and custom Fractal Map solutions to commercial and public sectors worldwide. For more information, go to http://www.fractaledge.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:22 AM | Comments (0)

Impact Products President Bill Quarless Joins Industry Magazine as Expert Columnist

First column appears in Oct. 2006 issue of Response Magazine.

(PRWeb) November 1, 2006 -- The premier news and features publication for the direct-response (DR) industry has added Impact Products President Bill Quarless to its roster of expert columnists.

Response Magazine will now run periodic columns by Quarless that focus on what DR companies need to know about manufacturing in China. His topics will include negotiation, sourcing, supplier selection and intellectual property protection. The first column, titled " Five Keys to Negotiating with the Chinese ," appears in the October 2006 issue.

His next column, titled "China Confidential: How to Keep Your DRTV Products Secret and Safe," is scheduled for the December issue.

"With the ascendancy of China, not only in the manufacturing space but now as a market for DR products, Response is committed to expanding its coverage of this burgeoning space," said Thomas Haire, Response Magazine’s editor-in-chief. "Bill’s expertise on all facets of doing business in China is well known throughout the DR industry, and we are thrilled to feature that expertise in the pages of Response."

Quarless, who lives and works in Hong Kong, started in the industry as a procurement manager and buyer for a leading direct-response television (DRTV) company. His personal experience with the obstacles foreigners face when doing business in China led him to form Impact Products, a firm specializing in China manufacturing and production management for DRTV companies.

Over the last decade, Impact has worked with many of the top DRTV companies and developed a reputation for competitive pricing, superior quality, reliable delivery and exceptional service, Quarless said.

About Response Magazine
Response Magazine (www.responsemagazine.com) is the definitive publication in direct-response marketing. Through its Web site, digital edition (Response Digital) and weekly E-newsletter (Response This Week), it provides targeted, cutting-edge content for professionals involved in all facets of direct response marketing, including DRTV, radio, interactive TV, the Internet and all areas of DR print. Response is the only independent source of news and information in the market, and is the industry leader in promoting the convergence of direct-marketing methods. At the same time, Response delivers timely news and in-depth analysis specific to the needs of its readership.

About Impact Products
Impact Products (www.impactproducts.com) is a complete production management firm specializing in product development and OEM contract manufacturing in China. The company has an extensive network of Asian partners that gives it the ability to manufacture a wide variety of items, from toys and electronics to household and kitchen products. In addition, Impact can source virtually any existing product.

Press Contact: Bill Quarless
Company Name: Impact Products Ltd.
Phone: 852-2139-3961
Website: www.impactproducts.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:21 AM | Comments (0)

European Office Furniture Not Just B2C, Prime Office Furniture Also Sells B2B to Furniture Distributors and Retailers

Furniture dealers and retailers benefit from Prime Office Furniture's large inventory, wholesale prices.

(PRWeb) November 1, 2006 -- As a recognized online vendor of distinctive European office furniture, Prime Office Furnituredoesn't just sell high quality furniture at factory-direct prices to small-to-midsize business consumers only. Prime Office Furniture welcomes business-to-business alliances that benefit furniture vendors by giving them unique office furniture at wholesale prices to sell to customers at an advantageous retail price for a considerable profit.

Prime Office Furniture imports commercial grade office furniture in large volume from a select network of premium furniture manufacturers, often selling the unique modern office furniture at half the manufacturer's suggested retail price. Both online and offline furniture distributors and retailers benefit from the high capacity buying power of Prime Office Furniture and receive real wood veneer office furniture at very competitive prices.

"Our relationships with our furniture retailers and distributors are extremely important to us," said Perry Lopez, Vice President of Sales/Marketing at Prime Office Furniture. "We offer the best European office furniture on the market and we take every opportunity to share our unique, high quality furnishings with the best retailers around."

Their high capacity warehouse in City of Commerce, CA stores a large volume of European office desks, cabinets, conference tables and executive chairs so regardless of high consumer demand, Prime Office Furniture always has inventory on hand and ready to ship. When furniture dealers, retailers, and distributors place volume purchase orders with Prime Office Furniture, the savings are even greater and the furniture is even more readily available for customer orders.

Prime Office Furniture stocks its commercial grade real wood veneer executive furniture in a variety of wood veneer stains including the best cherry, walnut, chestnut and maple finishes to match any office environment. Displaying this unique European style office furniture collection in any furniture showroom adds a striking alternative to regular style office furniture. The rich colors and dramatic designs will attract those customers with exclusive high quality furniture preferences and delight them with incredibly affordable pricing.

The same customer satisfaction agreement Prime Office Furniture has with its direct consumer base are upheld with its B2B distributors as well. Prime Office Furniture guarantees 100 percent satisfaction on all products, offering an unconditional one-year limited warranty for material, workmanship and functionality. Prime Office Furniture will service and/or replace parts free of charge for one full year. They also offer free shipping by way of Allied Van Lines Special Products Division or FedEx Freight. Both are trusted and respected names in the shipping and moving business and have the utmost capability in shipping furniture in large quantities to distribution centers.

For more information about becoming a furniture distributor, retailer or dealer with Prime Office Furniture, call 800-924-5171 or visit www.primeofficefurniture.com.

About Prime Office Furniture
Prime Office Furniture is a leading online/offline executive office furniture distribution and marketing company headquartered in the City of Industry, CA with dedicated warehouse facilities in the City of Commerce, CA. They sell high-quality European design commercial grade wood veneer executive office furniture at true factory direct prices. Their lines include executive desks, office cabinets, executive chairs, reception desks and conference tables in a variety of unique and exciting styles and finishes.

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

Koch Equipment Launches Virtual Version of Printed Catalog

Koch Equipment LLC announced today the launch of their all new interactive online catalog which mirrors the company's full-color printed catalog including over 200 different types of food processing, packaging, labeling and kill floor equipment.

(PRWeb) November 1, 2006 -- Koch Equipment LLC announced today the launch of their all new interactive online catalog which mirrors the company's full-color printed catalog including over 200 different types of food processing, packaging, labeling and kill floor equipment.

The virtual catalog integrates seamlessly with the company's website, www.kochequipment.com, where customers can download product brochures and video demonstrations, get access to the latest product developments, initiate e-mail dialogue, and more.

Steve Kingeter, vice president of sales and marketing stated, "This new, web-based tool is designed to enhance our customers' and prospects' overall shopping experience and to reach out to companies that we might not have communicated with otherwise. By communicating with our customers and prospects in the method (print, online, e-mail and phone) by which they prefer, we believe we provide a more flexible shopping experience than any of our competitors."

Koch Equipment LLC is a full line manufacturer and distributor of equipment for meat production, food processing, packaging and labeling. A one-stop shop for vacuum chamber packaging machines, skin packaging machines, modified atmosphere packaging machines, labelers, rollstock parts, accessories and service as well as a full range of processing equipment including stuffers, bowl cutters, injectors, mixers, grinders, tumblers, dicers, smokehouses, and kill floor equipment. For nearly 125 years, Koch Equipment has been the name more packagers and processors trust for their equipment needs.

For more information, contact Koch Equipment LLC, 1414 West 29th Street, Kansas City, MO 64108, by telephone at 800-777-5624 or visit their Web site at www.kochequipment.com.

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

VT Industries Selects BuyDesign® Software from TDCI

Building products manufacturer will use BuyDesign Configurator to enhance Web-based quoting and ordering.

Columbus, OH (PRWeb) November 1, 2006 -- TDCI Inc, a leading enterprise solution provider, today announced that VT Industries Inc., a leading manufacturer of commercial wood doors, fine laminate countertops, and cabinet doors, has selected TDCI's BuyDesign Configurator to streamline product configuration within the company's web-based quoting and ordering system. VT Industries will also use BuyDesign Flex2D to automatically produce as-configured 2D product models and drawings. BuyDesign Configurator and BuyDesign Flex2D are components of TDCI's BuyDesign sales and configuration solution. BuyDesign helps companies increase sales and improve profitability by enabling them to be 'easy to do business with' while reducing order processing time, cost, and errors.

VT Industries will integrate the BuyDesign product configurator and visualization engines into the company's existing web-based quoting and ordering system. That system is used daily by up to 300 concurrent dealer and company sales people across North America.
BuyDesign's rules development studio will make it easier for VT Industries to maintain configuration rules for the company's diverse product lines, while BuyDesign's intuitive user interface will make product configuration faster, easier, and more visual for sales people. BuyDesign's model and drawing generation will help customers visualize their product during the quoting process while also providing annotated drawings for use as a reference within customer service and on the shop floor.

VT Industries selected BuyDesign after evaluating several different product configurators. "We selected the BuyDesign Configurator because of its comprehensive feature set, its flexibility to handle all of our product types, and its robustness in terms of scalability and availability," said Vince Kolb, VT Industries Systems Analyst. "Just as importantly, we selected BuyDesign because its architecture allows us to integrate with our existing systems much easier than other products we evaluated. We also found that the TDCI people who worked with us understood our industry, our business, and our technical environment, and could demonstrate everything we asked to see."

About VT Industries
Headquartered in Holstein, Iowa, VT Industries Inc. is a leading manufacturer of high pressure decorative laminate flush doors, 5-ply wood veneer flush doors, stile and rail doors, postformed laminate countertops, and cabinet doors. VT Industries is a multi-national corporation with eight manufacturing facilities across North America. Learn more at www.vtindustries.com.

About TDCI
TDCI is an enterprise solution provider that specializes in helping manufacturers and their distributors streamline the selling process for customized products. TDCI's BuyDesign® software is a comprehensive sales and configuration solution developed to help companies increase sales and improve profitability by becoming 'easy to do business with' while reducing order processing time, cost, and errors. BuyDesign supports the entire 'interest-to-order' cycle with modular components for guided product selection and configuration, product visualization, quoting and ordering, drawing generation, and status inquiry. BuyDesign also includes applications for web-based interest generation and for product specification from within popular design products such as AutoCAD and others. For more information about TDCI and BuyDesign, visit www.tdci.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:18 AM | Comments (0)