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December 30, 2006

December Control Magazine Global Digital Edition Released

Control magazine, the voice of end users of automation in the process industries, has released the December digital facsimile edition of the magazine. This edition is available on controlglobal.com in three downloadable versions: Flash, HTML and Acrobat PDF. Each version is identical to the print magazine, and is downloadable without copy protection.

Itasca, IL (PRWEB) December 30, 2006 -- Control magazine's global facsimile edition for December 2006 is available at
http://www.controlglobal.com/issues/current.html. This issue is designed for readers all over the world to receive Control magazine in a timely fashion. It contains every word and every page of the print edition. It is available in three versions: Flash, for high speed connections; HTML for standard connections and in Acrobat PDF for easy downloading and distribution within a company. None of the digital editions is copy protected, and readers are encouraged to pass articles of interest along to colleagues and friends, exactly as with the print edition.

In December's CONTROL Magazine:

Editorial: "Control Is Truly Global"
The world of process automation is flat, and very small. CONTROL's Walt Boyes comments.

Cover Story: The 16th Annual Top 50
While this is the 16th Top 50, it is also the first co-branded ARC/Control Top 50 report. CONTROL's Walt Boyes and ARC's Larry O'Brien report on the top of the process automation pyramid in North America.

Feature: Distributed Control Systems
Control's Jim Montague shows that the modern distributed control system is not your father's DCS. Montague reports on changes, new concepts, new methods in the design and operation of distributed control for automation processes.

Feature: If It Ain't Broke, Let's Keep It!
Automation and IT Chief of Greater Vancouver Regional District, Gary Wong, has lots of Bailey Infi90 control systems, and they aren't broken. So what is he supposed to do?

Feature: Analyzer Reliability, part 3
Control engineer Gary Nichols concludes his look at PAT and analyzer reliability.

Also in December's CONTROL Departments:

Rick's Picks: What's New at ControlGlobal.com?
CONTROL's Rick Pedraza gives you a clue to all the great stuff we've loaded up the website with for December and beyond.

Other Voices: Morley Rants Again
Control's Dick Morley provides his view of the MIT innovative technology conference.

Technically Speaking: Control's AutomationXchange ... What Good Is It?
Senior Technical Editor Dan Hebert, PE looks at what end users get when they take three days in North America's most wonderful ski resort -- in the middle of the blazing summer heat.

On the Bus!: Rezabek on Fieldbus!
Fieldbus info from the source. Pioneering Foundation Fieldbus User and CONTROL Contributing Editor, John Rezabek provides analysis and commentary.

Control Report: OPC, UPC, We're AllPC for OPC-UA!
Recently back from giving a speech at the OPC Conference, Control's Jim Montague muses about the joys and sufferings involved in connecting third party software in the automation industry Will OPC-UA save our bacon?

Windup: Bringing It All Back Around.
CONTROL's Keith Larson expounds on a burning issue in process automation.

Ask the Experts!: The Very Best Question
CONTROL's Béla Lipták selects the best question and answer from the web exclusive feature to be printed in the magazine. The person whose question is selected wins a prize. So save the consulting fee and go to www.controlglobal.com and ask an expert.

Roundup: Control Software
The Control Staff complements the feature story on distributed control systems with a roundup of control software that will help you solve a process problem or two.

Resources Focus: Power Quality and Conditioning
New, actionable and eminently useful stuff that will help you keep the lights on and motors turning. CONTROL gives you a page of useful resources to work with.

Products: All the Products We Have Room to Print
New, actionable and eminently useful stuff. CONTROL gives you a whole department full of tasty new products and services.

Plus, lots of unique, actionable content for you on www.controlglobal.com.

Visit http://www.controlglobal.com/issues/current.html and click on "View the Full Digital Issue" to be transported into the world of Control.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:07 AM | Comments (0)

Control Magazine and ARC Advisory Group Announce the Top Fifty Automation Companies for North America for 2006

For the 16th year, Control has released its list of the 50 leading automation companies in North America. This year, Editor in Chief Walt Boyes is joined by ARC Advisory Group's Larry O'Brien to discuss the new, and different, Control Top Fifty for 2006. The companies are emerson process management, rockwell automation, abb, siemens energy and automation, invensys process systems, honeywell process systems, schneider electric, ge, ametek eig, thermo fisher scientific, flowserve, roper industries, spectris, mks instruments, danaher industrial, national instruments, phoenix contact, omron, metso, yokogawa, endress+hauser, turck, aspen technologies, yamatake, teledyne instruments, weidmuller, osisoft, pepperl+fuchs, mtl instrument group, dresser industrial, badger meter, bristol babcock, msa, microwave data ssytems, mts, cci, ifm efector, parker industrial, mettler toledo, magnetrol, ohmart-vega, tyco flow control, matrikon, spx valves and controls, iconics, horiba, prime measurement, burkert, cashco, fmc, krohne, pyromation, ics-triplex, pavilion technologies, racine federated, opto22, controlotron.

Itasca, IL (PRWEB) December 30, 2006 -- Control magazine reveals the Top Fifty Automation Companies in North America for the 16th time. But this year's list is different. This year, Editor in Chief Walt Boyes is joined by ARC Advisory Group Research Director for Process Automation Larry O'Brien, and the resources of both Control magazine and ARC Advisory Group were used to produce the list.

It has been getting harder and harder to produce a Process Automation Top Fifty for North America. In the first place, the lines are blurring between process, batch and discrete automation, and in the second place, the automation business, along with all manufacturing, has become increasingly global in scope. For this edition of the Top Fifty, the editors of Control and the analysts of ARC Advisory Group have rewritten the rules. Here's what they are including in the definition of the 50 largest companies:

* North American revenues, broken out from global revenues
* Process automation systems and related hardware software and services
* PLC business, as well as related hardware, software, services, I/O and bundled HMI
* Other control hardware components, such as third party I/O, signal conditioners, intrinsic safety barriers, networking hardware, unit controllers and single and multiloop controllers
* Process safety systems
* SCADA systems for oil and gas, water and wastewater, and power distribution
* AC drives
* General motion control systems (GMC)
* Computer numerical control (CNC) systems
* Process field instrumentation, such as temperature and pressure transmitters, flowmeters, level transmitters and associated switches
* Analytical equipment, including process electrochem, all types of IR technology, gas chromatographs for industrial manufacturing and related products
* Control valves, actuators and positioners
* Discrete sensors and actuators
* All kinds of automation-related software, from advanced process control, simulation and optimization to third-party HMI, plant asset management, production management (MES), ERP integration packages from the major automation suppliers and similar software
* All other automation-related services provided by the automation suppliers
* Condition-monitoring equipment and systems
* Ancillary systems, such as burner management systems, QCSs for pulp and paper, etc.

What the article is not including are:
* Pumps and motors
* Robotics
* Material-handling systems
* Supply chain management software
* Building automation systems
* Fire and security systems
* Processing equipment such as mixers, vessels, heaters, etc., as well as process design licenses from suppliers that have engineering divisions
* Electrical equipment such as low-voltage switchgear, etc.

Editor Boyes and co-author O'Brien found it nearly impossible to achieve a hard number for "process automation" only, so they're reporting all automation, and where they have a good idea of what the ratio between process and discrete is, they've showed that. The data is for 2005, as 2006 numbers are not yet available for many companies.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:05 AM | Comments (0)

December 29, 2006

Officestation.com Partners with Clone Cubes™To Offer New Affordable Clone HM Office Cubicles For Less Than Competitors

Officestation™ specializes along with other competitors in furnishing clone HM office cubicles for about the same price as clients would pay for used of refurbished. This makes the competition nervous as Officestation™ in partnering with Clone Cubes™, has successfully changed the thinking of a lot of clients from used and refurbished to new clone systems on both the retail and wholesale markets.

(PRWEB) December 29, 2006 -- In the past end users and furniture companies were forced to go the route of either "C" grade cubicle office furniture that was affordable or used and remanufactured "A" grade cubicle office furniture such as Herman Miller, Steelcase and Haworth, if they wanted to save money.

Officestation™ in partnership with Clone Cubes™ has revolutionized the affordability for companies and wholesale dealers to actively pursue new product instead of having to settle for used or refurbished. By having parts "cloned" after the patents have expired on certain lines of Herman Miller and other brand furniture manufacturers, the marketplace has been able to be created for clone furniture cubicles to be purchased at never before seen margins. This saves companies money that can be resirected into other aspects of setting their offices up, while getting an "A" grade compatible product. For the wholesaler, a CloneCubes™ dealer plan would enable them to concentrate on sales and servicing their clients instead of trying to find used inventories to mesh together to create a remanufactured finished good.

Officestation.com™, although a fairly new enterprise, has started to seize the marketplace in terms of savings offered to clients on projects quoted. In several instances by partnering with Clone Cubes™, they were able to save over 17k for a client, compared to quotes received by other vendors for the same configuration. It makes sense to explore the clone HM cubicles that Officestation.com™ in partnering with Clone Cubes™ offers in comparison to other vendors.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:54 AM | Comments (0)

Genlyte Group, Inc. Shines a Light on Performance with Host Analytics' Host Consolidator Software

Host Analytics announced that Genlyte Group, Inc. is using Host Consolidator to simplify the financial consolidation process and improve financial reporting accuracy.

ST LOUIS, MO (PRWEB) December 28, 2006 -- Host Analytics, the leader in on-demand Business Performance Management software solutions, today announced that Genlyte Group, Inc., a leading manufacturer of lighting fixtures, controls, and related products for the commercial, industrial and residential markets, is using Host Consolidator to simplify the financial consolidation process and improve financial reporting accuracy.

Genlyte Group is a publicly traded, fast-growing, $1.6 billion dollar manufacturing company with over 17 decentralized divisions. Over the past few years, the company has grown through acquisitions and required a way to consolidate financials from their 17 disparate divisions and report their numbers to their shareholders and Wall Street. The company turned to Host Analytics and implemented Host Consolidator to ease the financial consolidation process. Each division now sends their month-end closing numbers to corporate where all of the data is consolidated into Host Consolidator.

"We evaluated solutions from multiple vendors and selected Host Analytics for the price and quality of their software," said Rick Blanchard, Chief Information Officer for Genlyte Group. "We are now able to more easily consolidate financials from multiple divisions, each with their own level of reporting expertise."

Genlyte Group is now in a position to provide decision makers with an instant view from a series of key performance indicators on how the business is performing. Genlyte's 17+ wholly owned subsidiaries range in size from $30 million to $300 million and each have their own level of technical sophistication. In addition, each division is running different business systems with different data outputs. Host Consolidator is able to pull in the different types of data to ease the consolidation and reporting process and provide executives with an immediate picture of performance. An additional benefit of Host Consolidator includes improved audit trails supporting the need to meet regulatory compliance such as Sarbanes-Oxley.

"At Host Analytics, we understand that financials and financial reporting information must be accurate, timely and complete," said Jim Eberlin, chief executive officer for Host Analytics. "Host Consolidator helps companies meet those requirements while providing them with a foundation for improving internal controls and processes to reduce the risk of error."

As part of phase two, Genlyte Group will begin the implementation of Host Scorecard, a performance management dashboard tool to give financial and operational insight to Genlyte's executives and employees.
About Host Analytics

Host Analytics is the On-Demand leader for Business Performance Management software that helps companies improve their Budgeting, Forecasting, Financial Consolidations, Dashboarding, Scorecarding, and Reporting and Analysis. Founded in 2000, Host Analytics delivers a complete suite of Business Performance Management software offered as an on-premise solution or software-as-a-service solution. Host Analytics serves small, medium and large size businesses around the world. For additional information, visit www.hostanalytics.com or call (314) 588-2121.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 04:51 AM | Comments (0)

December 26, 2006

Croda Inc Announces Launch of New Patented Gentle Cleaning Ingredient

Cromollient SCE keeps cleaning power while preventing irritation.

Edison, NJ (Vocus/PRWeb ) December 26, 2006 -- Wipes, sprays and multipurpose cleaners are becoming more and more popular as time-pressed consumers seek to reduce the time spent cleaning. These fast and convenient cleaners often come in contact with the skin and are used around family and pets, so safe, gentle products are a must. With this in mind, Croda Inc is pleased to announce the launch of Cromollient SCE into the home care and industrial markets.

Cromollient SCE is a 100% active, patented ester shown to reduce the irritation potential of household or institutional cleaners without compromising cleaning ability. Tested in brand concentration studies for dishwashing soap, shower and tub cleaners and disinfecting wipes, Cromollient SCE was shown to boost the cleaning power of most applications and imparted a soft after-feel to hands when used at efficacious levels. It significantly reduced the irritation level of these products, in vitro, and when added to 100% Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), it reduced the irritation of SLS to that of distilled, deionized water! It is compatible with many surfactants and will produce clear surfactant systems. It can usually be added over the top to most cleaning systems to improve mildness and create gentler products without reformulation.

With the market moving towards milder, gentler cleaning products, create them with ease using Cromollient SCE. Ideal for multi-purpose sprays and wipes, dish detergents, bathroom cleaners and industrial cleaning, just to name a few, Cromollient SCE possesses wide pH tolerance making it suitable for most cleaning products. When designing mild, gentle products, no matter what the application, choose Cromollient SCE for enhanced cleaning, without irritation.

About Croda Inc - www.crodausa.com
Croda Inc is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Croda International Plc, a U.K.-based manufacturer and world-wide supplier of oleo and industrial chemicals for the Personal Care, Home Care and Functional Specialties, Health Care, and Manufacturing Industries. Croda Inc is part of a global network and offers one of the widest ranges of chemical specialties, surfactants and high purity lipids available to the Personal Care, Home Care and Functional Specialties and Health Care Industries. Croda also carries a full line of natural, botanical ingredients from its Crodarom and Crodamazon divisions and a full range of skin care actives from the Sederma division.

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

Microtest Offers New, Free White Paper: 'Virus Testing for Biological Products: Partnering With a Contract Lab'

Microtest has announced the availability of a new, free white paper titled: "Virus Testing for Biological Products: Partnering With a Contract Lab." In this new white paper, Merribeth Morin, Ph.D, Director of Virology at Microtest, reviews the potential sources of contamination, cell bank characterization (virus safety), virus concerns during manufacturing, and ways to effectively partner with a contract testing laboratory.

Agawam, Mass. (PRWEB) December 26, 2006 -- Microtest has announced the availability of a new, free white paper titled: "Virus Testing for Biological Products: Partnering With a Contract Lab."

In manufacturing biological products, there is risk of virus contamination at many levels, from raw materials to processing. This contamination risk means virus testing is required. A proper testing program is essential to ensure the biological product achieves the fastest time to market. By working with a qualified contract laboratory, the best testing strategy can be executed to assure product safety.

In this new white paper, Merribeth Morin, Ph.D, Director of Virology at Microtest, reviews the potential sources of contamination, cell bank characterization (virus safety), virus concerns during manufacturing, and ways to effectively partner with a contract testing laboratory.

Download the free white paper, "Virus Testing for Biological Products: Partnering With a Contract Lab," at: www.microtestlabs.com/biopaper.

Microtest offers a complete range of pharmaceutical and virology test services. These services can support full in-process and product release testing as well as product stability testing, raw material qualification and assay development/validation.

As a growing provider of fill/finish operations, Microtest has all the systems and procedures in place to fully support all the requirements of the FDA, EMEA and any drug-regulating body in the world. With a problem-solving approach, customer service focus, and technical expertise, Microtest has the ability to help pharmaceutical companies reduce costs and risk, support rapid regulatory approvals, and enjoy reliable, fast, turn-arounds.

For more information, contact Microtest on the Web at www.microtestlabs.com, or toll-free at: 1-800-631-1680. Download the free white paper, "Virus Testing for Biological Products: Partnering With a Contract Lab," at: www.microtestlabs.com/biopaper.

About Microtest
Microtest is a leader in testing services and contract manufacturing for the medical device, pharmaceutical, biotechnology industries. Based in Agawam, Massachusetts, USA, the company's expertise and flexible processes enhance product safety and security, accelerate time to market, and minimize supply chain disruption. For more information, visit www.microtestlabs.com or call 1-413-786-1680 or toll-free 1-800-631-1680.

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

Muller Martini Chooses New Leader of North American Newspaper Division

Muller Martini Mailroom Systems, Inc. (formerly GMA) underscores its name change announcement with much anticipated leadership news: Muller Martini Holding AG's board of directors today announced Amrish Thaker as President and CEO of its North American newspaper division, Muller Martini Mailroom Systems, Inc.

Allentown, PA (PRWEB) December 24, 2006 -- Muller Martini Holding AG's board of directors today announced Amrish Thaker as President and CEO of its North American newspaper division, Muller Martini Mailroom Systems, Inc.

Amrish Thaker will succeed Gary Hughes, who has acted as interim President since December 2005. Gary Hughes will assist in the transition while gradually resuming his duties as Managing Director of Muller Martini Canada.

"I am pleased with the board's decision to offer Amrish the opportunity and excited that he has accepted," said Hughes. "He comes to us as a highly qualified professional of the industry with proven successes in process improvement and advancements in operating efficiencies. We have no doubts based on his impressive track record that he will carry Muller Martini's core values of quality, integrity, and continuity."

Amrish Thaker was born in India. He became a U.S. citizen and has been working in the states for over 30 years. He worked for RR Donnelley, a leading commercial printer in North America, from 1978 to 2004 in various engineering positions throughout the country. Since 2004, he has worked for ADVO, Inc., the nation's largest direct mail print advertising company, as regional director of operations for all processing facilities in California and Arizona.

His training background includes two Masters degrees, an MBA in Finance & Marketing from Western Kentucky University and an MS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Tennessee. Certifications include Qualtec Six Sigma Black Belt and Quality Function Development Green Belt. Amrish Thaker is also a graduate of the Center for Creative Leadership, a world-renowned institution specializing in executive leadership training.

About Muller Martini Mailroom Systems, Inc.
Through more than 30 years of existence, Muller Martini Mailroom Systems has established itself as the leader in integrated inserting solutions, and as a major supplier of high-speed inserters, press conveyors, mailroom auxiliary equipment, and production system software. The US company formerly known as Graphic Management Associates (GMA) Inc., Muller Martini Mailroom Systems, Inc., delivers integrated technology that organizes, manages, monitors, and processes packaging/distribution operations from the press to the delivery ramp.

About Muller Martini
Muller Martini is the world's largest producer of print finishing solutions for book and commercial printers, trade binderies, and newspapers, as well as short-run and digital book manufacturers. Muller Martini is also the world market-leading manufacturer of variable-size web offset presses. The company is the foremost provider of innovative workflow solutions that can empower printers and binding specialists to enhance processing efficiencies, increase profitability, and build new revenue streams.

With its headquarters in Hauppauge (Long Island), New York and nationwide sales and service support throughout the United States, Muller Martini Corp. serves as the country's leading source for bindery and printing expertise, providing customer-specific training and responsive service to printers and binderies coast-to-coast.

Media Contact:
Matthew Thierer
Muller Martini Mailroom Systems, Inc.
4444 Innovation Way
Allentown, PA 18109
610-266-7084
www.mullermartini.com

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

Zoft Gum Co. Launches New High-Quality Herbal Chewing Gum Products

Zoft offers customers a variety of affordable and effective herbal supplement products to deliver a wide range of benefits.

Port St. Lucie, FL (PRWEB) December 23, 2006 -- Zoft Gum Company, one of the leading US contract manufacturers of custom formulations for the dietary supplement industry, offers a unique line of high-demand herbal chewing gum products. Their new "house brand" products include breast enhancement gum, stress gum, virility gum, and anti-aging gum.

The Zoft Breast Enhancement Gum offers all-natural, affordable and effective breast enhancement, increasing the size, firmness, and fullness of the breasts. It can help women increase their breast size ½ to 2 cup sizes in just a few months.

The Zoft Stress Gum contains a revolutionary formula to combat the adverse, and sometimes debilitating symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression.

The Zoft Virility Gum is formulated to increase male sexual desire, as well as improvements in size and sexual performance. It also promotes increased energy and pleasure during sexual activity.

The Zoft Anti-aging Gum is an all-natural supplement formulated with an advanced blend of L-group amino acids and Growth Factors to help counteract the symptoms of aging and improve personal performance.

Aside from the new Zoft products, Zoft also produces supplements that offer a wide range of other benefits, including cellulite gum, digestive gum, heart gum, immune gum, libido gum, teeth whitening gum, wrinkle gum, hoodia gordonii weight loss gum, quit smoking gum, vitamin & mineral gum, acne treatment gum, sleep aid gum, diabetic health gum, prostate health gum, PMS & menopause gum, joint & pain gum, and more.

All of Zoft's herbal chewing gum products are all-natural and completely safe, with no known side effects if used correctly. The use of chewing gum as a delivery system vastly improves the rate of absorption of the product into the body, as compared to capsules or tablets which have to enter the digestive system before they can be absorbed into the body.

All of Zoft's products are made with ingredients that have been proven effective, and the company offers a full money-back guarantee for customers. If, for whatever reason, an individual is dissatisfied with the product, they need only return it within 100 days for a full refund.

For more information about Zoft Gum Company and its products, visit: http://www.zoft.com

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

PrecisionCraft Log Homes Adopts Houseal Non-Settling System™ for Log Homes

Settling in log homes has always been an issue, adding cost and complexity to log home construction. Using traditional methods of construction, logs are stacked horizontally one on top of the other (either scribed or chinked). Because logs tend to shrink and settle over time, the multiple layers of logs compound the effect of wood shrinkage. A traditional 10' log wall will settle upward of 6 to 8 inches depending upon the moisture content of the logs. Special construction methods must be employed to counter the effects of settling. The use of settling jacks, slip joints, and oversized trim and fascia are normal techniques used in traditional log home construction. In addition, constant maintenance is required until the logs have fully settled.

(PRWEB) December 23, 2006 -- Settling in log homes has always been an issue, adding cost and complexity to log home construction. Using traditional methods of construction, logs are stacked horizontally one on top of the other (either scribed or chinked). Because logs tend to shrink and settle over time, the multiple layers of logs compound the effect of wood shrinkage. A traditional 10' log wall will settle upward of 6 to 8 inches depending upon the moisture content of the logs. Special construction methods must be employed to counter the effects of settling. The use of settling jacks, slip joints, and oversized trim and fascia are normal techniques used in traditional log home construction. In addition, constant maintenance is required until the logs have fully settled.

To address these concerns with log home construction, PrecisionCraft has adopted the Houseal Non-Settling System. This system is the most significant innovation in log home construction since the invention of the chain saw. The Houseal Non-Settling (HNS) System prevents logs from settling and solves a host of potential problems for log home builders and homeowners.

The Houseal Non-Settling System is a patented method of constructing log homes that ensures logs will not settle. The HNS System was developed by Barry Houseal, a well known structural engineer and log home expert. The basic premise of the HNS System is fairly simple. Each log layer is held in place by a column of steel pipe and pins. The steel pipe prevents the logs from moving down with gravity. Each log layer and the roof members are supported by the steel pipe.

Architects and designers love the HNS System because it gives much more flexibility in the use of log elements. Builders love the HNS System because it eliminates settling jacks, trim boards and other construction techniques necessary to counter log settling. Engineers love the HNS System because the steel adds strength to the log walls.

PrecisionCraft has chosen to use the Houseal Non-Settling System in all Handcrafted Log Homes and Milled Log Homes. We believe the HNS System is an innovation that adds significant value for our log homeowners.

Visit our web site and click "Total Home Solution" - "Total Product Solution." Under the description for Milled Logs and Handcrafted Logs, there is a description of the Houseal Non-Settling System.

For more information, feel free to contact our offices at 800.729.1320.

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

Reel Logix Inc's 2006 Growth Spurt Due to Widespread Adoption of The Calendar Planner

Reel Logix, Inc, the Beverly Hills, California, based software developer announced yesterday that the company's client base had expanded by more than 400 percent in 2006 with significant growth across horizontal markets such as Retail, Non-Profit, Government, Education, Construction & Real Estate, Energy, Entertainment and Healthcare.

Beverly Hills, CA (PRWEB) December 23, 2006 -- Reel Logix, Inc, the Beverly Hills, California, based software developer announced yesterday that the company's client base had expanded by more than 400 percent in 2006 with significant growth across horizontal markets such as Retail, Non-Profit, Government, Education, Construction & Real Estate, Energy, Entertainment and Healthcare.

The company attributed the 2006 growth in market share to four key factors. First, site license discounts for multi unit sales to organizations which typically followed adoption by key users in specific departments. Second, new global reseller initiatives and agreements for targeted markets added new distribution channels for products. The third key factor was special discount programs for Non-Profit and Government users and the Accumulating Credits for Educators (ACE Program) for users in education. Last, but by no means least, the company attributes 2006 growth to a diverse and supportive cadre of repeat customers, whose invaluable feedback guided feature enhancement and development through two major product updates this year.

"The reality is that our product is not for everyone but we have a diverse client list that is growing because The Calendar Planner has great appeal for individuals and businesses desperately looking for help to manage their day-to-day scheduling challenges. They seem to appreciate that they are getting a lot of power in a really affordable solution which they can use alone or to complement much more complex and costly solutions they might already have or may be considering," says company COO, Marcia Robinson.

Reel Logix Inc is optimistic that new features and enhancements planned for early 2007 will capture the attention of more clients looking for scheduling calendar software like Julie Wrege at Sirius Software who states "I cannot remember life before The Calendar Planner. I have a complex schedule with many different events and need to make the most of my time -- The Calendar Planner helps me do that."

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

Easiest Millermatic® Eliminates Welding Guesswork

Miller Electric Mfg. Co. introduces the new Millermatic® 140 featuring patent pending Auto-Set™ technology which automatically sets wire feed speed and voltage to ease welder set up and improve performance.

Appleton, WI (PRWEB) December 22, 2006 -- With the new Miller Millermatic® 140 with Auto-Set™, Miller Electric Mfg. Co. has created the simplest wire welder in the industry. With the new all-in-one MIG welder, the user simply has to set the wire diameter and material thickness. The patent pending Auto-Set technology automatically sets wire feed speed and voltage to achieve optimal welding results.

"Auto-Set technology allows the user to weld with confidence knowing that the machine is properly set up," says Ken Stanzel, Product Manager, Miller Electric. "Welders with all types of ability will benefit from this new technology as it allows them to focus on their welding without worrying if their machine has been set up properly."

The Millermatic 140, available with and without Auto-Set, also provides smooth, spatter-free starts through Miller’s exclusive Smooth-Start™ technology, improving weld quality and decreasing the need for spatter clean up.

The Auto-Set feature works with C25 gas (75% argon, 25% CO2) and either .024 or .030 solid wire. A keychain material thickness guide is included with the welder to help the user determine the thickness of the material they are welding.

The Millermatic 140 with Auto-Set also provides an easy-to-use chart and a manual mode feature which allows the user to manually set wire feed speed and voltage for broader applications.

Auto-Set, available only on the Millermatic 140, was developed after customer research indicated that one of the main issues amongst the vast majority of welders was lack of confidence in setting welding parameters, according to Stanzel.

The Millermatic 140 with Auto-Set is a 115V all-in-one welder that can weld up to 3/16 in. in a single pass. It replaces the Millermatic 135.

Millermatics are available at welding supply distributors. To find the nearest distributor or for more information on the equipment, visit MillerWelds.com or telephone 1-800-4-A-Miller.

Miller Electric Mfg. Co. is a leading worldwide manufacturer of Miller arc welding equipment and related systems for metalworking, construction, maintenance and other applications. Miller Electric is a wholly owned subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW), Glenview, Ill. ITW is a diversified multinational manufacturer of highly engineered components, assemblies and systems.

Editorial Contact:
John Dymale
Insight Marketing
Office: (262) 240-9790
Mobile: (262) 689-9445

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

Wilkuro Safety Toes Upgrades to PVC Overshoe, Trademark Color-coded Toe Cap Design Has Not Changed

Wilkuro Safety Toes, a provider of temporary safety toe protection, has upgraded its product line to use an injection molded Polyvinyl Chloride boot as an integral part of its safety overshoe to improve product life and expand its uses.

Toronto, ON (PRWEB) December 22, 2006 -- The design and look of Wilkuro Safety Toes steel toe overshoe Wilkuro steel toe overshoe , including the Wilkuro trademarks have not changed. Only the material from which the safety shoe is constructed has changed. Recently, a number of competing products have entered the market. They are different in appearance and are not quality tested Wilkuro Safety Toes. For more than twenty years, Wilkuro has continuously and comprehensively tested its products to meet and exceed required international safety standards. If it does not say Wilkuro Safety Toes it is not a Wilkuro product.

"The original Wilkuro design with the visible, yet fully integrated, color-coded toe cap has not changed," says John Wilson, Sales Manager. "The company has taken a lot of care in the decision to upgrade the overshoe material to PVC and was careful not to alter its trademark design in any way."

Buyers will now receive stronger, more durable, slip-resistant Wilkuro Safety Toe when purchasing the product or using the improved safety overshoe when entering manufacturing facilities. The switch to PVC overshoes replaces the 100 per cent vulcanized rubber design.

According to Operations Manager, George Kuropas, "PVC is capable of coming into contact with a variety of liquids without undergoing any significant changes in composition or properties. It remains strong and durable, even under changing temperatures and conditions and this resilience will allow the Wilkuro Safety Toe to consistently function for extended periods of time."

He added, "Out of 135 standard chemicals tested, the Wilkuro PVC overshoe consistently outperformed comparable rubber products. PVC achieved excellent or good scores for chemical resistance in 92 instances. Rubber only achieved these results in 48 instances. This represents a 192 per cent improvement over rubber."

The Wilkuro PVC safety overshoe has been market and quality tested and has demonstrated to be a stronger, more durable and slip-resistant steel toe safety overshoe than comparable rubber products.

For more information contact:
John Wilson, Sales Manager or
George Kuropas, Operations Manager
(905) 761-0461

About Wilkuro Safety Toes
Wilkuro Safety Toes provides occasional toe protection at an affordable price. The Wilkuro Safety Toe overshoe is an alternative to steel toe shoes for casual or temporary workers, salespeople, executives, or any other person who enters an area where toe protection is required. Founded in 1985, Wilkuro Safety Toes Inc. of Concord, Ontario has focused on toe protection since its inception. The company sells exclusively to a global network of distributors and its products can be found in use at many Fortune 500 companies, including: Procter and Gamble and Ford, and by staff at retailers, such as Wal-Mart. The Wilkuro® brand safety toe has been accepted by the US Department of Labor's Occupational Health and Safety Administration; it passes the ASTM 2413-05 Performance Requirements; ANSI's Class I/75 and Class C/75 Toe Compression and Toe Impact Requirements; and the European Union's SATRA testing for CE marking. For supporting documents and test statistics, see www.wilkuro.com. Wilkuro Safety Toes is an ISO 9001:2000 registered firm.

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

Hub Group Earns Two Home Depot Awards: 2006 Intermodal Carrier of the Year and 2006 Innovation Award

Hub Group, Inc., a leading asset-light freight transportation management company based in Downers Grove, IL, has received two awards from Home Depot, the second largest retailer in the United States.

Downers Grove, IL (PRWEB) December 22, 2006 -- Hub Group, Inc. has been named Home Depot's 2006 Intermodal Carrier of the Year and has also earned Home Depot's 2006 Innovation Award. Both awards were accepted on behalf of Hub Group by company President and Chief Operating Officer, Mark A. Yeager, at a recent presentation at Home Depot's corporate headquarters in Vinings, Georgia.

This is the third consecutive year that Hub Group has won the Intermodal Carrier of the Year honor from the home improvement and construction products retailer. Home Depot is the second largest retailer in the United States.

"We are very proud to receive this recognition from one of our most important customers," Mark Yeager said. "Our customer focus, proactive communication and commitment to on-time pickup and delivery were cited by Home Depot as primary reasons for selecting Hub Group as their top intermodal provider. We were also able to provide substantial savings by converting shipments from over-the-road to intermodal."

Hub Group also received Home Depot's Innovation Award. This honor was given in recognition of the highway and special projects work that Hub managed in 2006.

"Hub's thorough planning, creative problem solving and resource commitment were all cited as reasons why our company received this prestigious award from Home Depot," Mark Yeager continued. "In just five years, Home Depot has grown to become one of the top three customers we serve."

Ed Mykyten, Vice President Sales and Marketing for Hub Group in Atlanta, routinely meets with Home Depot to identify areas that might benefit from Hub Group's expertise.

"The logistics, highway and intermodal services we provide for Home Depot continue to lead to more opportunities, so that both companies have grown and benefited from the partnership," Mykyten said.

The Home Depot (NYSE: HD) is an American retailer of home improvement and construction products headquartered in Vinings, Georgia. As one of the top three retailers of home improvement products in the world, Home Depot provides a wide range of goods and services for both professionals and do-it-yourself consumers. The company employs more than 325,000 people and operates 2,000 big-box format stores across the United States (including the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands), Canada, and Mexico. For more information visit: www.homedepot.com

Hub Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: HUBG) is a leading asset-light freight transportation management company providing comprehensive intermodal, truckload brokerage and logistics services. The Company operates through a network of over 30 offices located across the United States, Canada and Mexico. For more information please visit: www.hubgroup.com

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

Mecmesin Turn Out Four New Torque Testers

Mecmesin, manufacturers of force and torque test equipment, have developed four new closure-torque testing systems as an extension of their highly successful Orbis range.

(PRWEB) December 22, 2006 -- Mecmesin, manufacturers of force and torque test equipment, have developed four new closure-torque testing systems as an extension of their highly successful Orbis range.

The existing Orbis and Orbis TE systems, launched in 2002, are used throughout an array of manufacturing and processing industries as well scientific institutions to assess the closure and release torques of screw-lid containers. The 'TE' denominates an additional facility to measure slip and bridge torques of tamper-evident closures.

Prompted by strong sales globally, the range has been extended to offer two higher torque capacity models; the Orbis 10 and Orbis 10 TE, both featuring a 10N.m torque range suited to more robust applications, as well as two lower capacity variants; the Orbis 1.5 and Orbis 1.5 TE, both with a 1.5N.m torque range for more delicate sample assessment. The existing 6N.m torque range models have been renamed the Orbis 6 and Orbis 6 TE.

The new systems boast the same advanced electronics of their predecessors with a 1000Hz sampling rate for accurate peak torque capture, and the same lightweight yet rugged design, making them equally at home both in the laboratory and on the production floor.

The closure-torque of a screw-lid container is a key determinant in guaranteeing the integrity and security of its contents during storage and transportation. The bottle cap of a carbonated drink, for instance, must be applied with sufficient torque to ensure the beverage retains its effervescence, whilst at the same time remains sufficiently easy for the consumer to unscrew.

All Orbis systems feature a clear digital display to present measurements in a comprehensive range of SI and imperial units, and an RS232 output socket to easily export results to a PC for statistical analysis and reporting.

John Page, Managing Director of Mecmesin said "Through continued close dialogue with our customers, we have identified the very real need amongst designers, engineers, quality managers and scientists using closure-torque testing systems for a greater range of torque capacity options to better fulfil their testing requirements."

(DM, 332 words, 19 Dec 2006)

About Mecmesin
Formed in 1977, Mecmesin is a leading designer and supplier of force and torque measurement solutions. Thousands of companies worldwide rely upon Mecmesin force and torque measurement systems for product and materials testing in a range of industries including automotive, electrical and electronics, medical devices, packaging, pharmaceuticals, plastics, safety and textiles to maintain consistency of manufacture, save money in the production process and to comply with relevant standards.

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

December 21, 2006

Century Strikes Deal with Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®)

Century, LLC the world's largest martial art supply company, today announced that it signed a licensing agreement with the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) organization, to produce an exciting line of mixed martial arts products. The companies plan to launch the new line in retail stores and martial art schools by next fall.

Midwest City, OK (PRWEB) December 21, 2006 -- Century, LLC the world's largest martial art supply company, today announced that it signed a licensing agreement with the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) organization, to produce an exciting line of mixed martial arts products. The companies plan to launch the new line in retail stores and martial art schools by next fall.

Mixed martial arts (MMA) is an intense and evolving combat sport in which competitors use interdisciplinary forms of fighting that include jiu-jitsu, judo, karate, boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and other styles to their strategic and tactical advantage in a regulated match.

MMA is now sanctioned in over 20 states and UFC events have taken the country by storm with sell-out crowds and incredible pay-per-view telecasts. The Spike TV reality television series The Ultimate Fighter®, now heading into its fifth season, received top billing in its first season with the coveted 18-34 male viewers, and regularly enjoys ratings higher than the NBA, NHL, NASCAR as well as collegiate football and basketball in this key demographic. The Season 4 premiere of The Ultimate Fighter drew more males 18-34 than a MLB game, and more males 18-24 than an NFL pre-season game.

In addition, the popular UFC® Fight Night telecast on Spike TV, also reign in the male 18-34 demographic. The Dec. 13 UFC® Fight Night™, which was telecast from the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, drew nearly three times as many male 18-34 viewers than an ESPN telecast featuring two marquee NBA teams. In addition, a UFC® Fight Night™ telecast Oct. 10 on Spike TV drew more males 18-34 than anything on television -- broadcast or cable -- during that time period.

"The Zuffa team has done a remarkable job building the UFC organization. We recognize that the UFC brand has an unprecedented following, and is established as the authority in MMA competition. UFC is unquestionably one of the hottest and most recognized brands in the world," said Dan Bower, president of Century, LLC. "There is incredible demand by fans and athletes for UFC products and Century is excited to partner with Zuffa and bring this new product line to market."

"We are pleased to be working with Century to create new products featuring the hottest brand in sports today - the UFC," said Dana White, UFC President. "Fans are telling us they want more UFC products, and we are finding exciting new ways to meet the demand. This agreement with Century will bring an entire new line of UFC brand products next year."

Based in Midwest City, Oklahoma, Century is the world's largest manufacturer and distributor of individual contact sports equipment. Century has sold products to support martial arts, boxing, and kickboxing throughout the world for over 30 years.

About The Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship® brand is the world's leading professional mixed martial arts organization and offers the premier series of MMA sports events. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., the UFC® organization produces approximately eight live pay-per-view events annually that are distributed through cable and satellite providers. In addition to its U.S. distribution, UFC fight programs are distributed throughout the world including broadcast on WOWOW, Inc. in Japan, Globosat in Brazil and Bravo in the United Kingdom. For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit www.ufc.com.

Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Ultimate Fighting®, UFC®, The Ultimate Fighter®, UFC® Fight Club™, Submission®, As Real As It Gets®, Zuffa™, The Octagon™ and the eight-sided competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks, trademarks, trade dress or service marks owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC in the United States and other jurisdictions. All other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa, LLC or other respective owners.

For more information on Century, LLC, please visit: www.centuryfitness.com

Contact:
Jessica Fisher
405-732-2226

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:26 PM | Comments (0)

During 10 Fire Hazardous Days Protect Homes and Schools with A Plus Warehouse Safety Storage Cabinets

Dec. 24 - Jan. 6 marks the worst time for fire accidents in America; protect home and family with OSHA- and National Fire Protection Association-compliant A Plus Warehouse safety storage cabinets.

Lynn, MA (PRWEB) December 21, 2006 -- In just a few days marks the beginning of the worst 10 days for home fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association. Between December 24 and January 6, children, candles, cooking and Christmas trees are among the top causes of domestic fire emergencies. To reduce risk of increased fire damage due to home-stored flammable liquids and chemicals, A Plus Warehouse's complete line of safety storage cabinets seal closed automatically in the event of fire emergencies.

"In dealing with flammable materials, it is foolhardy to use standard storage cabinets," said Ed Stairman, president of A Plus Warehouse. "The smartest way to pick a safety storage cabinet is to look at some of the links provided and see what the law requires. Beyond the scope of law, we always recommend auto closing safety storage cabinets over manual units. In a fire, we suggest getting the heck out and let the cabinets take care of themselves. And remember: never obstruct a safety cabinet door. The auto close feature is a waste if there is an obstruction preventing a door from closing in an accident."

The A Plus auto close cabinets have fusible links that hold the doors open. These metallic links melt at a relatively low temperature forcing the spring loaded doors to close themselves. In the case of a manual door, a person needs to manually shut the door if a fire starts.

A Plus Warehouse stocks acid cabinets for the storage of poisons, flammables, or other harmful chemicals. They also stock paint cabinets, hazmat storage cabinets as well as the entire line of cylinder cabinets and specialty safety drum cabinets for the storage of vertical or horizontal drums that contain hazardous chemicals. This is to improve safety, convenience and reduce the risk of accidental poisoning and fires.

A Plus Warehouse carries cylinder cabinets in both steel and aluminum - horizontal and vertical both unassembled as well as assembled. They also carry specially designed storage and safety cabinets that keep damage from corrosive liquids in check in research laboratories.

To improve home safety and fire preparedness, call A Plus Warehouse today at 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 10:25 PM | Comments (0)

Fluid Energy's New Collection Module for Jet Mills Produces Highest Yields Available For Biotech & Pharmaceutical Industry R&D

In order to meet the demanding needs of powder processing in biotechnology and pharmaceutical research and development applications, Fluid Energy, the world's leader in powder processing solutions, has developed a collection module upgrade which, when used with the company's jet mill, will yield up to 98% of any compounds being processed.

Telford, Pa. (PRWEB) December 21, 2006 -- Fluid Energy, the world leader in powder processing solutions, today announced the High-Yield® Collection Module upgrade for the 00 Jet-O-Mizer jet milling system. The new stainless steel jet mill collection container is designed to collect 98% of the compounds processed during jet milling, making the 00 Jet-O-Mizer the highest yielding jet mill available for biotechnology and pharmaceutical powder processing applications.

"The high collection yields produced by this new collection module are just what the biotech and pharmaceutical research and development labs have been asking us for," said Jeffrey Gutkind, Fluid Energy division manager. "The High-Yield® Collection Module is specifically designed to reduce the high cost associated with powder processing expensive and rare compounds in biotechnology and pharmaceutical R&D."

The new High-Yield® Collection Module, which is available as an upgrade for both new and existing 00 Jet-O-Mizer jet mills eliminates the less efficient filter sleeve found on standard models. The unit is self-contained and operates pneumatically using the same compressed air or gas that runs the jet mill.

The compressed air or gas removes compound, or product, from the filter and interior surfaces of the jet mill into the High-Yield® Collection Module, collecting any processed powder with up to 98% efficiency. In addition, the High-Yield® Collection Module eliminates operator manual-interface for powder collection, minimizing potential for cross contamination of future mill runs and reducing possible health risks from exposure to dangerous compounds.

The High-Yield® Collection Module is capable of processing batches between one and 50 grams. Performance data collected while processing two, five, 10, 25, and 50 grams of lactose at 100 PSI produced consistent collection yields ranging from 91% to 98.7% efficient, depending on the volume of material being processed. These yields are all significantly higher than the standard filter sleeve jet mill setup.

"Constructed of 316L stainless steel, the High-Yield® Collection Module is easy to clean and offers a sanitary design," said Gutkind. "Pulse design is used to clean the unit's filter."

The High-Yield® Collection Module comes equipped with a Dacron filter and an optional PTFE filter is available. In addition, the 110V/60 Hz/1 phase controller offers programmable settings for collection cycles designed to handle sticky compounds. There are no tools required for assembly or retrofitting to existing 00 Jet-O-Mizer jet mills.

The new Fluid Energy collection module is in stock and available. For additional information on the High-Yield® Collection Module or the 00 Jet-O-Mizer jet milling system, please call Fluid Energy at 215-721-8990 or visit http://www.fluidenergype.com/prod10.htm.

Fluid Energy Processing and Equipment Company is the world leader in powder processing solutions, offering research and development, toll processing services and equipment manufacturing for powder processing needs of the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and processing industries.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:24 PM | Comments (0)

Walter T. Marlowe, P.E., CAE Selected as New Executive Director and CEO of the Construction Specifications Institute

The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) announced today that Walter T. Marlowe, P.E., CAE, has been selected as the new Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of CSI. Marlowe accepted the position Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2006 at CSI's offices in Alexandria, Va.

Alexandria, VA (Vocus/PRWeb ) December 21, 2006 -- The Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) announced today that Walter T. Marlowe, P.E., CAE, has been selected as the new Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of CSI. Marlowe accepted the position Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2006 at CSI's offices in Alexandria, Va. Institute President Edd Soenke, FCSI, CCS, AIA, Former Institute President Gary Betts, FCSI, CCS, AIA, and Institute Treasurer Michael Davis, FCSI, CDT were present to welcome the new director.

A Search Task Team of respected CSI members, led by Ross Spiegel, FCSI, CCS, CCCA, AIA, LEED AP, worked closely with Korn/Ferry International to develop the specifications for the kind of executive to lead CSI forward. CSI President, Edd Soenke said, "It was an inspiring process, and I know we have the right person for the job. Walt is a perfect fit and his engineering background will serve CSI well." The CSI Board of Directors made its selection during its November 2006 Board Meeting in Denver, Colorado following a nationwide search by Korn/Ferry.

Marlowe has 16 years experience and demonstrated increasing responsibility in association management. He served in a variety of staff leadership roles at the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). His positions included Director of Professional Practice, International Activities and Technical Activities.

Prior to joining CSI, Marlowe was the Executive Director of Building Security Council (BSC). Led by the ASCE Architectural Engineering Institute, BSC focuses on improving public safety by advancing building security. BSC administers and maintains a voluntary rating system that enables building owners to evaluate and improve the security of their facilities.

Asked why he was drawn to the opportunity of helming CSI, Marlowe stated, "There is such potential for members, staff and CSI partners to build a truly collaborative, growing and innovative organization. The mission of CSI is increasingly important as the construction industry becomes more multi-disciplinary, interdependent, and technology driven."

A licensed professional engineer in New Jersey, Marlowe practiced structural engineering earlier in his career with the consulting firms DeLeuw, Cather & Co. and The RBA Group.

Marlowe is an alumnus of Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ where he earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree. He also holds a masters degree in Business Administration from the George Washington University in Washington, DC. He attained the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executives in 2003.

About CSI
CSI is a national association dedicated to creating standards and formats to improve construction documents and project delivery. The organization is unique in the industry in that its members are a cross section of specifiers, architects, engineers, contractors and building materials suppliers. The organization has 146 chapters and more than 15,000 members. Monthly Chapter meetings allow members the opportunity to communicate openly with their counterparts and exchange information for successful project management. CSI is renown in the industry for its rigorous certification programs for professionals seeking to improve their knowledge of accurate and concise construction documents. CSI provides continuing education, professional conferences, and product shows. For more information, visit www.csinet.org, or call 800-689-2900.

Contact: Teresa Sullivan, Director, Marketing & Communications
Phone: 800-689-2900, ext. 4744
Web: www.csinet.org

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:22 PM | Comments (0)

Michigan Businesses See Light at the End of the Tunnel

Accident Fund releases fall/winter 2006 Future Business Indicator

LANSING, MICHIGAN (Vocus/PRWeb ) December 21, 2006 -- The average Michigan business owner is still unhappy with the condition of the economy, but the next six-month business outlook is favorable, according to the fall 2006 "Future Business Indicator."

Conducted by EPIC-MRA in fall 2006, the "Future Business Indicator" (FBI) poll asked more than 700 owners and managers of small to mid-sized Michigan businesses questions to measure their state of mind and" business wellness."

Adding to the optimism was a sharp jump in the number who are "excited" when they think about their business ten years from now.

Ed Sarpolus of EPIC-MRA, compared results from the spring and fall surveys and highlighted several trends:

* Michigan business leaders are still not satisfied with the economy (Q1: 69% are somewhat or very dissatisfied).

* But there is a light at the end of the tunnel (Q2: 51% say their six-month business outlook is very or somewhat good vs. 46% in spring survey).

* This optimism is based on the fact that they see their businesses finally stabilizing, so they can begin to look to the future. Things are no longer getting worse (Q3: 54% believe their bottom line will be stable; 18% believe it will improve).

* The concerns are more about the business and what they have more control of vs. fuel costs that dominated the beginning of the year (Q4).

* There are still concerns about layoffs (Q5: 14% will or may lay off employees).

* But the good news is that businesses plan on increasing wages (30% plan on increasing wages vs. 20% in spring survey).

* This new confidence is witnessed by the fact that more businesses are sure that there will be no changes to benefits (77% will maintain benefits vs. 71% in spring).

* Many more business owners are excited about the long-term future of their business (Q30: 52% excited or encouraged vs. 43% in spring).

Fielded in the spring and fall, the FBI is sponsored by Accident Fund Insurance Company of America. The survey is also affiliated with noted small business advocate Chris Holman and the Greater Lansing Business Monthly, and is based on Holman's Lansing Business Index, which has been conducted semi-annually since 2003.

"As the leading provider of workers compensation insurance for Michigan's small and mid-sized business community, our success is directly connected to the success of every business in Michigan," says Bob Metzger, Accident Fund communications advisor. "We sponsor this survey to help every business in Michigan in their business planning and to support and learn from one another."

The complete survey results for both fall and spring 2006 can be viewed and downloaded at Accident Fund's Web site (www.accidentfund.com). The next survey is scheduled to be fielded in April 2007.

Headquartered in Lansing, Michigan, Accident Fund is one of the nation's leading workers compensation insurers, operating in 43 states and the District of Columbia. The company also provides third party administration services and disability management. Founded in 1912, Accident Fund is rated "A" (Excellent) by A.M. Best and is a member of Ward's 50 top property/casualty carriers.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:21 PM | Comments (0)

Lightning Labels Orders New Digital Label Press

Lightning Labels, one of the nation's first all digital label printers, is expanding its capacity by ordering a new state of the art WS4500 digital label press from HP.

Denver, CO (PRWEB) December 21, 2006 -- One of the label industry's digital label printing pioneers, Lightning Labels, is expanding its production capacity once again. The new WS4500 press from HP, launched at LabelExpo in September, will be installed at Lightning Labels next month. To accommodate the new press, Lightning Labels is expanding its office/warehouse space by 50 percent by taking over the vacant unit next door. This brings its total space to over 12,500 square feet.

Lightning Labels was founded by Peter Renton in 2002, with a mission to focus on short run labels -- a segment of the label market that no one had focused on up until then. "There are a huge number of companies who want to order just 500 or 1,000 labels, but until recently these people have been ignored," said Renton. "The beauty of digital printing is that setup is quick and easy, which makes it economical to do runs as small as 500 labels. You no longer have to order 10,000 labels in order to get a decent unit price."

Now, with the increased production speed of the WS4500 press, Lightning Labels will also be able to take on slightly larger runs. The WS4500 press from HP-Indigo can print high resolution labels at up to 100 feet a minute -- this compares with the 24 feet a minute from the WS2000 machines. Lightning Labels will be trading in one of their two WS2000's on the new WS4500 press.

Steve Smith, the president of Lightning Labels, said there were several reasons for upgrading to the new press now. "The WS4500 not only has faster speeds, the print quality is far better than the WS2000. Even though most of our customers only want short runs, print quality is always important," said Smith. "Also the fast ink replacement technology on the WS4500 will allow us to easily do spot colors, something many of our customers will appreciate."

Adding the WS4500 will allow Lightning Labels to serve its customers even better. "We already have one of the fastest turnarounds in the industry," said Smith. "With the WS4500 running in tandem with our existing WS2000 press, we will be able to be even more responsive to our customers needs. It will effectively enable us to double our capacity and still produce the fast turnaround our customers expect."

Lightning Labels (www.lightninglabels.com) prints custom labels for a broad range of industries. Wine labels, candle labels, lip balm labels, water bottle labels -- these are printed on a daily basis at Lightning Labels. With sales more than doubling each year since 2002, and 2006 sales at around $2.3 million, Lightning Labels now has one of the largest digital label printing operations in the country.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:20 PM | Comments (0)

TwinEngines, Inc. Executive Presented With Georgia Industry Association's "President's Award"

TwinEngines, Inc., a specialist in Value Chain Optimization for small and mid-market manufacturers in the Southeast, is proud to announce that Mark Munson has been awarded the Georgia Industry Association's President's Award. Brian Johnstone, GIA's 2006 President, presented Mr. Munson with the award at the Association's December luncheon. "Because of our strong focus on manufacturing, TwinEngines is proud of Mr. Munson's active involvement in the Georgia Industry Association", said Kevin Seefried, President of TwinEngines.

Atlanta (PRWEB) December 21, 2006 -- TwinEngines, Inc. (www.twinengines.com), a specialist in Value Chain Optimization for small and mid-market manufacturers in the Southeast, is proud to announce that Mark Munson has been awarded the Georgia Industry Association's President's Award. Brian Johnstone, GIA's 2006 President, presented Mr. Munson with the award at the Association's December luncheon. "Because of our strong focus on manufacturing, TwinEngines is proud of Mr. Munson's active involvement in the Georgia Industry Association," said Kevin Seefried, President of TwinEngines.

The Georgia Industry Association (GIA) represents the industrial community in public policy, promotes issues relevant to the financial well-being of the manufacturing industry and advocates government action for the benefit of Georgia producers. The GIA is also tasked with promoting the value and importance of industry throughout the state. Mr. Munson received the President's Award in recognition of his strong service as a GIA board member over the past year. Mark also chaired the Membership Committee and has worked diligently to advance the Association.

"This award was definitely unexpected, but certainly appreciated," said Mark Munson, Vice President of TwinEngines. "I am committed to the GIA and to the ongoing success of the manufacturing sector as a whole."

Through TwinEngines, Mr. Munson helps small to mid-market Southeastern manufacturing companies to increase productivity and maximize efficiency by synchronizing information flow throughout the organization and beyond.

Prior to joining the TwinEngines executive team, Mr. Munson founded and led several companies to positions of stability, even reaching Inc Magazine 500 status with one organization. Mr. Munson has more than 15 years of experience providing sales, recruiting and management solutions, all with a constant focus on superior customer service. He is a well-respected leader in providing quality solutions to the commercial sector and is active in several organizations across metropolitan Atlanta. Mr. Munson is a graduate of the University of Georgia.

About TwinEngines

TwinEngines specializes in Value Chain Optimization solutions for manufacturing. The company provides strategic consulting and tactical solutions to help small to mid market Southeastern manufacturing firms to address absolute business necessities or to realize a return on investment with in 12 months. TwinEngines synchronizes the flow of information throughout the enterprise through our unique Knowledge Logistics Methodology. For more information about how TwinEngines helps manufacturing companies to increase productivity, efficiency and competitive advantage, please visit www.twinengines.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:20 PM | Comments (0)

GreenHomes America Goes Live with Microsoft Dynamics CRM from Iteration2

Leading Microsoft Dynamics Gold Certified Partner Iteration2 Provides Integrated Solution to Innovative Home Performance Service Provider

Irvine, CA (PRWEB) December 21, 2006 -- Iteration2 (www.iteration2.com), the award winning provider of enterprise-wide business solutions and the 2005 and 2006 US Microsoft Business Solutions Partner of the Year, announced today that GreenHomes America has gone live with Microsoft Dynamics CRM, also known as Microsoft's Customer Relationship Management Solution. Headquartered in Buffalo, New York, GreenHomes America is an innovative home performance service provider that delivers innovative and affordable energy solutions utilizing a scientific, whole-home approach based on building science principles.

As energy conservation continues to be a top priority across the country, GreenHomes America is meeting customer's needs by delivering solutions to help customers improve the indoor comfort, health and safety of their homes while at the same time reducing energy usage by at least 25%, guaranteed. The heightened demand for their services lead them to quickly consolidate their disparate customer management databases for a single repository that easily integrates with their existing business and financial management systems.

By implementing Microsoft Dynamics CRM, GreenHomes America now has a scalable solution that provides real-time visibility into their daily operations. All departments within the organization now enjoy the benefits of an integrated solution that enables them to be proactive in their customer service efforts and helps improve efficiencies throughout the company. Microsoft Dynamics CRM enables them to easily access and manage their customer communication, quickly schedule home energy advisors, manage lead generation programs, capture sales pipeline information and trend customer data. By leveraging technology in all facets of their business GreenHomes America is able to consistently deliver the highest level of service to their customers.

Brett Knox, President of GreenHomes America explains, "We selected Iteration2 because they have a strong track record for successful implementations and an exceptional service delivery team. Iteration2 ensured we had a rapid implementation that mapped our business processes to the technology. Their deep knowledge in Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Microsoft technologies was instrumental to the success of this project."

"We are proud to partner with GreenHomes America to deliver a flexible solution that will adapt to their growing business. This is another great Iteration2 customer that has gone live on Dynamics CRM which speaks to the momentum of the Microsoft solution and to the success Iteration2 is experiencing delivering the Dynamics solution to our customers," says Mark Veronda, Director of Professional Services at Iteration2.

GreenHomes America is currently operating all of Microsoft's Enterprise Applications and will be implementing Microsoft Dynamics AX and Field Services for Microsoft Dynamics AX in 2007.

About GreenHomes America
Buffalo-based GreenHomes America® is the largest industry-accredited, single source provider of home performance contracting (HPC) in New York state. With operations in Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse, and a large staff of highly trained building science auditors and specialists, the company offers a unique home improvement service that significantly enhances the comfort, energy efficiency, and air quality of single-family homes. Beyond delivering in-home comfort and reducing utility bills by 25 to 60 percent, GreenHomes also helps homeowners do their part to protect the environment, conserve energy, and reduce the country's dependency on foreign oil. GreenHomes works with Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® and is accredited by the Building Performance Institute (BPI). For more information on GreenHomes America and home performance contracting, call 1.877.867.2833 or visit www.greenhomesamerica.com.

About Iteration2
Iteration2 provides its clients with a superior enterprise software implementation experience that is more attractive and affordable than solutions from SAP and Oracle. Combined with Microsoft's integrated technology stack and unsurpassed financial strength, this provides a growth platform for today and tomorrow. Iteration2 is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and leading provider of Microsoft Dynamics AX, Dynamics CRM, Dynamics SL, Business Intelligence (BI), SharePoint, and Field Services. Iteration2 is the first ever back to back U.S. MBS Partner of the Year for 2005 and 2006.

Iteration2's industry focus, enterprise software domain experience, and exceptional capabilities with Dynamics and Microsoft platform and tools provide its clients with clear strategic business advantage. Iteration2 is based in Irvine, CA and has sales offices in strategic locations throughout the United States. Please visit the company's website at www.iteration2.com.

For more information:
Greg Sad
Marketing Director
Iteration2
(949) 789-1020

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:19 PM | Comments (0)

Business Intelligence Can Reduce Supply Chain Risk, says Cognos Industry Expert

Business intelligence can provide complete visibility across disparate ERP, financial, and supply chain management systems from various suppliers dispersed around the world. With business intelligence, manufacturers know where and when problems occur and can take informed action.

Ottawa, Ontario (PRWEB) December 20, 2006 -- Manufacturers depend on lean and highly outsourced supply chains to cut costs and stay competitive. But many experts think the efficiency gains also bring higher risks.

This underlines the need for manufacturers to implement business intelligence across their entire supply chain to provide visibility into and across their operations, said Paul Hoy, CPIM. Hoy is director of manufacturing solutions at Cognos, one of the world's leading providers of business intelligence and performance management solutions.

Internal and external risks

According to Hoy, companies are vulnerable to events or disruptions that impact their supply chains - everything from cross-border issues and labor unrest to natural disasters and fires, even bankruptcy.

"For those that depend on a single supplier, one disaster can bring business to a halt," he said.

But having too many suppliers doesn't guarantee immunity, either. The further you go down the chain, the harder the problems are to spot. According to The Economist, some companies don't know who is supplying their suppliers or even where these lower-tier suppliers are based.

Ways to manage them

Hoy outlined four ways that manufacturers can use business intelligence to manage their supply chain risks. At its highest level, said Hoy, business intelligence can provide complete visibility across disparate ERP, financial, and supply chain management systems from various suppliers dispersed around the world. With business intelligence, manufacturers know where and when problems occur and can take informed action.

Dashboards and scorecards: These technologies provide highly visual information for monitoring supply chain operations, said Hoy. If performance falls into the red or exceeds a threshold, managers can access detailed information through supporting reports and analysis.

Business event management: Supply chain managers receive email alerts when a pre-determined disruption or unusual event occurs--such as parts shortages or shipments at risk, said Hoy.

Analysis: Managers can explore current issues or problems in the supply chain to understand what led to the results to achieve process optimization., said Hoy.

Reporting: Provides up-to-the minute views on key supply chain areas that can be shared across portals and extranets, according to Hoy.

"It pays to be prepared when problems occur," said Hoy. "Business intelligence provides a complete view of supply chain indicators across all transaction systems. It helps companies plan and respond effectively to keep the business on track no matter what happens down the line, a critical ability in the high-risk world of supply chain dynamics."

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:18 PM | Comments (0)

Logistics Achiever Award for the Automotive Industry

At the annual Logistics Achiever Awards for 2006, Datascope Consulting, a Syspro value added reseller, was awarded a Silver Award for outstanding achievement in logistics in customized process support for the automotive industry.

Johannesburg, South Africa (PRWEB) December 20, 2006 -- At the annual Logistics Achiever Awards for 2006 in Johannesburg, South Africa Datascope Consulting, a Syspro value added reseller, was awarded a Silver Award for outstanding achievement in logistics in customized process support for the automotive industry. Hansen's Engineering, one of Datascope's Syspro ERP client's was used as a case study.

The objectives of the Logistics Achiever Award are to recognize professionalism and excellence in the effective application of strategic, tactical, and operational logistics and supply chain management principles, concepts, and practices in South Africa.

An article in the Financial Mail (19th May 2006) entitled "Yanking the chain - SA's car industry is running flat out but could trip over supply logistics" made the following interesting comments pertinent to the supply chain and ERP systems in general:

According to the study, nearly a quarter of companies in the SA motor industry admit they have no idea of their supply costs.

A study by the CSIR found that SA's overall logistics activities - including transport and storage - account for 15,2% of gross GDP. In the US, the figure is 8%.

One question asked companies to estimate the cost of their supply chain as a percentage of sales. Over 20% said they did not know; 37% put the figure at less than 10%.

Most companies surveyed identified IT as their biggest cost challenge, followed by improved planning and forecasting.

Datascope Consulting, a Syspro value added reseller, has worked extensively within the Automotive industry in SA over the past six years and has identified similar issues within the supply chain. These are summarized as follows:

As the OEM's (Original Equipment Manufacturer) become more globally competitive, pricing is driven down lowering margins within the second and third tier manufacturing companies.

OEM's demand on these suppliers is constantly shifting. This shifting demand is forcing the second tier manufacturers to hold larger inventory levels as they just can't afford to stop a large OEM's line.

This continuous shift in demand by the OEM's is communicated via weekly releases to the second tier companies. This vast amount of release information flows from the OEM to their suppliers and in turn, inventory moves from the suppliers to the OEM's. Therefore the key to optimizing inventory is the ability to process these weekly releases effectively and make the necessary informed management decisions. These decisions affect the entire supply chain back to the third and fourth tier suppliers.

To assist the second tier manufacturers in dealing with these challenges, Datascope Consulting has developed a set of Syspro integrated tools specifically for the automotive industry which help reduce inventory holding by assisting with:

- Improved demand visibility

- Reduced planning cycle

- Improved production scheduling

- Release of purchase orders

- Inventory control

- Task automation

- Analysis

The four products, namely EDI Release Import & Compare, Shipping Schedule, Build Schedule and Supplier Release System all compliment the supply chain activities and integrate directly into Syspro. On the inventory flow side of the model, we have the following six products, namely Sales & Operational Analysis tool, Receiving system, Shopfloor systems, Scanning systems, ASN's & RFT's, and a VDA 4902 labelling tool.

This is what some of our clients had to say about these applications:

"Datascope's Shipping Schedule & Build Schedule has simplified our planning process while at the same time optimized our shipments and production. We have experienced significant time savings as well as improved supply chain visibility, helping us to make informed decisions. Overall a streamlined system which will add stability to our growth." - Erik Hansen - MD Hansens Engineering

"Accoustex has found Datascope's Import Release program to be time-saving and more accurate (no finger problems). The Comparison program assists us in making decisions vital to the supply of product to our customers. The ASN program saves us time wasted on the internet making us more efficient. The Supplier Release system helps us in providing information to our suppliers and assists them to supply on time which in turn assists us to delivery to our customers on time." Joanie Meyer - IT Controller Accoustex

"Datascope's shop floor scanning systems unlocked a major difficulty for Warmup. Before we would log all transactions manually on standard forms and once a day hand these over to the accounts processing clerk. A delay of up to 30 hours could occur. Transactions are now instantaneous and our stock information is live and accurate. The actual process is very simple and low key training was all that was involved in training the operators. " Clint Gough - GM Warmup Heating Systems

Datascope's strategic objective is to be the premium partner of IT supply chain solutions within the automotive, warehousing & distribution industries, generating superior value for our customers through integrated Syspro implementations, business analysis and consulting and customised software development within the target market's supply chain.

Datascope employees 12 full time consultants and 5 contractors which fulfill the roles of Project managers, Syspro consultants, software developers, documentation and testing specialists, business analysts, and a General manager to oversee the companies profitability and ensure high levels of customer loyalty. Datascope does not believe in a once off implementation and has over 40 customers that continue business dealing on a regular basis.

For more information log onto http://www.datascope.co.za

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:17 PM | Comments (0)

Exotic Woods Hit the Floor in North America Through BuildDirect

BuildDirect Launches New Hardwood Flooring Lines and Stay Ahead of Emerging Trends

Vancouver, B.C. (PRWEB) December 20, 2006 -- BuildDirect (http://www.builddirect.com?utm_id=530), the world's leading online wholesaler, has launched two new lines of flooring products to meet increased consumer demand for exotic hardwoods. The new lines, Toona, hand scraped hardwood flooring, and Taun, stained exotic hardwood flooring, are made of two Asian wood species not commonly found in North America.

"We have been tracking a marked increase in demand for exotic wood flooring," said Rob Banks, executive vice president, sales, for BuildDirect. "Our customers are moving away from traditional strip oak flooring towards darker, exotic woods, wider planks and processing techniques such as hand scraping for that custom, re-claimed look."

Notable attributes of the Toona line include a very pronounced grain and hardness comparable to that of white ash (1300 points on the Janka hardness scale) making it suitable for high traffic areas. Toona is available in either hand scraped or classic flooring at a cost of USD $3.18 per square foot by the pallet (approximately 818 square feet in total), or by container at a cost of $2.12 per square foot.

The Taun flooring is made from Asian fruitwood and is extremely hard (1,900 points) - making it durable enough for public facilities. Taun has a slightly open grain, and is excellent for staining. It is available at a cost of $3.35 per square foot by the pallet or $2.03 per square foot by container. A single Taun pallet includes approximately 750 square feet of flooring.

Other popular exotic hardwood flooring species available at BuildDirect include Brazilian cherry, tigerwood, teak and kempas, each of which provide designer looks for both developers and do-it-yourselfers who are looking for more options than what is available at their local build-it centre.

BuildDirect has been a leading online wholesaler in popular brand-name flooring since 1999 and offers offer a variety of flooring products including bamboo, laminate, and cork as well as hardwood flooring.

About BuildDirect
BuildDirect is the world's leading online wholesaler of building materials. Since its start in 1999, the company has established a reputation for offering the best quality building supplies at the lowest pricing possible. BuildDirect currently operates in 60 countries on six continents. They have developed the single most cost effective distribution channel in the building products industry for products such as flooring, roofing, decking, siding and countertops.

For more information, please contact:
David Brodie
BuildDirect, Media Relations
(604) 647-2911

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:16 PM | Comments (0)

Flexcon Container's Corrugated Plastic Containers Offer Versatility and Cost Effectiveness

Flexcon Container offers a corrugated container line that is both versatile and cost effective. Many sizes, styles and colors are available to meet almost any material handling and storage need.

Springfield, NJ (PRWEB) December 20, 2006 -- Flexcon is pleased to offer the most versatile storage and material handling container ever designed on the market with its line of corrugated plastic containers. These containers offer unmatched size, style and color options available to meet almost any application's needs. Durability and lightweight design continue to add to the versatility of these corrugated plastic containers. Add to this the vast array of available accessories and the ability to customize the size, shape and color of the containers and the end result is a virtually limitless resource for storage and material handling needs.

Flexcon's corrugated plastic containers are available in over 6,000 sizes and over 20 different styles. Some of the most popular styles are hopper front dividable containers, basic style hopper front containers, stackable hopper front containers, straight wall dividable containers, nestable containers, horizontal carousel containers, heavy duty stackable containers, cases, delivery containers, pizza style fold together containers and the list goes on and on. Also, Flexcon makes partitions for almost any need that can help protect your product and maximize storage density. Almost every type of corrugated plastic container made by Flexcon can be made in ESD safe materials to help protect static sensitive products. Also, Flexcon can custom configure almost any container with foam cushioning to help prevent product damage in transit.

One of the greatest features of Flexcon's corrugated plastic containers is the ability to customize sizes, styles and colors with very little upcharge. This results in the ability to have containers that can hold almost anything and fit almost any need. Corrugated plastic containers offer such versatility at such a great price.

For more information on Flexcon's line of corrugated plastic containers, please contact Ken Beckerman at (973) 467-3323 or visit Flexcon's booth at ProMat 2007 in Chicago, Illinois from January 8 - 11, 2007.

Flexcon Container, Inc. is a leading American manufacturer and provider of totes and containers for manufacturing, distribution and warehousing applications. For more information or full catalog on Flexcon Container, call (973)467-3323 or visit the Flexcon web site at http://www.flexcontainer.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:15 PM | Comments (0)

New goLab™ Mobile Workstation by Analytical Spectral Devices Expands Portability and Functionality in Material Analysis

Analytical Spectral Devices, Inc. (ASD) introduces the goLab™ Mobile Workstation for use with ASD FieldSpec®, LabSpec®, AgriSpec®, and TerraSpec® Vis/NIR portable instruments. The goLab™ Mobile Workstation is a versatile tool for material analyses, formerly restricted to a laboratory environment, to be performed where and when needed -- the warehouse, production floor, loading dock, green house, and more. The goLab™ Mobile Workstation also acts as a wheeled carrier for streamlined transport between locations, and then quickly unfolds to support the user's sampling needs 'right on the spot.' The goLab™ features a stable, non-slip platform and large wheels suitable for both inside and outside work.

Boulder, Colo. (PRWEB) December 20, 2006 -- Analytical Spectral Devices, Inc. (ASD) introduces the goLab™ Mobile Workstation for use with ASD FieldSpec®, LabSpec®, AgriSpec®, and TerraSpec® Vis/NIR portable instruments. The goLab™ Mobile Workstation is a versatile tool for supporting material analyses, formerly restricted to a laboratory environment, to be performed where and when needed -- the warehouse, production floor, loading dock, green house, and more. The goLab™ Mobile Workstation also acts as a wheeled carrier for streamlined transport between locations, and then quickly unfolds to support the user's sampling needs 'right on the spot.' The goLab™ features a stable, non-slip platform and large wheels suitable for both inside and outside work.

"The goLab™ Mobile Workstation is a totally new offering from ASD that takes portability beyond the ability to simply carry an instrument around. Once transported, the goLab™ unfolds into a complete platform for analytical measurements where they need to be done! It really augments our portable instrument line, shows ASD's dedication to providing cutting edge tools and solutions to our customer base, and is compatible with our portable Pro series of instruments as well," said Amanda Griffin, ASD's Marketing/Communications Manager.

About ASD
Based in Boulder and with customers around the world, ASD provides the most reliable, high-performance analytical instrumentation solutions to industrial professionals, analytical researchers, and remote sensing scientists. In collaboration with our customers since 1990, our applications support team remains unsurpassed in solving the world's most challenging materials measurement problems.

For more information, please contact Amanda Griffin, ASD Marketing Communications Manager, 5335 Sterling Dr., Suite A, Boulder, CO, 80301; 303/444-6522, 303/444-6825 (fax); www.asdi.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:15 PM | Comments (0)

FreelineUSA's Survivable VoIP Internet Phone Systems Minimize International Costs for a Successful Multi-national NAFTA Business

FreelineUSA's survivable VoIP phone systems have been deployed by BCH Unique, Inc. for 24/7/365 Internet based voice communications between their Headquarters in Quebec, Canada and their new NAFTA manufacturing campus in Reynosa, Mexico... with no monthly VoIP charges.

(PRWEB) December 20, 2006 -- FreelineUSA's survivable VoIP phone systems deployed by Canada's BCH Unique, Inc. for 24/7/365 Internet communications between their Headquarters in Quebec, Canada and their new manufacturing campus in Reynosa, Mexico, for no monthly cost Canada to Mexico international voice communications.

Highlighting another real-world application of its IP centric Internet video security and VoIP communications systems, FreelineUSA, Inc. is pleased to announce BCH Unique, Inc. at their Quebec, Canadian Headquarters and new Reynosa, Mexico manufacturing campus have selected FreelineUSA for their critical intra-company communications network.

BCH Unique is a privately-owned corporation, which specializes in processing cast polymers in order to produce custom accessories for OEMs as well as promotional products and recognition items for distributors. It operates out of Canada and the USA.

Since 1957, numerous businesses have counted on BCH Unique's experience and know-how to convey their image effectively in order to gain a solid edge on their competition. BCH Unique prioritizes first-rate customer satisfaction for every single client. BCH Unique is renowned throughout the world as a leader in its field, namely, the designing and manufacturing of identification and recognition products as well as other custom promotional items.

"Providing first class service while controlling internal costs ensures maximum value for BCH Unique clients. Providing low cost, real-time, voice communications between our facilities ensure our critical customer orders are delivered accurately and on time, at a less than expected cost," said Marco Gagne of BCH Unique. "Our loyal customers expect maximum value from BCH Unique and we continue to focus on this meeting this goal. When our customer's orders are involved, reliability of our voice communications systems is critical and resiliency is paramount"

"FreelineUSA, Inc. has worked closely with Mr. Gagne and Rafael Sevilla of AM-Mex Products to deploy the unique FL-USA 800 Survivable VoIP phone system for their new campus in Reynosa, Mexico via the Internet," said Robert Simkavitz, President and CEO of FreelineUSA. "We are pleased to count leading edge companies such as BCH Unique as a client and hope to meet their highest expectations."

Since their inception in 1990, AM-Mex Products has been well established in McAllen, Texas and Reynosa, Mexico and has provided leading manufacturing companies such as BCH Unique custom programs to design offshore NAFTA manufacturing entities to reduce both cost and risk, while maintaining control and maximum flexibility. Please visit our company on the web at http://www.AmmexProducts.com.

Founded in 2003, FreelineUSA, Inc. is a privately held U.S. corporation headquartered in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, led by CEO Robert Simkavitz. FreelineUSA makes cents for our clients. For more information about FreelineUSA's leading Internet technology visit us at http://www.FreelineUSA.com.

Founded in 1957, BCH Unique is a privately-owned corporation operating out of Canada and the USA specializing in processing cast polymers in order to produce custom accessories for OEMs as well as promotional products and recognition items for distributors. Contact BCH Unique today for the very best value in unique branded products to promote your corporate image.

Marco Gagne, CFO
BCH Unique, Inc., 38 Avenue du pont, Saint-Martin, Quebec, Canada G0M 1B0
Toll Free: 1-800-463-4255 Telephone: (418) 382-5500, Direct Extension 270
http://www.BCHUnique.com

Robert Simkavitz, President and CEO
FreelineUSA, Inc., 9457 S University Blvd., Suite 166, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
Direct: (303) 791-1405
http://www.FreelineUSA.com

Rafael Sevilla, Director of Technical Services
AM-MEX Products, Inc., 3801 West Military Hwy, McAllen, Texas 78503
Direct: (956) 661-5678
http://www.AmMexProducts.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:14 PM | Comments (0)

Garlock Launches Versatile, Affordable 104GS General Service Elastomeric Expansion Joints

Garlock Sealing Technologies, a leader in fluid sealing technology for more than 100 years, recently introduced 104GS General Service Elastomeric Expansion Joints. These joints are ideal for new construction projects, water and wastewater treatment plants, power generation facilities, and various other industrial applications.

Palmyra, New York (PRWEB) December 20, 2006 -- Garlock Sealing Technologies, a leader in fluid sealing technology for more than 100 years, recently introduced 104GS General Service Elastomeric Expansion Joints. These joints are ideal for new construction projects, water and wastewater treatment plants, power generation facilities, and various other industrial applications.

The 104GS features a neoprene tube and cover that offer excellent oil and abrasion resistance while also protecting the carcass from many environmental elements. The Neoprene construction makes the 104GS compatible with a wide range of media, making it an ideal general service expansion joint.

The expansion joints are reinforced by a combination of nylon fabric and carbon steel body wire, allowing the product to withstand significant operating pressures. Additional arch support rings supply stability under vacuum and help to extend the life of the product. The expansion joints are rigorously tested to ensure a consistent, high-quality product.

The wider, single-arch design of the 104GS joints allows for greater movements and helps to reduce the effects of moderate sediment transfer.

To simplify the ordering process, the 104GS is available in 2- through 24-inch ID sizes and sold complete with galvanized carbon steel retaining rings. Customers can purchase the new expansion joints through Garlock's normal channels - including distributors and the new iStore on www.garlock.com.

About Garlock
Garlock Sealing Technologies, an EnPro Industries company, designs, manufactures and sells fluid sealing products worldwide. A recognized industry leader, Garlock advances fluid sealing technology by delivering innovative solutions and services for process industries' most demanding applications. The company has 13 global operations with 1,500 employees and distributes its products in more than 75 countries. For more information on Garlock products and services, visit www.garlock.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:13 PM | Comments (0)

Numina Group's Latest Release Version 5.0 RDStm (Real-Time Distribution Software) Validates Shipment and Order Fulfilment Process

RDS distribution control software optimizes facility resources and adds visualization to improve order validation.

Burr Ridge, IL (PRWEB) December 20, 2006 -- With its latest release of the RDS System, Numina Group announces several new innovative software enhancements to improve order fulfillment operations by incorporating a variety of picking validation methods within several areas of the distribution process. The result is lower operations costs, improved efficiencies and a competitive advantage through applying advanced technology to validate order fulfillment.

Pick Validation is available in the following RDS's distribution automation modules:
• Pick Module Zone Carton & Tote Routing
• Pick & Put to Light Picking Operations
• Packing Operations
• In-Motion Carton Dimensioning with Weight-Vision Audit
• Print & Apply Labeling Systems
• Sorter Controls and Delivery Confirmation Management

According to Dan Hanrahan, president of the Numina Group, order validation is a significant step forward for its customers by virtually eliminating shipping and delivery errors. "Customers are literally able to see the carton or carton content, weight, dimensional information tied directly to the shipping label," he notes.

"Clients are realizing significant operations improvement that translates into more satisfied customers."

For additional information on the Numina Group and the RDS System, contact Cherise Kennerley at 847.312.1367 or email. Visit Numina Group online at www.numinagroup.com.

About Numina Group
The Numina Group is a leading systems integrator and material handling automation supplier, providing warehouse controls and automation solutions in manufacturing and distribution operations throughout the world. Headquartered in Burr Ridge, IL, Numina Group specializes in both new distribution automation systems and control system upgrades to "Breathe New Life" into existing facilities.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:13 PM | Comments (0)

Ecology Coatings Grant