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September 29, 2007

New Website Supports Case Packer/Erector Joint Venture

A new Web site, http://www.versapack.co.uk, has been established to support a newly-developed compact case packing and erecting machine. Versapack is a joint venture between Quin Systems and Endoline, and is capable of handling 100 picks and 20 cases per minute.

Wokingham, England (PRWEB) September 29, 2007 -- A new Website, http://www.versapack.co.uk, has been established to support a newly-developed compact case packing and erecting machine. Versapack is a joint venture between Quin Systems and Endoline, and is capable of handling 100 picks and 20 cases per minute.

As well as product information and specifications, the new site provides technical drawings, CAD views and a 3D model of the machine. Visitors can view the packaging machine from any angle or perspective, zoom-in on areas of interest and save the model in a cross-platform format. Although Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher is required to view this eDrawings file, it can be viewed on other browsers if configured correctly.

In addition, there are links to the two companies' Web sites, and a contact form enables visitors to enquire further.

Combining Quin Systems' revolutionary RTheta™ high-speed picking head with Endoline's 220 series of case erectors, the new Versapack provides a complete, versatile end-of-line packaging solution inside a small 1800 x 1750mm footprint. It provides new options for high-speed case packing where automation has not hitherto been possible or economic.

The principle of Versapack is simple: an Endoline 220 series case erector frame is used to mount the Quin Casepacker picking head and a product feed conveyor, which results in the extremely compact footprint. Already installed in five production lines in the UK, Casepacker is proving the ideal choice for both single-player and more-demanding multi-layer applications. Its RTheta technology minimises inertia, enabling fast cycle speeds, whilst Quin's advanced motion control algorithms ensure smoother movement, resulting in less product damage, however fast the machine operates.

Versapack offers installers a flexible choice of layout options, from straight in-line, through 90-degree, to reverse case flow, with infeed module options available for rigid and flexible packs. Its versatile design allows a wide range of product types to be packed including shelf-ready packages. Applications range from roll-wrapped biscuits, through flow-wrapped wet-wipes to cartoned ready meals.

The Versapack is marketed in the UK directly by Quin and Endoline, with international sales handled through the companies' European and world-wide distribution networks.

About Quin Systems:
Headquartered in Wokingham, UK, Quin Systems Ltd. was established in 1983 with the goal of bringing expert engineering skills to the field of machine automation. The company's approach brings together the disciplines of mechanical, electronics and software to achieve powerful machine design and control system implementation.
Leadership in this technology is centred on a powerful programming language, researched and developed by Quin to bring real time reliable flexible control to machines. With the ability to dynamically link and unlink many motor axes together via software lineshaft, flexible cam, index and triggers, Quin's programming architecture not only provides a powerful distributed control system, but also provides powerful remote diagnostics and interfaces to factory data systems. As well as technology and products, the company has a strong track record in application engineering, offering support that extends throughout the life of a customer's machine. Quin also works with selected manufacturers of complementary products to provide a wide range of engineering services for the automation industry. These include LinMot linear motors, and HMI display panels as well as SBC motors and drives.

About Endoline:
Endoline Machinery Ltd is the UK's leading manufacturer of end-of-line packaging machines, from semi-automatic case sealers, case erectors, case packers, packing stations and conveyor systems to fully automated packaging lines. Endoline specialises in the automation of packaging for standard cases, trays, crates and shelf-ready cases (SRP) for products including snacks, confectionery, ready-meals, healthcare, pharmaceutical and consumer goods.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:04 AM | Comments (0)

Characterisation of Irradiated Material by Instrumented Indentation

In addition to standard tests, the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe is investigating the concept of characterisation of irradiated material by instrumented indentation. For this reason they purchased a ZHU0.2/Z2.5 modular testing system from the Zwick Roell Group (www.zwick.com) to assist them in their quest to investigate the material's mechanical properties after irradiation and to understand the irradiation damage mechanisms. Zwick was the only manufacturer who could provide a solution for this unique application.

Ulm, Germany (PRWEB) September 29, 2007 -- The Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe (www.fzk.de) is one of the biggest science and engineering research institutions in Europe and funded jointly by the Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Baden-Wuerttemberg. Its research and development program is embedded in the superordinate program structure of the Hermann von Helmholtz Association of National Research Centers and concentrates on the five research areas of Structure of Matter, Earth and Environment, Health, Energy, and Key Technologies.

The Nuclear Fusion Programme bundles the activities of the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe which are related to the development of technologies for a fusion reactor. These activities under the contract of Association between EURATOM and Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe are carried out within the framework of the European Fusion Development Agreement. Fusion energy is associated with the wish to supply a safe and environmentally compatible source of energy that decisively contributes to the supply of mankind's electricity consumption for the next centuries.

The Institute for Materials Research (www.fzk.de/imf) is involved in the development and qualification of materials as well for highly loaded plasma-facing components of the DEMO plant and for the supporting structure of the components. The development aims at high-performance materials that allow for high operational temperatures and coolant pressures under the impact of high-energy neutrons. In addition, the materials should be low activating under neutrons in order to maintain the environmental attractiveness of fusion plants.

Structural materials such as EUROFER 97, for commercial fusion reactors with expected plant lifetimes of about 30 full power years, must allow for higher operational temperatures and coolant pressures and should also withstand high neutron fluences that cause material damage such as hardening, embrittlement, dimensional instability etc.

In addition to standard tests the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe is investigating the concept of characterisation of irradiated material by instrumented indentation. For this reason they purchased a ZHU0.2/Z2.5 modular testing system from the Zwick Roell Group (www.zwick.com) to assist them in their quest to investigate the material's mechanical properties after irradiation and to understand the irradiation damage mechanisms. Zwick was the only manufacturer who could provide a solution for this unique application.

The ZHU0.2/Z2.5 has a load range of 2 - 200N, and a displacement measuring resolution of 0.02m. The system is equipped with a fully automated X/Y table and Rockwell and Vickers indenters. The indentation can be viewed through a microscope fitted with a CCD camera.

The Zwick ZHU0.2/Z2.5 is installed in a gas tight hot cell with 200 mm lead / 500 mm lead glass shielding. It carries out multistage indentation tests (load/unload) with different holding times. Neural networks then evaluate the correlation between these test data and the parameters of a viscoplastic material model, normally acquired from tensile tests.

The unique operation of the indentation tester allows it to carry out precision loading cycles up to various forces and displacements with predetermined holding times during each cycle. testXpert® , Zwick's software platform for materials testing, is used to control the machine and obtain the synchronised force and indentation data. This data is then stored in a special format and transmitted to the neural network system to determine the material properties such as Young's Modulus, Yield and ultimate tensile strength as well as hardening coefficients.

For more information contact Zwick at info(at)zwickroell.eu

About the Zwick Roell Group
The Zwick Roell Group is a global leader in automated materials and component testing systems. With 150 years of testing experience and operating worldwide, it has manufacturing facilities in Germany and distribution and customer support headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and Singapore. As of 2006 the group has 900 employees and sells to 20 different industry sectors through a network of sales and service offices in 56 countries. For more information see www.zwick.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:03 AM | Comments (0)

Marsh Supermarkets to Sell Surplus Properties at Auction Many Offered Absolute

Higgenbotham Auctioneers International Ltd., Inc. ("HAI"), announced today that food retailer Marsh Supermarkets has retained HAI to offer at auction 27 surplus properties throughout Indiana & Ohio. These valuable properties will be offered at auction at 11AM, November 15th in the Holiday Inn Select Grand Ballroom located adjacent to the Indianapolis Airport at 2501 S. High School Road Indianapolis, Indiana. At least 7 properties are to be sold ABSOLUTE to the last and highest bidder. The auction is a cooperative effort between HAI and RCS Real Estate Advisors ("RCS") of New York City, New York and NAI Global ("NAI") of Princeton, New Jersey.

Lakeland, FL. (PRWEB) September 28, 2007 -- Higgenbotham Auctioneers International Ltd., Inc. ("HAI"), announced today that food retailer Marsh Supermarkets has retained HAI to offer at auction 27 surplus properties throughout Indiana & Ohio. These valuable properties will be offered at auction at 11AM, November 15th in the Holiday Inn Select Grand Ballroom located adjacent to the Indianapolis Airport at 2501 S. High School Road Indianapolis, Indiana. At least 7 properties are to be sold absolute to the last and highest bidder.

The auction is a cooperative effort between HAI and RCS Real Estate Advisors ("RCS") of New York City, New York and NAI Global ("NAI") of Princeton, New Jersey.

The auction inventory consists of 15 retail out-parcels/development tracts and 12 retail buildings. The properties are former supermarkets, retails centers and development tracts.

The properties include:
- 28,671± SF former supermarket located at 936 East Washington Street in Winchester, Indiana
- 35,769± SF former supermarket and a 4,000± SF retail building located at 4005 Wheeling Avenue in Muncie, Indiana
- 39,451± SF former supermarket located at 3919 Madison Avenue in Indianapolis, Indiana
- Three separate 1 acre retail development tracts and a 1/2 acre retail development tract located on Maplecrest Road in Fort Wayne, Indiana
- 5 retail development tracts located at 4900 East Jackson Street in Muncie, Indiana
- 6.59± acre retail development tract located at the southwest corner of 38th and Columbus Avenue in Anderson, Indiana
- 32,176± SF former supermarket with an attached 20,000± SF retail building located at 1021 and 1033 Indianapolis Road in Greencastle, Indiana
- 21,137± SF former supermarket located at 107 West Pickwick Drive in Syracuse, Indiana
- 8,586± SF fully equipped freestanding former restaurant located at 14575 Mundy Drive in Noblesville, Indiana
- 1.32± acre retail development tract located at 14450 Mundy Drive in Noblesville, Indiana
- 46,212± SF former supermarket located at 2424 South Walnut Street in Bloomington, Indiana
- 36,810± SF former supermarket located at 395 Martin Street in Greenville, Ohio
- 2,100± SF commercial building located at 900 East Jefferson Street in Tipton, Indiana
- 11,920± SF commercial building located at 5136 North Franklin Avenue in Lawrence, Indiana
- 14,800± SF commercial building located at 1240 North State Street in Greenfield, Indiana
- 8,800± SF commercial building located at 17 North Lynhurst Drive in Indianapolis, Indiana
- 1/2± acre retail outparcel located at 10679 North Michigan Road in Zionsville, Indiana
- 1.34± acre retail outparcel located along East 300 North (Hartman Road) in Anderson, Indiana
- 1.1± acre retail outparcel located at 843 East Main Street in Brownsburg, Indiana
- 2.37± acre retail development tract located at 702 West South Street in Lebanon, Indiana

"Although these properties no longer fit into the future plans of Marsh, they are located in many prime markets around the region with some of the locations being no more than a few years old and fully equipped" stated John Haney, General Manager of HAI.

Marsh is expected to use the proceeds of the auction to continue its efforts in renovating and upgrading its operating stores.

Assisting with the coordination of the auction is RCS Real Estate Advisors and NAI Global. "We're certainly pleased to be working in cooperation with some of the most notable and effective real estate firms in the United States. With RCS Real Estate Advisors' detailed knowledge of Marsh's real estate and NAI Global's extensive network of real estate professionals throughout Indiana and the world, potential bidders can be assured that they are receiving detailed, accurate information on the properties and will have numerous opportunities to inspect and preview the buildings" stated Haney.

Parties interested in bidding on the Marsh Supermarket properties should contact HAI immediately to receive property, auction and due diligence information, including taxes, zoning, title exceptions, etc. all of which will be made available via mail or by download from HAI's website, www.higgenbotham.com.

About Higgenbotham Auctioneers International Ltd., Inc.
Founded in 1959, Higgenbotham Auctioneers International ("HAI") is headquartered in Lakeland, Florida and specializes in the sale of corporate real estate throughout the United States and the world by utilizing the auction method of marketing. HAI is an alliance partner of NAI Global and enjoys continuing relationships with Fortune 500 clients such as Alcoa, International Paper, Wal-Mart Realty, and Sinclair Oil, as well as many other publicly traded and closely held companies.

About Marsh Supermarkets, Inc.:
Marsh Supermarkets, Inc. ("Marsh") was founded in 1931 with one store in Muncie, Indiana. In 1953,
Marsh went public with 16 stores. Today, Marsh is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and operates 79 Marsh Supermarkets, 19 LoBill Foods, 6 O'Malia's Food Markets, Crystal Food Services, Primo Banquet Catering and Floral Fashions. Marsh employs nearly 14,000 and serves two million customers each week.

About NAI Global:
NAI is the premier network of independent commercial real estate firms and one of the largest commercial real estate service providers worldwide. NAI Global manages a network of 5,000 professionals and 350 offices in 45 countries throughout the world.

About RCS Real Estate Advisors:
RCS Real Estate Advisors (formerly Retail Consulting Services) provides innovative solutions that unlock the potential of retail real estate assets for clients across the United States. Founded in 1981, the firm operates through a unique mix of three practice areas - Growth and Development, Restructuring and Portfolio Optimization, and Investment Advisory and Participation - offering services that include expansions, rent renegotiations, dispositions and equity investments. For more information about the firm and its track record of working as a partner to deliver results for top-name retailers, please visit http://www.rcsrealestate.com

For more information about the Marsh Supermarket properties or other Higgenbotham auctions, please contact John Haney at Higgenbotham Auctioneers (800) 257-4161 or visit their website at http://www.Higgenbotham.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:03 AM | Comments (0)

ThermoSpas Introduces Custom-Built Hot Tubs for Any Budget Tailored to Match the Shape, Needs & Style of Any Body

ThermoSpas, a spa manufacturer and the country's largest hot tub retailer, is bringing the luxury of personalization and customization to America with its introduction of tailor-made hot tubs for any budget. . The company has designed everything from an eight-seat spa with 165 jets, a stereo system, ice bucket and heated towel warmers for a New York City entrepreneur with a very active social life to a minimalist two-person spa with numerous adjustable therapy jets for a recently married athletic couple that works out at the gym daily. Customization is key to a ThermoSpa and the customer dictates the size, style and cost.

Wallingford, CT (PRWEB) September 28, 2007 -- ThermoSpas, a spa manufacturer and the country's largest hot tub retailer, is bringing the luxury of personalization and customization to America with its introduction of tailor-made hot tubs for any budget.

ThermoSpas believes a hot tub should be a luxurious experience, but should also match the needs and resources of the customer. The company has designed everything from an eight-seat spa with 165 jets, a stereo system, ice bucket and heated towel warmers for a New York City entrepreneur with a very active social life to a minimalist two-person spa with numerous adjustable therapy jets for a recently married athletic couple that works out at the gym daily. Customization is key to a ThermoSpa and the customer dictates the size, style and cost.

"A ThermoSpa is custom-designed and custom-built so that the customer gets precisely what he has dreamed about," said Andrew Tournas, President of ThermoSpas, "In fact, the customer usually ends up spending less money on the spa because he is ordering exactly what he wants and is not paying for features he won't use."

From the look of a marble or granite interior to custom-built wood cabinetry, developing your own ThermoSpas has the feel of designing a state-of-the-art kitchen, but can actually be much more complex. Because a spa offers not only relaxation, but actual proven health benefits, designing the water therapy depends on more than just personal taste.

"The ideal hot tub, like a couture Chanel suit or the bespoke Rolls Royce, is different for each person and entirely depends on his or her color palate, design sense, body type and lifestyle," said Tournas, "Even more so, with a hot tub, you need to take into consideration that person's aches and pains so you can customize their water therapy."

ThermoSpas works one-on-one with its customers in their home to create a unique hot tub that will meet their individual needs. The ThermoSpas design representatives, who are currently in 36 states and expect to be nationwide in the next two years, are fluent in the health benefits of each of the different jets, bubbling systems and massagers. They can help the customer design a spa that will help Mom relax and ease her insomnia, assuage Dad's lower back pain and offer the teen daughter a thorough water aerobics workout. The spa will, of course, also match the family's existing deck; have a built-in stereo system and ice bucket for parties and work via remote control so they can heat the tub from within the house on those chilly winter evenings. Even better, each seat will have its own control system so each family member can use the spa at the same time, but have on different jets and get different benefits.

Once the ideal location for the spa in the home is determined and the customized hot tub is designed, the one-of-a-kind spa is custom-built and extensively tested in the ThermoSpas factory. Approximately eight weeks after the spa is ordered, it is delivered and fully installed by a certified ThermoSpas technician.

Call 800-876-0158 or visit www.thermospas.com to learn more about how ThermoSpas can custom build a hot tub for you.
ThermoSpas

Founded in 1983, ThermoSpas, Inc. is a privately owned manufacturer and retailer of hot tubs, swim spas and outdoor living products. Based in Wallingford, CT, the company is the largest hot tub retailer in the U.S. and also sells in sections of Europe and the Middle East. ThermoSpas is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions including the APSP Inspire Award for spa promotion and innovation, the APSP Eagle Award for commitment to industry advancement, the Consumers Digest Best Buy Award and the Better Business Bureau Consumer Education Award. For more information on ThermoSpas, please visit www.thermospas.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:02 AM | Comments (0)

Kick Up Your Oktoberfest with Sauerkraut

Great Lakes Kraut, a leading sauerkraut manufacturer and winner of ChefsBest™ award, presents Oktoberfest recipes. As summer draws to a close, people are preparing their favorite Sauerkraut recipes for the greatest celebration of German heritage: Oktoberfest.

Bear Creek, WI (PRWEB) September 28, 2007 -- Great Lakes Kraut, a leading sauerkraut manufacturer and winner of ChefsBest™ award, presents Oktoberfest recipes. As summer draws to a close, people across the country are dusting off their beer steins and preparing their favorite Sauerkraut recipes for the greatest celebration of German heritage: Oktoberfest.

What began as the wedding celebration of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen just outside of Munich in 1810, Oktoberfest is now part of American culture with more than 140 celebrations across the United States. American Oktoberfest gatherings feature traditional German musicians, Marzen beers, German sausages, and of course, Sauerkraut.

"Sauerkraut is a wonderfully tart complement to rich-tasting German sausages," said Ryan Downs, co-owner of Great Lakes Kraut Co. "It cuts through the spiciness of a bratwurst and enhances the flavor. It's the perfect marriage," Downs said.

Traditional German dishes featuring sausages, potato dumplings, and Sauerkraut are standard fare during Oktoberfest. Downs recommends the Savory Sausage and Kraut Skillet paired with your favorite German brew. Made with potatoes, Sauerkraut, and Kielbasa or the smoked beef sausage of your choice, this recipe is sure to be a hit.

For something more contemporary, but still crowd pleasing, try the Bavarian Crostini with melted Swiss cheese and Sauerkraut on pumpernickel bread.

Silver Floss® and Krrrrisp Kraut® Sauerkraut, winners of the ChefsBest™ Award as America's best-tasting Sauerkraut, are manufactured by the world's largest Sauerkraut producer, Great Lakes Kraut Co., LLC, Bear Creek, Wis. With processing facilities in Bear Creek and Shortsville, N.Y. -- the best cabbage growing regions in the world -- the company combines modern technology and four generations of Sauerkraut-making expertise to produce the country's leading brands. Silver Floss canned and jarred Sauerkraut is found in the canned vegetable section of grocery stores in the East, South, and Midwest. Krrrrisp Kraut refrigerated Sauerkraut is located in the meat department at grocery stores nationwide. For more information about Great Lakes Kraut and its award-winning brands, visit http://www.sauerkrautnews.com

Savory Sausage and Kraut Skillet
Ingredients

2 Tbsp. butter
1 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1 apple, peeled, cored and grated
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. caraway seeds
12 small red potatoes, cleaned
1 1/2 cups Krrrrisp Kraut® Sauerkraut
1 lb. smoked beef sausage or kielbasa

Cut sausage into 3-inch pieces. Melt butter in skillet; add onion and green pepper and cook until tender. Add apple, brown sugar, caraway seeds, potatoes, and Sauerkraut; mix well. Place sausage on top of Sauerkraut mixture. Cover and cook over medium-low heat for 30 minutes.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:01 AM | Comments (0)

Rock Island Manufacturer Shows Process Industry Manufacturers How To Be Green Enough to Save Enough Energy To Fuel 10 Fossil Power Plants

Inventor Of The Bearing Isolator Publishes Article On How Process Plants Can Save Energy And Keep Green In The Process

Rock Island, IL (PRWEB) September 28, 2007 - A Rock Island, IL based company may have the key to energy conservation and may be able to alleviate the need for immediate new power plant construction in the U.S. and increase productivity and plant reliability in the process. In addition, the company has published a document that details how process industry manufacturers can save lots of energy and stay green in the process.

The Company
The company, Inpro/Seal Company, is a leader in the manufacture and application of non-contact, non-energy consumptive bearing protectors that are designed to replace contact sealing devices that have proven to consume electrical energy while operating.

Contact Lip Seals
Contacting lip seals were first introduced over 70 years ago. Convenient and cheap, when it came to protecting bearings, they went on to capture a 99% market share. Today, in the U.S. about thirty eight million of them are manufactured for thousands of industrial applications in the U.S. including: pumps, gearboxes, fans, paper machine rolls and other types of rotating equipment. Most of these can be replaced with non-contact labyrinth style bearing isolators that consume zero power.

Non-Contact Seals
In the 1970's, the bearing isolator was invented by David C. Orlowski (patent #4,022,479). A non-contacting labyrinth seal, it gave the end user the choice of permanent bearing protection and eliminated the need for continual maintenance. Comprised of a unitized rotor and stator that do not come into contact with each other, it operates without contact and thus does not consume energy. Because they never wear out, they can be used over and over for many years. Contact seals have a 100% failure rate.

Lean, Mean & Green
According to Orlowski, "Today, we view the "greening" of the process industries in general, and the maintenance function in particular, as one of the biggest challenges and profit opportunities currently facing our customers. Lean, efficient manufacturing operations are a vital part of the day-to-day concerns we face at Inpro on a daily basis. Though there are a number of ways to be green in the process industries, we fell the installation of energy saving bearing isolators is at the top of the list."

Lip Seals May Not Be So Cheap
Lip seals consume power - lots of it. In fact, it costs more to operate a lip seal than it does to procure one. When effectively sealing and protecting bearings, each lip seal consumes, on average, 147 watts of power. After about 2000 hours of operation (2.7 months), a lip seal will fail, lose contact with the rotating shaft and stop consuming power.

At that point in time they either must be replaced or the rotating equipment operates until the bearings become contaminated or run out of oil. It is something like running your car on a flat tire until it self-destructs. Other contacting bearing protection devices, such as magnetic face seals are also sold to industry. Combined with lip seals, they account for some 6,000 megawatts of power consumption while they are functioning and effectively sealing.

Early Industrial Motors
Since their inception by Edison and Steinmetz back in the 1920's, industrial electric motors were manufactured and put into severe duty services without adequate bearing protection. Until recently, only a close clearance between the shaft and end-bell served to limit contamination ingress into the bearing environment. Reliability suffered as life cycle costs for energy and maintenance had significant negative impact on the process industries' production numbers.

Enter The IEEE-841 Motor
In 1994, Institute of Electrical Engineers introduced their IEEE-841 Motor, an industrial duty motor that was designed to improve reliability, efficiency and performance by establishing simple guidelines. Immediately after its introduction, forward-looking process plants found that by switching to IEEE-841 Motors energy consumption also improved. In 1995, after a process plant switched to 2,000 of these new motors, they directly attributed $5 million in savings in efficiency and enhanced reliability.

Today's Industrial Motors
As part of its specification, all IEEE-841 motors incorporate non-contact Inpro/Seal™ bearing isolators as standard equipment. Recently the newer NEMA Premium motor, which has at least a one point energy edge, has become readily available with Inpro/Seal bearing isolators as a standard option. This kind of permanent bearing protection greatly enhances reliability and reduces MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures). Documentation shows that the investment for enhanced efficiency and reliability regularly yields an internal rate of return of more than 100%.

Failure Is Not An Option
It has been said there are some 40,000,000 industrial-grade electric motors in use in the United States. These motors, on average will last about 5.7 years before they need to be repaired or replaced. This decision is usually based around an energy analysis.

Will a new motor have an energy-saving return on investment great enough to rationalize the capital outlay? The differential cost for power over time is weighed against the cost of a new motor and the benefits of greater efficiency and enhanced reliability. The vast majority of the time, the root cause of electric motor failures have been because of mechanical rather than electrical problems.

Add to that the fact that bearing-protected motors have proven to last at least twice as long as the motors that they replaced since the major, documented cause of motor failure remains bearing deterioration. It has been estimated that the insulation on the windings is good for 130 years because it was designed for severe resistive heating that does not present itself in the modern day super efficient motor.

Technology Can Be A Wonderful Thing
If the thirty eight million contacting lip seals addressed above were replaced with non-contacting, non-energy consuming bearing isolators, the savings would be substantial. The net energy savings in the U.S. would be some 5,586 megawatts or the equivalent of about 10 fossil fueled power plants!

The process industries would save over $3.7 billion dollars per year in electrical power costs. Tons of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas (GHG) that is said to be a major contributor to global warming would no longer be produced.

The bearing isolators would stay in service for at least 20 years, eliminating the duty cycle and replacement expense. Operating costs would stabilize and process industry manufacturers would realize productivity increases and remain competitive on a global basis.

Signoff
For more information, "Green Is The Color Of Money", "Introduction To Bearing Isolators", "Are Lip Seals Obsolete?" is available from Jason Putman at: Inpro/Seal Company, P.O. Box 3940, Rock Island, Illinois 61204. Phone numbers are: (800) 447-0524 or (309) 787-4971. Fax number is: (309) 787-6114. In addition, an Excel module: Motor Energy Savings Justification Worksheet and other information can be found at: www.inpro-seal.com or www.bearingisolators.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:01 AM | Comments (0)

Labelmaster's Popular A.I.R. Shipper Manual Now Available For 2008

Book will preview 2009 ICAO changes.

Chicago, Illinois (Vocus/PRWEB ) September 28, 2007 -- Labelmaster, a U.S.-based manufacturer of regulatory compliance products, is releasing the 2008 A.I.R. Shipper™ Air International Regulations for Shippers of Dangerous Goods manual, which will be available October 2007. It is the first shipper-friendly regulations publication to be recognized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

A.I.R. Shipper™ will help your company stay in compliance with dangerous goods regulations and increase shipping safety, accuracy and efficiency. This publication combines international dangerous goods air regulations with related national requirements, so you have all the information you need to ship safely and in compliance with regulations in one resource.

Following are features that make A.I.R. Shipper™ an outstanding reference for shippers:

Developed in compliance with ICAO standards
Chapter order is logical and follows UN Model Regulations, ICAO and IMO formats
Innovative pricing allows maximum distribution of A.I.R. Shipper™ within your shipping operations
Cost-effective, quality product that promotes safety in dangerous goods shipping
Dangerous Goods List (DGL) is quick and easy to use
"How to Use" appendix helps you get the most out of the unique layout and features
Hazard and handling labels and markings shown in color
Colored borders make finding important sections quick and make text easier to read
Easy-to-use packing instructions include descriptive titles, maximum quantity tables and specific applicable variations
High-quality paper allows highlighting without "show-through"

The 2008 edition contains the following new features:

Preview of the 2009 ICAO changes
Adding 49 CFR Special Provisions to DGL
Easy-to-use reference guides to get all your information in one spot
New format is easier to read

Learn more about A.I.R. Shipper™ by visiting airregs.com
or call 1-800-621-5808.

For more information about other Labelmaster regulatory publications:
Regulatory Combos: www.labelmaster.com/index.cfm?section=store&cataloglevel=18720
Early 49 CFR: www.labelmaster.com/index.cfm?section=store&cataloglevel=17299
MasterRegs™ 49 CFR: www.labelmaster.com/index.cfm?section=store&cataloglevel=17300
ERG: www.labelmaster.com/index.cfm?section=store&cataloglevel=18212

Labelmaster, established in 1967, is a developer, manufacturer, distributor, and marketer of hazardous materials compliance products, including labels, forms, packaging, software, and publications. The company's 40 years of experience in providing regulatory information and products for all transportation modes make it especially qualified as a total compliance resource. Labelmaster's compliance division is located at 5724 N. Pulaski Road in Chicago. Learn more about Labelmaster: www.labelmaster.com.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations created in 1944 to promote safety in international civil aviation. ICAO sets standards and regulations necessary for aviation safety, security, efficiency, regularity, and aviation environmental protection. The Organization serves as a forum for cooperation in all fields of civil aviation among its 189 Contracting States. For additional information, visit www.icao.int.

For a complete version of this release with an image for download, please visit http://news.marketingimages.com/default.asp?nid=302

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:00 AM | Comments (0)

Lisa May Huby Featured Guest On Better Process Innovation Show Podcast

Recently, B2B Marketing Consultant and Copywriter Lisa May Huby was the featured guest of the Better Process Innovation Show podcast, highlighting issues faced by business-to-business marketers such as finding effective business partners, strategies for online marketing and how B2B marketing is overshadowed by B2C activities.

Barrie, ON (PRWEB) September 28, 2007 -- B2B Marketing Consultant and Copywriter Lisa May Huby was the featured guest for the September 13, 2007 podcast of the Better Process Innovation Show sponsored by Eaton.

Highlights of the show included issues faced by business-to-business marketers such as finding effective business partners, strategies for online marketing and how B2B marketing is being overshadowed by B2C activities.

Another timely topic discussed was B2B search marketing and how prospective business buyers' online search activities differ from consumers. "This just emphasizes the importance of actually having information available through any means possible, especially on a website or through online marketing. This includes white papers, case studies; it could include data sheets or product brochures. Just about anything that is needed to sell to this market. You need to have it readily available to your prospect, or your competition could get in there first."

The Better Process Innovation Show hosted by Ken Rayment and sponsored by Eaton highlights issues faced by the manufacturing industry, focusing largely on small and midsize manufacturers. Guests are experts in their field, and offer sound advice and suggestions to listeners. To listen to the podcast visit http://www.podcasternews.com/programs/87/better-process-podcast/4521/
or www.hubymarketing.com and click on the podcast link.

Marketers and businesses looking for solutions to online marketing dilemmas or feedback on current efforts should visit www.hubymarketing.com, or call Lisa May Huby direct at (705) 812-2979 to arrange for a free, no-obligation consultation. Ms. Huby offers a complimentary e-newsletter with useful tips and information for B2B marketers. Sign up for free at www.hubymarketing.com and join the mailing list.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:00 AM | Comments (0)

Matrikon and Meridian Energy Scoop Prestigious 2007 Engineers Australia Excellence Awards

Matrikon™ Inc. (TSX:MTK) together with Meridian Energy have been honored with the 2007 Engineers Australia Excellence Awards (Newcastle Division) for its innovative Predictive Asset Management (PAM) system.

Edmonton, AB (PRWEB) September 28, 2007 -- Matrikon™ Inc. (TSX:MTK) together with Meridian Energy have been honored with the 2007 Engineers Australia Excellence Awards (Newcastle Division) for its innovative Predictive Asset Management (PAM) system.

The award winning submission was judged via a rigorous process and was met with high praise from the panel of fifteen senior engineers. Excellence Award judges commented, "This project showed a high degree of collaboration between Meridian Energy and Matrikon which resulted in a very successful project. This is predominantly a software integration project using some off-the-shelf products put together to solve this problem but easily adapted for a variety of other asset management situations."

"I'd like to thank Meridian Energy for their vision and commitment to this project…" says Sam Crisifulli, Managing Director of Matrikon's Asia-Pacific Operations. "…and in particular, Garth Dibley and Neil Gregory; without their unrelenting belief in this project, this would never have been a success."

Having won this divisional award, the PAM system entry will now be judged on a national level. "Finalists in the annual Australian Engineering Excellence Awards are members of an elite group of Australia's premier engineers who have set global benchmarks for best practice in their fields of endeavor and are leaders in the profession, showing world class expertise and innovation in developing and implementing engineering solutions. Engineers Australia congratulates all those that reach this level of achievement". (Engineers Australia website)

About Matrikon
Matrikon is a leading provider of industrial intelligence solutions that enable manufacturing plants to achieve operational excellence by transforming production data into knowledge to predict and prevent problems and optimize operations. Matrikon's customers achieve agile operations through the combination of external market and plant data to make informed, intelligent decisions in real-time. With offices in major cities throughout North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East and a global client base including industry leaders in a wide range of process industries, Matrikon's reach is global. www.matrikon.com

Matrikon is a trademark or registered trademark of Matrikon Inc.

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

A.R.T. Furniture Launches FurnishWEB Extranet

Internet Databases, a leading furniture industry web development company, is pleased to announce that A.R.T Furniture has launched the order management extranet FurnishWEB. FurnishWEB is a monthly subscription service that offers powerful sales automation and customer service capabilities in a simple, easy-to-use package.

Blacksburg, VA (PRWEB) September 28, 2007 -- Internet Databases, a leading furniture industry web development company, is pleased to announce that A.R.T Furniture has launched the order management extranet FurnishWEB. FurnishWEB is a monthly subscription service that offers powerful sales automation and customer service capabilities in a simple, easy-to-use package.

"We are pleased with our new association with the industry web service," said CEO Ed Grund of A.R.T. Furniture, "We see FurnishWEB as supporting our future."

The FurnishWEB system publishes product and order information, stock availability and other reports online in a secure environment which allows A.R.T. Furniture's sales force and customers to proactively answer their own inquiries on orders and inventory, thereby improving response time and accuracy. "FurnishWEB will assist our sales and customer service teams in accommodating our continued growth" said Mr. Grund. "Our sales representatives are very enthusiastic about the order entry and email collaboration aspects of the program. And we're already improving our communication during the sales and order process".

"We are very happy that A.R.T. Furniture chose to implement FurnishWEB", says Barry Welch, President of Internet Databases. "Their sales management and sales representatives have an infectious enthusiasm for improving communications. They have been great to work with".

About A.R.T. Furniture:
A.R.T., a four-year old company with twenty full collections of furniture, appeals to upper moderate to better furniture retailers. The company, headquartered in Ontario, California, has a new 40,000 square feet showroom in High Point and also a permanent showroom in World Market Center in Las Vegas.

About Internet Databases:
Internet Databases of Blacksburg, Virginia is a custom web development company that has been serving the furniture industry since 1999. The internet software provider develops custom solutions that enhance customer relationships through business-to-business transactions, sales force automation, online catalogs, and online order processing. FurnishWEB is an order management extranet targeted at domestic furniture manufacturers and importers. The subscription-based application has features that include online order entry and status; product information and inventory status; photo library and sales and management reporting.

For more information visit www.furnishweb.com.

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

HDP User Group International and ITRI Form Global Partnership

The High Density Packaging User Group International (HDP User Group) and the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) announce a partnership to address the technical challenges facing Global Electronics Manufacturing.

Scottsdale, Arizona (PRWEB) September 27, 2007 -- Two of the major organizations involved in Electronics Manufacturing R&D announced that they are joining forces to tackle the many technical and regulatory challenges facing the Electronics Industry today. The industry is global in nature, and these two organizations have recognized that the best way to resolve problems is by working together through a global approach. The HDP User Group based in Scottsdale, Arizona, with offices in Europe and Japan, will give ITRI access to it's technical programs and international membership; while ITRI, based in Taiwan, will provide an interface to electronics manufacturers and suppliers in Asia by way of HDP User Group's participation in ITRI's Advanced Microsystem & Packaging technology Alliance (AMPA). The relationship will be administered on ITRI's side through the Electronics and Optoelectronics Research Laboratory (EOL) a laboratory within ITRI.

"ITRI brings a wealth of technical knowledge and capability, as well as a strong working relationship with electronics firms in Asia" noted Marshall Andrews, Executive Director or the HDP User Group. "Their participation in our technical programs will help insure both success and faster utilization of the results. All of our Membership welcomes ITRI as our newest member."

"HDP User Group is an international industrial collaborative platform.", noted Dr. Yi-Jen Chan, VP of ITRI and General Director of EOL, "the alliance of AMPA and HDPUG will enable ITRI to participate in HDPUG's projects directly and joint development will be carried out by targeting future electronic technology development roadmaps and applications. ITRI is dedicated to technology innovation and environment issues, and I can foresee the cooperation will lead us to epochal achievements."

About the HDP User Group International Inc.
HDP User Group (www.hdpug.org) is a global research and development organization based in Scottsdale AZ, dedicated to "reducing the costs and risks for the Electronics industry when using advanced electronic packaging and assembly". This international industry led group organizes and conducts R&D programs to resolve the technical issues facing the industry, including design, printed circuit board manufacturing, electronics assembly, and environmental compliance. HDP maintains additional offices in Austin, TX; Stockholm, Sweden; and Tokyo, Japan.

About the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI)
The Industrial Technology Research Institute - ITRI - is a non-profit R&D organization engaging in applied research and technical service. It was founded in 1973 by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) to attend to the technological needs of Taiwan's industrial development. ITRI has played a vital role in the transformation of the economy from an agriculture-based model to an industrial one. By year 2007 it has grown to a 6000 people operation, and served as the technical center for industry and an unofficial arm of the government's industrial policies in Taiwan. Backed by its broad research scope and close industrial ties, ITRI is becoming an increasingly active member in the global industrial R&D community.

The Electronics and Optoelectronics Research Laboratories (EOL) is one of the core laboratories of ITRI. It undertakes research and development in core technologies that are considered essential to the sustaining growth of the overall electronics industry in Taiwan. Research topics include Flexible Electronics, Non-volatile memories & Nanoelectronics, Advanced Packaging, Optical Storage, Digital Imaging and Display, and Optoelectronic Devices and Components. The Advanced Microsystem & Packaging technology Alliance (AMPA), which consists of members from the semiconductor industry, provides a communication platform of industrial technology and market information to the members.

For more information on the HDP User Group, visit HDP User Group on the Internet at www.hdpug.org or contact Darryl Reiner at darrylr@hdpug.org, phone number +1 480-951-1963.

For more information on ITRI, visit www.itri.org.tw or contact Sebastian Liau at scliau @ itri.org.tw, phone number +886 3 591-2957.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:58 AM | Comments (0)

ACOM Solutions, Inc. Adds Ease-of-Use Enhancements in EZContentManager 3.3 Document Management Solution

In EZContentManager Version 3.3, ACOM continues to improve the user experience with streamlined processes and greater flexibility and provide administrators with extended management controls and system oversight capabilities.

Long Beach, California (PRWEB) September 27, 2007 -- A faster, easier document storage, access, retrieval and distribution experience awaits both rank-and-file users and system administrators as a result of enhancements included in ACOM Solutions, Inc.'s EZContentManager v.3.3, it was announced today by James R. Scott, senior vice president, ACOM Solutions, Inc.

EZContentManager, ACOM's web-based document management system, allows companies to centralize corporate files of any type in a single password-secured data repository, with browser-driven retrieval and distribution engines providing fast and convenient searching and handling under metadata or full-text search. EZContentManager 3.3 is now shipping and is available without charge to customers under maintenance contract.

Key enhancements include:

Multiple file upload from the File Management Screen
Session management tools
Extended file export capabilities
Extended file import capabilities
Multiple process manager capabilities
Extended file status management
Flags column in the File Management window
Additional validation for address book contacts.
Users can now streamline processes through the ability to access, edit and distribute multiple documents simultaneously, as well as create processes in one folder that can be reused in others. In collections processes, for example, when billing documents are brought to screen the operator can also summon associated correspondence in one operation versus bringing up each relevant document singly and sequentially.

Enhancements to the export and import utilities enable users to export reports to Excel, PDF or CSV files on demand and to use metadata to rename files during the import process. Process management enhancements include the ability to use multiple working folders/subfolders in the same process; document class independence, which allows total flexibility in the types of documents that can be assigned to folders; and the ability to indicate distributions to multiple internal and external contacts and distribution lists. A file status management tool enables users to define document status in addition to the defaults provided by the system (draft, approved, etc.).

Using the new session management tool administrators can determine such details as which users are logged into the system, length of time they are logged in and their level of usage. A user that forgot to log out for the day can be logged off, for example; if seen to be inactive for a period of time, a user can be messaged within the system to log out.

"EZContentManager came to market as a solution that was easier to implement, easier to use, easier to manage, and easier to afford," Scott said. "Our focus continues to be on providing the best possible user experience with a productivity tool that is ideally suited to the document management and retention needs of mid-size enterprises or departments and branches of large organizations."

About ACOM Solutions, Inc.

Now in its 24th year of business, ACOM Solutions, Inc. develops and implements advanced modular software systems for document output, document/content management, secure corporate payments, and B2B EDI/XML e-commerce applications, marketing them domestically and through overseas partners. Corporate headquarters are in Long Beach, California; System i Software Division headquarters are in Duluth, Georgia; and regional offices are located in several major U.S. cities. For more information call 800-699-5758, email sales(at)acom.com, or visit http://www.acom.com

CONTACT:
Mark Firmin
Vice President
562-424-7899

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

Backpackshield.com Offers Bullet Resistant Student Backpacks For Students and Computer Users Bullet Resistant Shields Protect Students, Workers and Mothers Discretely

NEW YORK & AUSTIN, Texas (Business Wire EON) September 27, 2007 -- BACKPACKSHIELD Manufacturing today announced a series of Level IIIA bullet resistant portable shields for student backpacks, computer bags, brief cases and other portable cases and bags. Impermeable to most handgun bullets, the shields are portable and can be moved between backpacks and bags, securing the investment and offering years of use.

The patented bullet resistant Dupont Kevlar™ BackPackShield™ is a light weight armor panel insert manufactured with the most advanced and lightest aerospace ballistic composite material available. Manufactured with more than ten layers of bullet resistant Dupont Kevlar™ fabric, which has ten times the tensile strength of steel, the layers are bound and epoxy impregnated into a sheet less than ½” thick and weighing less than a typical textbook. Retailing for $249, for a standard size which fits most student backpacks, the shields are available in more than 10 colors to allow discretion, or personalization. The BackPackShields come with an installation kit with removable Velcro™ which allows easy removal, washing, and portability.
“Unlike weaker level II ballistic curtains that are permanently sewn into bags, BackPackShields are manufactured to a much higher National Institute of Justice (N.I.J.) Level IIIA specification,” said Kerry Clark, President of BackPackShield and defense contractor and supplier AMPTEC RESEARCH Corp. “Level IIIA protection specifications can stop even the hardened full metal jacketed high velocity handgun bullets including 9 mm and 44 Magnum that pass right through a level II bullet-proof liner.“

A full line of shields are available which support common laptop computer carrying cases from most manufacturers, including Dell, HP, Sony and Toshiba. Custom sizes and shapes can also be ordered. Additional information, prices and specifications are available on the company’s web site at Backpackshield.com.

About BackPackShield Manufacturing

BackPackShield manufacturing, located in Austin, TX, was founded by Kerry Clark. Clark is also the President of defense and aerospace supplier AMPTEC RESEARCH CORP. Clark has more than 27 years of experience in developing and designing explosive safety products for safely testing high explosive ordnance such as missile warheads for the USAF, US NAVY, Lockheed Martin and Boeing Company. Inspired while working with the USAF Special Operations, who were lining their MH-53J PAVLOW Attack Helicopters with bullet resistant Kevlar™, Clark realized that a light thin semi-rigid backpack shield that stops virtually every handgun round could be discretely added to student and collegiate backpacks, providing both protection and peace of mind for students and families. Additional information is available at backpackshield.com and AMPTEC.com.

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

Lean Enterprise Training Releases All New DVD Training Material

2002 Shingo Prize Recipient (named after famed Japanese Engineer Shigeo Shingo) Gary Conner and his company (Lean Enterprise Training) have just released an all new four (4) hour training system on DVD.

(PRWEB) September 27, 2007 -- Award winning author, consultant, trainer and kaizen facilitator Gary Conner has trained thousands of people in the disciplines of Lean Manufacturing and the Toyota Production System.

As we continue to watch Toyota take market share, surpasing all of the "Big Three" in sales this year, companies large and small are quickly trying to educate themselves about the techniques perfected by Toyota.

First tier suppliers have faced challenges in moving their supply chain along the "Lean" path. Customers often get "push-back" from their suppliers because the traditional "Just-in-Time" template has not met with the same success as in their customers' make-to-stock environment.

Lean Enterprise Training has focused on working with small to medium sized companies. In the past, these "Make-to-Order" businesses have often struggled when trying to apply the same world class techniques adopted by companies like Toyota. By zeroing in on the differences in business realities between large and small companies a hybrid approach has emerged.

It is no secret that there is no "one-size-fits-all" template.

Tools like; Takt time (a means to determine manufacturing pace), One piece flow, and pull systems have for many companies seemed impossible to adopt in a "high-mix, low volume" environment. Therefore many companies give up their efforts to embrace Lean, thinking that this must work only in OEM (original equipment manufacturers) environments.

Through his work with over one hundred and fifty "Job Shop" companies, Mr. Conner and the teams he has worked with have discovered a hybrid approach to the application of the "Just-in-Time" methodology perfected at the Toyota Motor Works

Participants who have attended Lean Enterprise Training's one-day and five-day Lean Leader workshops have gained the knowledge necessary to move their companies forward toward their world class vision.

Recogizing that not everyone can break away for a week at a time, Lean Enterprise Training has developed a four (4) hour DVD. This video workshop will surely help many more people gain exposure to the hybrid approach necessary to modify their current manufacturing practices, bringing them more inline with world class competitors.

The DVD training system comes complete with a copy of the 370 page participant guide used throughout the 40-hour Lean Leader Certificate program.

We are proud to make this announcement and look to seeing this important material provided to our manufacturing neighbors.

Downloadable samples are available by visiting www.leanenterprise.bigstep.com and requesting a link to a download site.

Satisfaction is guaranteed, and the $249 pricing for the four hour DVD and book have been set low in order to make the material affordable for even the smallest companies.

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

Newest EPCglobal Networking Standard to Be Demonstrated Live at EPC Connection 2007

EPCgobal and leading technology providers will run EPC Information Service applications in the exhibit hall at EPC Connection 2007--the fourth annual EPCglobal North America conference and exhibition--to be held October 2-4 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago.

(PRWEB) September 27, 2007 -- RFID Journal, the world's leading media and events company covering radio frequency identification (RFID), and EPCglobal North America, a not-for-profit, vendor-neutral, user-driven organization supporting the adoption of Electronic Product Code (EPC) technology, have announced that EPCgobal and leading technology providers will demonstrate real-world EPC Information Service (EPCIS) applications in the exhibit hall at EPC Connection 2007--the fourth annual EPCglobal North America conference and exhibition--which will be held October 2-4 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago.

EPCIS is an EPCglobal standard for sharing supply chain visibility information between trading partners. It provides a standard method for businesses to capture the "what, where, when and why" of events occurring in any supply chain, and to share this information with internal business applications and external partners. Any business process concerned with the movement of goods or assets can benefit from the increased visibility EPCIS provides.

"Last year, EPCglobal demonstrated interoperability using the network standards," says Ken Traub, a consultant for EPCglobal who set up the demonstrations. "This year, we will be showing actual real-world applications leveraging the standards, enabling companies to see how these standards can be used to improve the way they do business."

During EPC Connection 2007, three live demonstrations of EPCIS in action will be shown on the exhibit floor. These demos will illustrate real-world applications of the standard, including asset tracking, electronic proof of delivery and custody tracing for electronic pedigrees.

Rush Tracking Systems, a leading systems integrator, is assisting EPCglobal in setting up the demonstrations, which will include separate EPCIS applications communicating with each other in real time. Exhibitors participating in the demonstration will include Reva Systems, RSI ID Technologies and Impinj.

"This is an opportunity for those eager to use EPC standards, and even those who might be skeptical of the value of this technology, to come see the standards in action," said Mark Roberti, editor of RFID Journal. "These applications are real, and they can drive business value in a wide variety of industries today."

Companies interested in learning more about or attending EPC Connection can visit www.rfidjournalevents.com/EPCconnection.

About RFID Journal
RFID Journal is the leading source of news and in-depth information about radio frequency identification and its many business applications. Business executives and implementers depend on RFID Journal for up-to-the-minute RFID news, in-depth case studies, best practices, strategic insights and information about vendor solutions. This has made RFID Journal the most relied-upon and respected RFID information resource, serving the largest audience of RFID decision-makers worldwide--in print, online and at face-to-face events. For more information, visit www.rfidjournal.com.

About EPCglobal North America
EPCglobal North America serves subscribers in the United States and Canada fostering the adoption of EPC technology. For more information, visit www.EPCglobalNA.org.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:55 AM | Comments (0)

Order Shipping Goes Green at Frontier Natural Products Co-op

Offsetting Outgoing Freight Emissions Benefits Environment

Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) September 27, 2007 - Recognizing that it takes energy to ship products as well as make to them, Frontier Natural Products Co-op's distribution center, Frontier Direct, is offsetting carbon generated from shipping in the same manner as it does that from its operational electrical use. By implementing a program to calculate the emissions of its order shipping and purchase offsetting renewable energy credits through Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), Frontier has become one of the first distribution centers to become 100% carbon neutral.

"We have partnered with BEF to offset the carbon emissions resulting from our operations for some time now," says Kimberly Dickey, Frontier's Environmental Sustainability Manager. "We worked with FEDEX, our primary shipper, to determine the energy used to ship our orders and purchased the additional credits necessary to offset the carbon emissions. This year we will offset 343.5 metric tons generated from shipping over 170,000 packages."

Dickey points out that Frontier Direct also uses 100% post consumer waste recycled fiber boxes, soy ink printing, recycled and recyclable packaging that is sourced locally for its shipping operations, meaning order distribution is essentially zero environmental impact.

As a result of Frontier's commitment to renewable energy, the company has qualified to join the EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) Green Power Partnership Program (http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/).

"Green power offers us an opportunity to support naturally renewable energy alternatives that reduce the use of non-renewable and toxic fossil or nuclear fuels," says Dickey. "The need to reduce global carbon output is undeniable. It's in all our interests to find innovative ways to help in that process."

About Frontier Natural Products Co-op™:
Founded in 1976 and based in Norway, Iowa, Frontier Natural Products Co-op(TM) offers a full line of natural and organic products under the Frontier, Simply Organic®, Aura Cacia® and Aura Cacia Organics® brands. Products include culinary herbs, spices and baking flavors; bulk herbs and spices; and natural and organic aromatherapy products. Frontier's goal is to provide consumers with the highest-quality organic and natural products while supporting and promoting social and environmental responsibility. For more information, visit Frontier's website at www.frontiercoop.com.

About Bonneville Environmental Foundation:
The Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was established in 1998 to restore watershed ecosystems and further the development and use of new renewable energy resources. A pioneer in the renewable energy credit industry, BEF developed its program, called Green Tags, in response to the demand for green power when it's not offered through local utilities, or where it's cost prohibitive. Through revenues generated from the sales of green power products such as Green Tags, BEF funds projects that restore damaged watersheds and support new renewable energy products from solar, wind and biomass. BEF pioneered the sale of Green Tags in 2000 and has helped establish national standards for certification and trading. Go to www.b-e-f.org or www.GreenTagsUSA.org to learn more about BEF.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:55 AM | Comments (0)

Advanced Security Concepts Consolidates Security Ventures and Incorporates Under New Name

Advanced Security Concepts has announced that it is incorporating under the name of "AdvanSec Corporation." This move places the company's three security related ventures under one banner.

League City, TX (PRWEB) September 27, 2007 -- Advanced Security Concepts announced today that it is incorporating under the next name of "Advansec Corporation," according to Kim Bowers, the company's president. "This decision places the company's three security related ventures, Advansec.com, Mediaprotection.com, and TheFileSaver.com under one banner while maintaining the leadership position of each in its respective field of service," according to Bowers.

The company started operations in East Texas in 1984 as a sales and security services organization. When the decision was made in 1997 to make Internet marketing a major emphasis, the company moved into nation-wide security consulting, wholesale and retail marketing of Chubb and Fire King media/data safes, Meilink, Gary and Gibralter security safes and Fire King fireproof filing cabinets, storage cabinets and record safes. Stand-alone digital electronic access controls for commercial and industrial applications were also featured offerings.

AdvanSec Corporation serves national, state and local governments with these products and is a CCR (Central Contractor Registry) contractor. Also among the company's prominent customers are universities, research laboratories, banks, savings and loans, energy companies, law firms, manufacturers, technology manufacturers and integrators, small businesses and individuals. AdvanSec also ships internationally, most notably to Canada, Mexico, China and occasionally to Europe.

Advansec can be found through the company's websites at www.Advansec.com , www.Mediaprotection.com , and www.TheFileSaver.com Its home offices are in League City near the Johnson Space Center, Houston.

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

Telogis Inc. Intelligent GPS Location Technologies Ranks No. 70 in the Inc. 5000 Top Companies in Software

Irvine, CA (PRWEB) September 26, 2007 -- Telogis, Inc., of Irvine, California, has been recognized as one of America’s fastest growing companies in the first-ever Inc. 5000 list, published by Inc., the parent of Inc. Magazine. Telogis, a leader in the GPS fleet tracking market, provides web-based real time vehicle tracking solutions as well as geospatial software for use in a variety of location based service applications. The company’s hardware and software products allow customers to improve productivity by enabling the efficient management of their remote and mobile workers, assets and their goods and services. At 918 on the Inc. 5000 list, Telogis has a three-year growth rate of 318%, is ranked No. 70 in the fastest growing companies in the Software industry segment and No. 49 of the fastest growing companies in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, California, region.

“Telogis has become a platform on which many companies have built market leading fleet tracking and mapping applications,” explains Telogis CEO David Cozzens. “Our profitable, rapid growth has been the result of a committed team of people creating reliable hardware and software solutions for the fast growing location-based asset management market. We will continue to focus on software innovation and web-based productivity solutions on a global scale.”

“The Inc. 5,000 provides the most comprehensive look ever at the most important part of the economy – the entrepreneurial part,” said Inc. 5,000 Project Manager Jim Melloan. “The expansion of the list has allowed us to tell the stories of larger companies, older companies, and a wealth of companies in industries like Manufacturing and Construction that are underreported in the business media.

About Inc.com:
Inc.com, the Daily Resource for Entrepreneurs, delivers advice, tools, breaking news, and rich multi-media to help business owners and CEOs start, run, and grow their businesses more successfully. Information and advice covering virtually every business and management task, including marketing, sales, finding capital, managing people can be found at www.inc.com.

About Telogis Inc.
Telogis is a Location Technology company delivering services and software through two product lines- OnTrack and GeoBase. OnTrack is a GPS Fleet Tracking Productivity and Fleet Management System. GeoBase is a scalable, feature rich, easy-to-use mapping engine that delivers geospatial functionality in a software application. Telogis was established in 2001, and has offices in California, Texas, Washington and New Zealand. Telogis software services and products are used and distributed worldwide. To learn more about Telogis and to download a free copy of the Aberdeen report- “Service on the Move: Driving Profitability via Fleet Management”, visit our website at www.telogis.com or call direct at (949) 646-6637.

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

September 26, 2007

Harbor Research Study Shows Widespread Growth in Adoption of M2M Technologies

A new study by Harbor Research shows that product manufacturers are moving quickly to network-enable their products. These new device communication capabilities are broadly viewed as essential for future growth.

San Francisco and London (PRWEB) September 26, 2007 -- M2M (machine to machine) networking for remote device management is now already well advanced across all major industry sectors, according to a new survey of early adopters just published by Harbor Research Inc., the world's leading provider of strategic consulting and research services for the fast-developing M2M/Pervasive Internet sector.

During July and August 2007, Harbor Research conducted an international, sponsored survey of early adopters of device networking, aimed mainly at product manufacturers. The purpose of the study was to determine how important to their future business they consider network-enabled products. Thanks to the support of its sponsors, the report is available for free download at Harbor Research's website: http://www.harborresearch.com

Some 68% of respondent companies noted Product Manufacturing as their primary activity, substantially business-to-business (B2B). In addition, smaller companies with less than $50m sales made up 34% of respondents, with a further 45% having sales exceeding $1billion.

A very high 77% of respondents viewed the intelligence embedded in their products to be either "Very Important" or "Imperative" for their company in the future. Over 50% of respondents were already supporting and monitoring networked products in the field. In addition, while roughly 37% of the companies today have less than 10% of their product lines network-capable, in three years' time this is expected to fall to less than 12%. At the other end, while just over 36% of respondents today have more than half of their product portfolio enabled, within three years nearly 60% of these companies expect to embed networking capabilities into half or more of their products.

"Given the typical 3 year design cycle, this represents a fast build-up of networked products for these companies and is a very significant finding" said Robin Duke-Woolley, a Principal of Harbor Research who directed the survey program. "It indicates that these companies have recognized the need for speed in being early to market with their network-connected offerings".

The report determines that early adopters of device networking have recognized the strategic implications for their businesses that M2M device networking and remote management represent. They have typically already embarked on significant design programs to embed networking capability into their products and they see both new revenue opportunities from services and strong competitive advantage in being early to market with these game-changing offerings.

The study goes on to conclude that those companies who have not yet investigated and planned for the potential of device networking and remote management on their businesses are missing an opportunity to expand their revenue base and profitability. At the same time, they are clearly risking placing their companies at a significant competitive disadvantage in their own markets in the future.

The survey and report have been researched and published entirely by Harbor Research, an independent analyst and consulting firm that specializes in the Pervasive Internet and serves both the adopter community and technology suppliers. Because this work has been sponsored by a group of technology suppliers to cover the production costs, this report is available free of charge. It should be noted that sponsors have had no influence in any way on either the questions asked in the survey or the content of this report. The content, including all conclusions and highlights, are entirely the work of Harbor Research and are presented as an independent and up to date assessment of the current market situation.

As a result of this sponsorship, this report is now available for free download from Harbor Research's website. To download it at no charge, go to: http://harborresearch.com/harbor/index.php?option=com_papers

Sponsors for this research were drawn from across the M2M solution landscape and are non-competing. They were: Air Products/Skychain (supply chain solutions), Kore Telematics (US-based network provider), Lantronix (LAN, WLAN modules), Maingate (Sweden-based network provider), M2M Alliance (trade association, Germany), O2 (UK-based mobile operator), Orbcomm (satellite operator), Questra (device management software), Sierra Wireless (cellular modems), Tridium (solutions platform), Vianet (UK-based network provider) and Wavecom (GSM/CDMA cellular modules).

More details at www.harborresearch.com

About Harbor Research, Inc:
Harbor Research, Inc. has been providing strategic consulting and research services to clients for more than twenty years. With a reputation as specialists in understanding emergent and disruptive opportunities in high technology, Harbor Research works with clients who seek to establish strategic advantage in changing markets. Harbor Research's ground-breaking Pervasive Internet research is widely regarded as the definitive work on the business impact of integrating networked devices into business processes.

The company also has offices in San Francisco, Boston and London, UK.

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

Borden Elliott & Pierce See Increase in Mortgage Professionals Seeking Career Alternatives

According to the well respected career industry organization, Borden Elliott & Pierce complaints from mortgage industry professionals are really expressions of fear for their future in the industry.

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) September 26, 2007 -- According to the well respected career industry organization, Borden Elliott & Pierce complaints from mortgage industry professionals are really expressions of fear for their future in the industry.

The Florida based career management firm has seen a dramatic increase in the number of people looking for work from the mortgage industry. According to a company spokesperson, "It's not just sub prime lenders. It's also some prime lenders and a host of people from the residential construction industry." In one office alone they have seen an increase from seeing one mortgage industry professional per month a year ago to seeing as many as six per week in recent months.

Borden Elliott & Pierce say that complaints from mortgage industry professionals involve the massive downsizing of offices and the closing of offices on a wide scale: "In the past anyone in the industry could simply make a move to another company within the mortgage industry. Now those other companies don't exist or they are not hiring."

For the first time in four years there has been a net loss in jobs in the mortgage industry nationwide. The company says that the people they are seeking their help are devastated over their loss and are now looking to change industries. For many it may be the only choice.

According to some reports the nation's largest mortgage lender is laying off 12,000 employees. "With so many layoffs and closings, we feel that the best option for most of these professionals is to look to other career options in other industries."

Borden Elliott & Pierce specialize in helping people who are in career transition: "We are accustomed to helping people navigate through unfamiliar situations. People who have been in one industry for many years have a difficult time envisioning themselves in other industries. If they can't picture themselves elsewhere, they'll never convince anyone else either. They need help for this sort of transition."

The company has offices in Tampa and Orlando Florida, with affiliated offices throughout the U.S. For more information about them visit their website at www.bepcflorida.com.

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

Better and Strong Grating Makes a Significant Step to the Middle East

As a leading grating manufacturer in Taiwan, Better and Strong has successfully developed its business in Middle East market this year. It shows Better & Strong's efforts and credibility is widely recognized in overseas markets.

(PRWEB) September 26, 2007 -- With its essential business concept of "great quality, prompt delivery, professional design and competitive price," Better and Strong has built a good reputation as a leading manufacturer in grating of Taiwan. It has worked with construction companies, transportation companies and factories such as Taiwan Rapid Transit Corporation and Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation, which are important transportation systems in Taiwan. In order to serve more overseas customers, Better and Strong is focused on making a great start in the Middle East market this year.

For effective production, Better and Strong owns two ISO9001 certificated factories with a floor totaling over ten thousand square meters of space, one for material support and the other focused on products processing. Its processing factory is well-equipped with an electro-forge machine, it carries out steel welding to produce a variety of grating specifications in accordance with the standard of Metal Bar Grating division of the National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers (NAAMM).

Better and Strong asserts that the company does not compromise when it comes to quality, therefore, it takes advantage of its own material factory and also ensures half-finished steel is quality guaranteed by reliable suppliers such as China Steel Company, the largest steel manufacturer in Taiwan.

To service customers better, Better and Strong not only provides stainless grating, but also galvanized grating at competitive price to cater to more customers' needs. All products have been arranged to pass ASTM, BS and AS tests. Their galvanized products have ventilated, explosion-proof, anti-corrosive and anti-slippery characters with no blister, crack, pinhole and scrape appearing on surface. In addition, the determination of zinc content and thickness of grating also reaches international standards.

Better and Strong grating is ideal for catwalks, conveyor and access walkways, handrails, fences and platforms, as well as stair treads on process plants. Better and Strong gratings are lightweight, self-cleaning, easy-to-install, have a strong loading-bearing capacity, show no deformation and allow the passage of air and light. Grating types of bearing bars include flat type, serrated type, I bar and press-locked steel bar grating. Their spacing could also be custom designed and manufactured depending on customers' requirements.

In order to reduce the risk of accidents, especially in wet weather or in plants with high condensation, Better and Strong also provides non-slip strips and nosing designs for different needs.

Compared to other grating suppliers doing semi-finished products and final processing, Better and Strong is able to do steel coil cutting using a CNC machine, which brings more competitive prices to customers. It also achieves higher customer satisfaction for a variety of grating specifications, such as the flat steel with 40 x 3 mm.

Better and Strong specially provides a big chunk of black steel sheet grating without surface treatments for customers doing the cutting and processing on their own.

Another high-value product of Better and Strong is their trench and drainage pit cover. It has been widely used in public construction, mass transportation, streets and playgrounds with frame supports (BT2) and non-frame (BT1) models.

Always looking out for customers' best interests, Better and Strong proposes the most appropriate flooring solution for customers' application requirements. Moreover, fastening components such as setting screws and setting plates can be fully supplied at a good price to reduce installation cost. They also offer chain lockers for drainage cover to protect from stealing.

Better and Strong Prompt Delivery
According to its commitment of prompt delivery, Better and Strong guarantees good delivery within two weeks from material purchase, to grating galvanizing, and final goods delivery, even on special customer's orders.

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

Revolutionary Composite Sheet Piling Used for Dike Repair Project in Holland

C-Loc vinyl sheet pile, manufactured by Atlanta based Crane Materials International (CMI), was recently used for a large- scale dike repair project.

Atlanta, GA (Vocus/PRWEB ) September 26, 2007 -- C-Loc vinyl sheet pile, manufactured by Atlanta based Crane Materials International (CMI), was recently used for a large-scale dike repair project. The levee runs along N468 between the towns of Maasland and Schipluiden which is near Rotterdam, Netherlands.

The project was designed by Fugro Engineers B.V. of Breda, Netherlands. Fugro chose C-Loc for its longevity and economical price. The old dike was faced with tropical wood which had become badly deteriorated in less than 20 years. With the wooden seawall failing, the dike was eroding badly which threatened the roadway running along the top. “C-Loc vinyl sheet pile will last significantly longer than conventional materials such as wood, steel or concrete”.

Verboon Maasland of Maasland, Netherlands was the construction company awarded the project. The company specializes in earthworks, small-scale dredging, vertical drainage and sewer systems to name a few. Phase one of the project consisted of installing 1,300 linear meters (4,200 feet) of C-Loc vinyl sheet piling in lengths ranging from 4.5 meters (15 feet) to 8.5 meters (28feet). Installation of the vinyl sheet piling was accomplished using a vibratory plate compactor.

The C-Loc vinyl sheet pile was supplied by Gampet Plastics B.V. of Ulft, Netherlands. Gampet distributes a wide variety of plastic roadway and waterway construction products. “CMI sheet piling was chosen for this project because no other company in the world manufactures as many composite piling products nor does anyone make products this strong”.

Provincie Zuid, Holland is very pleased with the outcome of the project. More phases of dike repair are planned using CMI vinyl sheet piling.

CMI sheet piling products are used extensively in civil applications because of their inherent durability, corrosion and chemical resistance and ease of installation. Additionally, CMI’s sheet piling products are extremely cost effective due to numerous patented design innovations. With sheet piling available in vinyl, aluminum, and FRP composite, CMI also offers a complete line of waterfront solutions including seawalls, docks, piers, and gangways.

Stacy Acton
CMI Waterfront Solutions
800-256-8857 Ext 1132
770-262-0375 Cell
Sacton @ cmilc.com
www.cmisheetpiling.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:52 AM | Comments (0)

BatteryPrice.com Releases Complete Line of Lithium Ion Battery Packs and Solutions

Failure of battery operated equipment in the field can be avoided by choosing a reliable source for batteries. By releasing a new product line that offers replacement batteries and rebuild options for surveying equipment, BatteryPrice.com is saving surveyors valuable time, money, and resources. This extensive line includes replacements for Topcon survey battery and complete battery packs from manufacturers like Trimble, Nikon, and Sokkia.

(PRWEB) September 26, 2007 -- Surveyors are continuously investing money to keep their equipment running accurately and efficiently. Surveyors may find their batteries not lasting a full day, which can result in incomplete data. This typically leads to replacing batteries on a regular basis, which increases equipment costs. By choosing a reliable source for batteries, the failure of battery operated equipment in the field can be avoided. To help surveyors save time and money, BatteryPrice.com is now offering a new product line of dependable, high quality replacement batteries and lithium ion battery packs for surveying equipment.

BatteryPrice.com, an online battery superstore, is now also offering battery rebuild services for surveying equipment. By offering these new products and rebuild services, BatteryPrice.com is reinforcing their reputation for presenting competitive prices, superior quality products, and excellent customer service. With all of the surveying batteries being compatible with original equipment, surveyors are able to purchase easily and within their budget.

Brian Kmito, President of BatteryPrice.com, explains, "We offer high quality lithium ion battery packs and replacement cells at very reasonable prices. By releasing this new product line, we are now also offering battery rebuild services. Surveyors and engineers can choose to invest in a replacement for their Trimble, Nikon, or Topcon survey battery that will last for years and save them valuable time and money."

Customers are able to purchase much more than just new surveying equipment batteries; BatteryPrice.com offers consumers a complete line of replacement batteries for all types of personal electronics. BatteryPrice.com also provides extensive knowledge and expertise in properly rebuilding batteries for total stations, data collectors, lasers, and handheld computers. With rebuild services for surveying equipment from top manufacturers like Topcon, Nikon, Sokkia, and Trimble, customers can choose to have BatteryPrice.com rebuild or can be directed to a quality dealer.

In addition, BatteryPrice.com distributes batteries from many of the top industry manufacturers including Energizer, Sanyo, PowerSonic, and Enersys. BatteryPrice.com constructs many battery assemblies in their U.S. based warehouse.

"Our user friendly website saves our customers time, gas, and money when purchasing the items we all use the most, batteries," describes Kmito. "With our easy-to-use cross referencing feature, consumers are able to quickly find the correct battery for their application."

To learn more about surveying equipment batteries like the Sokkia or Topcon survey battery, please visit BatteryPrice.com.

About BatteryPrice.com

With over 25 years of experience providing reliable batteries for portable equipment, BatteryPrice.com and Advanced Battery Systems offers a comprehensive line of complete battery solutions for consumers. As an online battery superstore, BatteryPrice.com carries batteries for most applications including digital cameras, camcorders, motorcycles, alarm systems, UPS, cordless phones, cell phones, PDA, power tools, and now surveying equipment.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:52 AM | Comments (0)

ABC Office Announces The Addition Of The Shredder Shark From Banner American

ABC Office, a leading distributor of paper shredders on the Internet, has just added a new line of paper shredder to its current lineup. The new line is called "Shredder Shark" and is made by Banner American.

Kaysville, UT (PRWEB) September 26, 2007 -- This month ABC Office added a new line of paper shredders to its Web site. This new shredder line is a series of paper and document shredders from the popular manufacturer Banner American. These new paper shredders are small, compact and designed to be used next to or under a desk. These new shredders can be used at home or in the office. You can see this new line of paper shredders here: http://www.abcoffice.com/banneram.htm#bashredders A total of four new shredders are being added.

Much of the identity theft today is caused by non-shredded printed material. It is a good habit to keep a paper shredder near any location where mail, paperwork and sensitive material is handled and discarded. This could be by a desk, in the kitchen or at the office. Many people think that tearing mail or sensitive material in half is sufficient. What they don't realize is that this material can be easily put back together.

Because the Shredder Shark series of paper shredders are very compact, they can be easily placed around the office or in the home. The Shredder Shark paper shredders are specifically designed to shred personal information of all kinds. All four shredders utilize the more secure cross-cut method of paper shredding.

Once the correct model of shredder has be chosen, purchasing representatives and businesses can order via a secure shopping card over the Internet. This eliminates the need to shop at traditional brick-and-mortar businesses. Once an order is submitted, the shredder is shipped and is usually delivered to the business within five to seven business days. You can see ABC Office's entire line of paper shredders, including Fellowes, by going here: http://www.abcoffice.com/shred1.htm

ABC Office is excited about the new addition of the Shredder Shark For further information bout this line of shredders, please contact Morgan Cloward, Marketing Director of ABC Office, 1-800-658-8788.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:51 AM | Comments (0)

Gerald Seidell Named Director, Supply Chain Strategy at USC Consulting Group

Former president of APCX Solutions tackles new challenge.

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) September 26, 2007 -- Gerald A. Seidell has been named director, supply chain strategy at USC Consulting Group, LLC (USCCG). He will be responsible for developing and delivering a variety of supply chain solutions to the operations management consulting firm's clients.

Mr. Seidell, 51, was most recently president of APCX Solutions, a supply chain and logistics consulting firm for the consumer products industry.

Earlier he was vice president for production planning, inventory control, and distribution at Del Monte Foods in Pittsburgh, where he also served as director of operations planning for the company's pet products. For 23 years he was with H.J. Heinz Company, also in Pittsburgh, where he held general manager posts in Heinz Frozen and Weight Watchers brands materials management, as well as in inventory control and logistics for Heinz North America.

According to USCCG President George Coffey, Mr. Seidell's "extraordinary depth of experience in supply chain management and logistics, along with his solid grounding in consumer products industries, extends our already proven expertise in these areas to benefit our clients even further."

Mr. Seidell holds Executive Supply Chain Leadership certification from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, MI, and his Masters degree in public administration from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.

About USC Consulting Group (USCCG)
USCCG is an independent operations management consulting firm with nearly 40 years' experience in the area of business performance improvement. It combines extensive subject matter expertise, gained in the course of successfully completing over 1,300 engagements, with enabling technology to drive and sustain superior results. The firm offers an array of services that include Six Sigma, Lean transformation, supply chain optimization, process improvement, project management, value stream mapping, training and facilitation, blended learning solutions, modeling and simulation, and world class maintenance management and reliability services. USCCG is a Microsoft Managed partner headquartered in Tampa, FL. It also has offices in Chicago, Montreal, and Toronto. For more information, visit www.usccg.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:51 AM | Comments (0)

Techsol Product Announcement: TPC-35 Medallion Touch Panel Computer

Techsol is now offering an extremely cost-effective computer with a Color, TFT LCD and Touch panel targeting Human-Machine Interface (HMI) applications.

Delta, BC (PRWEB) September 26, 2007 -- After pestering from our customers for years, Techsol is now offering an extremely cost-effective computer with a Color, TFT LCD and Touch panel targeting Human-Machine Interface (HMI) applications. This standard, off-the-shelf, ARM-powered, Industrial-Grade, Single-Board Computer (SBC) features:

QVGA (320x240) 3.5", Color, TFT LCD Panel in Landscape format, with 256,000 colors, adjustable LED Backlight, and Touch panel
To meet changing power requirements, the ARM-920T processor can run at speeds ranging from 12 MHz to 200 or 266 MHz. This processor features 32 kB of cache, 64 MB of Mobile SDRAM for reduced power consumption, and 128 MB (or more) of NAND FLASH, plus a separate NOR FLASH for reliable boot-loader and SW update options
Low-power, passive cooling enables fanless operation
High-quality, 16-bit Audio In & Out (for MP3s, Announcements, etc.)
Low-power, Real-Time Clock (RTC) with Battery Backup included
Memory Card Connector for SD and MMC cards
Full-speed, USB Host port (USB Type A connector)
USB Device (Gadget) port (USB Type B connector)
44-pin header for expansion, including SPI, I²C, UART, IrDA, GPIOs, 8-bit expansion bus, etc.
10/100-BaseT Ethernet interface with RJ45 connector featuring integrated LED status indicators
RS232 serial interface on DE9 connector
16-pin header for your custom power-supply (optional), or just drive it all off a single 5V supply
To reduce power consumption, software can turn the backlight intensity ON/OFF and control the brightness
Ships with the proven Medallion Linux 2.6 plus drivers pre-installed

Dimensions: 4" x 4.25" x 1.25"

GUI options include:

Linux Framebuffer (FB), operating in 16-bit, 65,536-color mode
Nano-X on FB, for a simple, "Windows-like" API
QtEmbedded on FB for a contemporary, appealing visual design and enhanced functionality
X11 (KDrive) on FB for standard Linux/Unix graphics
FLTK on X, for a full-featured, extensible, yet free GUI
GTK+ on X, for full PC compatibility
We've even ported over obscure GUIs, such as EZWGL, for critical control environments where C++ is not allowed (such as food processing lines)

"This computer provides more features at a lower cost than anything else on the market." said Brian Empey, P.Eng., CEO of Techsol. "By putting everything onto a single board, we provide the robustness demanded of our Industrial customers, but at a price-point that even our fiscally-prudent, medical-device customers love!" In fact, this product has been in trials with a number of medical device companies who plan to use it as the HMI for their products. In addition, the design is so flexible that it can be used as a platform for handheld computers too.

Not surprisingly, Techsol has developed many products that use LCDs for its clients. These products range from FDA-approved medical devices to high-volume consumer gadgets. However, Techsol has not had a standard product with a TFT display and touch panel at a cost-effective price point targeting HMI applications until now.
Order Quantity Unit Price (standard 200 MHz speed) Discount
10 $299 base price
100 $269 10%
1,000 $254 15%
10,000 $239 20%

The TPC-35 is available from stock and every unit is tested running Linux before it ships! Single units are available as development kits with full SW development tools and support. Call for pricing.

Embedded Engineering is the same all over the world. Engineers face the same challenges of having too much to do, and not enough time or money to do it with. Techsol's Medallion CPU modules address this issue and provide a solution that extends into the production stages of a product, not just the proof-of-concept stage like most SBCs. We want our technology to be as accessible to engineers in New Zealand as it is in California. It's a challenge, but we are doing what we can.

Techsol's Medallion system is unique in the embedded computer world. Over time, the Medallion Single-board computer product line will encompass many CPUs. However, the pin-out and form-factor will remain the same. There will be one Medallion module that is best matched to your application.

By designing with the Medallion system, you are effectively out-sourcing your CPU design and Linux porting with no up-front NRE fees! That lets your team concentrate on the hardware and software portions of your product that your customers see. The result is that you can create a higher-quality product in a fraction of the time (and cost) of designing everything yourself from scratch! Plus, the interchangeable modules extend product life-cycle times.

Techsol is headquartered in Delta, British Columbia, Canada, where the mighty Fraser River meets the Pacific Ocean.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:50 AM | Comments (0)

Bidding Opens in EARBid™ Online Auction of Semiconductor Manufacturing, Inspection, and Test Equipment

EARBid announced that bidding is open in its online auction of semiconductor manufacturing, inspection, test, and related equipment.

Palatine, IL (PRWEB) September 25, 2007 -– EARBid (www.earbid.com) announced that bidding is open in its online auction of semiconductor manufacturing, inspection, test, and related equipment.

This auction offers over 200 lots of premium wafer processing, coating, sputtering, and CVD; wet processing; slicing, OD, and ID saws; wafer probes and bonders; and inspection and test equipment. Featured assets include an Applied Materials Mark II PLIS CVD ILD System, a Perkin Elmer 300HT Micralign Mask Aligner, a MRL 4-Stack Diffusion Furnace, a Samco PD10M Diamond Light Carbon Coater, a Steag CVD System, PR Hoffman 4800 Lappers/Polishers, a Peter Wolters ALO Double Side Polisher, a TM Vacuum Wafer Annealing Oven, and much more.

Online bidding is open from September 20 through September 27, 2007. Assets are in multiple U.S. locations and are available for virtual preview at www.earbid.com. All auction transactions will be conducted conveniently online. Bidders can participate worldwide, 24 x 7, using a state-of-the-art auction system. Interested bidders can view complete auction details, online bidding instructions, and equipment catalog on the EARBid website at www.earbid.com.

EARBid is accepting consignments for its upcoming semiconductor auction events. Sellers can find more information about EARBid’s auction program and seller support services by visiting Earbid.com.

About Equipment Acquisition Resources
Equipment Acquisition Resources, Inc. is one of the world’s largest suppliers of lappers, polishers, slicers, grinders and dicing saws for crystalline materials. In addition, E.A.R. offers process development and product services and support, and through EARBid, conducts online auctions of semiconductor equipment. For more information, visit www.earbid.com.

Contact Information:
J. Bruce Costello
Director Auction Services
EARBid Online Auctions
A Division of Equipment Acquisition Resources, Inc.
888-327-2430
888-EARBID-0
bruce(at)earbid.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:50 AM | Comments (0)

What is a RED BEAD? New Video Explains Why It is Important and How to Use It

The world is a never-ending supply of problems. Solve one and another comes along. The name red bead is a metaphor for the problems that we experience every day in our life. In 1982, working with the noted consultant Dr. W. Edwards Deming a teaching tool called the RED BEAD Experiment was created that Dr. Deming used in his world wide seminars for almost a decade. When you play the game, each player uses a special metal paddle to draw small red and white colored beads from a large bowl. Each draw of the paddle gets 50 beads. Some are white and some are red. The white beads symbolize the good things that we experience each day as we do our work and the red beads symbolize the problems or bad things that we experience. There are many teaching examples as you play the game. One is that "Willing Worker" has little control over the RED BEAD problems. If management is not happy with the results, they dare NOT blame the worker, they need to change or improve the system.

Cupertino, CA (PRWEB) September 25, 2007 -- Now companies and organizations have a video based quick-reference guide on the fundamentals behind Six Sigma and Total Quality Management programs. Entitled Learn to Live the Talk - Beyond Total Quality Management, this 38 minute video has just been released on DVD and is available from Amazon.com.

Based on the famous Dr. Deming RED BEAD Experiment, this DVD is an insightful learning tool that points out how absurd and ineffective that many traditional management styles are; and, how unproductive the workplace is when the basic system is flawed. No matter how you try to ignore it, by painting those RED BEADS white or blaming problems on the employees, a faulty system is an unproductive one.

There are many teaching examples as you play the game. "The Willing Worker has little control over the RED BEAD problems in a company. If management is not happy with the results, they dare NOT blame the worker, they need to change or improve the system." These teachings are presented in numerous text books, newspapers, magazine articles and other video programs.

Professionally scripted and filmed originally in 1994 and produced on VHS cassettes, it has just been re-released on DVD with deep linking menus. This means that the user can quickly and easily view the appropriate topic section of the video. Rather than be watched once and stored on the shelf; this DVD, may be used regularly to review a concept point or clarify an issue with an colleague, employee, customer or supplier.

Part one, shows a typical office department playing the game. The video utilizes stop action narratives presenting "concept points" and suggestions on how the game should be played.

Part Two is a conversation with Mike Johnson, a management consultant and producer of the Red Bead Experiment and the players from Part One. There is an interactive discussion of how the players felt while playing the game. The video also presents stop action "concept points" and theory from Dr. Deming's 14 Obligations of Management - 14 Points.

Since 1984, when the Red Bead Experiment game first shipped commercially, thousands have been shipped world wide to companies, government agencies, consultants, schools, universities, management consultants and even to two Presidents of the United States. A donated game set is on display at the new ASQ Headquarters building in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.

The Red Bead Experiment game is now being used by several large world wide corporations and their consultants to teach Six Sigma concepts to their work force.

One Six Sigma consulting company using the Red Bead Experiment to teach statistical process control aspects in their Six Sigma To Go classes, Rath & Strong states on their website we believe process and operations improvement are linked to a company's politics and culture. That's why we address issues of culture and customer focus simultaneously. The result is work that ensures responsiveness to customers, maximum efficiency and continuous improvement.

Another company, Green Leaf Mapping and Control Systems is utilizing the information and techniques from the Red Bead Experiment to develop processes to manage and improve custodial services in hospitals and save water in landscape projects.

Other clients include: British Post Office, US Navy, US Coast Guard, restaurant chains, hospital and healthcare systems in the UK, Singapore, USA and Canada, several big 5 accounting firms, major pharmaceutical companies, worldwide parcel delivery companies, and universities and schools all over the globe.

The RED BEAD Experiment video is not intended to be a one-stop solution. It is however, a "quick reference" tool that may be used by individuals and organizations to "get started" on the road of a continuous improvement program or to be used in conjunction with other consulting efforts. Whether you call it TQM, process improvement or Six Sigma, the fundamentals behind and the concepts to get started are the same.

The most important message that the video projects is as the title suggests: Learn to Live the Talk. A lot of theory is being preached by colleges, universities, consultants; but, little effort is given to make sure that the theory is used continually, day after day, year after year.

The best theory is useless if it remains on the shelves. The Red Bead Experiment video is potentially a powerful tool in the hands of a business owner, supervisor, supplier or willing worker. With modern computer technology allowing most everyone to have a DVD player on their desk, our quick reference guide DVD may be a key to allowing the theory to be put into practice.

Since 1984, Michael Arthur Johnson Company, has been the worldwide manufacturer and distributor of the Deming style Red Bead Experiment.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:49 AM | Comments (0)

Martor USA Wins Commitment to Worker Safety Award for Megasafe Safety Knife

Martor USA has been awarded the Workplace HR & Safety "Commitment to Worker Safety Award". Martor USA won this award in the Hand Tools category for the innovative Megasafe safety knife.

Green Bay, WI (PRWEB) September 25, 2007 -- Martor USA has been awarded the Workplace HR & Safety "Commitment to Worker Safety Award". Martor USA was chosen for the Megasafe safety knife in the Hand Tools category. The award will be handed to a representative from Martor at the National Safety Council Expo in Chicago, IL October 15-17, 2007. Martor USA is exhibiting at the NSC show at booth 2037.

The Megasafe Safety Knife, with its spring-loaded retractable blade, is the latest Martor product that incorporates smart knife technology. The 0.63 mm thick blade is highly suitable for use with virtually any type of material. The ergonomically styled heavy-duty cutter made of aluminum, provides for perfectly controlled cutting operations - for use by right and left hand users, even when wearing protective work gloves.

This cutter features the time-tested Martor Safety Technology (MST), where the spring-loaded blade retracts instantly the moment blade edge contact is lost - even if and when the user holds on to the blade push. The safety system cannot be manipulated. It is "GS-Tested for Safety."

In addition, it is easy to change the blade; no tools are required. Previous models of this type of safety cutter required the blade to be fully extended before the safety system responded. Now, the safety system responds even if the blade is only partially extended. The slide only needs to be extended to the point where the packaged goods are safe from damage - the maximum extension is 27 mm.

-- The Workplace HR & Safety Commitment to Worker Safety Award recognizes achievements in safety equipment product development.
-- The winners will be announced in the magazine and in its weekly email newsletter.
-- A panel of impartial industry experts evaluated each entry based on innovation, impact on worker safety, and ease of use. The 2007 judging panel:
- Lisa Greenlund, Director, Risk Management and Safety, Kent Hospital
- Jim Kaletta, CSP, Principal, Safety Management Solutions
- Tony Cantarella, CSP, Esq., Director - Safety, Health and Security, NRG Energy Inc.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:48 AM | Comments (0)

Contivo Reaches Broadest Run-Time Support in the Companies History

Contivo Vocabulary Management Solution Verified to Work with Leading Integration Platforms from BEA, Cisco, IBM, JBOSS, TIBCO, and Software AG webMethods

San Jose, Calif. (PRWEB) September 25, 2007 -- Contivo, Inc., the leading provider of automated data transformation solutions for integrating Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) to legacy applications, today announced further expansion of their capability to support open run-time environments.

Contivo has verified that their Contivo Vocabulary Management Solution (Contivo VMS) product suite, utilizing XSLT and Java standards, now works with the greatest number of integration platforms in the company's history, including industry leaders such as: BEA, Cisco AON, Cisco AXG, IBM WebSphere DataPower and IBM WebSphere MessageBroker, JBOSS, TIBCO Business Works, and Software AG webMethods.

"Today virtually all of our customers are adopting SOA, and they are looking for us to integrate easily through standard technologies. While we've been able to integrate through Java and XSLT standard deployments for seven years, our challenge was integrating into monolithic proprietary systems," said Ed Wiggins, CEO of Contivo.

The major suppliers of Enterprise Service Bus' (ESBs), SOA appliances and integration middleware now support open standards. "As a consequence, the number of platforms Contivo supports today is not only its broadest in company history, it is still growing as integration choices continue to expand," said Ed Wiggins.

Today companies are combining many technologies, and taking multiple approaches to SOA integration. Enterprises need a standard approach to executing the data transformation of services in various run-time environments. Contivo offers the SOA integration market an automated design solution for the data transformation and mapping process. "Contivo is now benefiting from the market's demand for open technologies that play well together," said Ed Wiggins.

About Contivo
Contivo is the leading provider of automated data transformation solutions for integrating Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) to legacy applications. Leveraging Contivo's software in complex global enterprise integration provides a significant reduction in the overall complexity and deployment time, and enables comprehensive data management with extensive documentation and reporting features. Contivo utilizes standards-based Java or XSLT data transforms to easily integrate with major middleware software, ESB solutions and SOA hardware appliances such as BEA, Cisco AXG, Cisco AON, IBM WebSphere DataPower, IBM WebSphere Message Broker, JBOSS, TIBCO Business Works, and Software AG webMethods.

Contivo provides its data transformation solution to a range of industries including Financial Services, Telco, Insurance, Pharmaceutical, and High Tech Manufacturing. Founded in 1998, Contivo is privately held by Scale Venture Partners and Voyager Capital, and is headquartered in San Jose, Ca. For more information, go to www.contivo.com.

Contivo is a registered trademark of Contivo, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Media Contacts:
Warren Davidson
VP Sales & Marketing
+1-925-803-5863

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:47 AM | Comments (0)

American Chemistry Council Responds to Report on Air Fresheners from Natural Resources Defense Council

The American Chemistry Council refutes a new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council that suggests some air fresheners which contain phthalates may cause health problems.

Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) September 25, 2007 -- Today, the American Chemistry Council responds to claims made by the Natural Resources Defense Council suggesting that some air fresheners may cause health problems because they contain phthalates. These claims about air fresheners and phthalates are baseless and irresponsible, the American Chemistry Council said.

"Fair and scientifically sound reviews of consumer products, regardless of who conducts that review, are in the public interest," said Marian Stanley, manager of the ACC's Phthalate Esters Panel, "this study fails on both grounds and doesn't help consumers make informed choices. This report is irresponsible and should be withdrawn."

One particular phthalate is used in many consumer products like air fresheners as a solvent for the fragrances in those products. That same phthalate - DEP, or diethyl phthalate - is also used in personal care products and fragrances. Why? It does the job, but more important, DEP has a very strong safety profile, according to reviews by agencies in the United States and in Europe. Europe's Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products reviewed DEP in 2002 and gave it a margin of safety of 15,000 when used as a fragrance solvent at concentrations up to 50 percent of the fragrance mix (or less than 2% of the total perfume product).

"A person could bathe in two quarts of perfume, every day, containing DEP - and even if all the DEP in the perfume was absorbed, the exposure would still be a level at which no effect is seen in laboratory animals," said Ms. Stanley. "The U.S. Cosmetic Ingredients Review said DEP was safe for use in cosmetics, so the use of this ingredient in air fresheners should not be of any concern."

Scientific lab testing has gotten so sophisticated that it can often detect miniscule amounts of things in products, even at the one part per million level or less. The other phthalates detected by NRDC were found at these miniscule levels - near or below one part per million.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:47 AM | Comments (0)

Microsoft to Implement Kinaxis RapidResponse Response Management Solution

Game Console Leader to Leverage Response Management Across Global Supply Network to Enhance Customer Service and Improve Operating Performance

Ottawa, Canada (PRWEB) September 25, 2007 -- Kinaxis™ Inc., the global leader in Response Management solutions providing visibility and coordinated response to change for manufacturing and fulfillment organizations, today announced that Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division, one of the world's largest game console manufacturers, has chosen to deploy Kinaxis RapidResponse™.

RapidResponse will integrate directly with Microsoft's SAP Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to provide supply chain staff visibility into inevitable changes in supply and demand and capabilities to respond. RapidResponse has unique simulation capabilities that empower front-line decision-makers to immediately evaluate the impact of any proposed response, such as a customer order drop-in or change, and to automatically identify and collaborate with the appropriate colleagues to determine the most effective way to accommodate that change. The impact of proposed response actions are automatically calculated and compared against company metrics such as on-time delivery and inventory impact to ensure that not only is response time shortened, but the most equitable actions are taken.

"RapidResponse will empower our staff to respond faster to our changing supply chain with more accurate information," said Mark Gorski, Director Supply Chain, Microsoft E&D. "RapidResponse supports our objective of providing superior value to our supply chain and end customers."

"Our solutions have been proven to empower people to respond to change," said Randy Littleson, vice president of marketing at Kinaxis. "In leveraging RapidResponse, users at Microsoft will be empowered to respond to the unexpected events that are the norm in a fast-paced, high-growth environment such as theirs. Responding more effectively to change will enhance Microsoft's competitive stance and strengthen its leadership position."

About Kinaxis:
Kinaxis delivers an on-demand Response Management service for visibility and coordination to drive rapid response to constant change across global supply and fulfillment networks, resulting in breakthroughs in customer service and operating performance. Kinaxis RapidResponse combines multi-enterprise visibility, collaborative "what-if" analysis and rapid decision support to empower front-line manufacturing and fulfillment teams to take quick and effective action when faced with constant changes in demand, supply and product. Global leaders such as Casio, Honeywell, Jabil, Raytheon, Solectron and Benchmark Electronics use Kinaxis RapidResponse to empower their supply networks with superior responsiveness and gain competitive advantage. For more information, visit the Kinaxis web site at www.kinaxis.com or the company's blog at blog.kinaxis.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:46 AM | Comments (0)

Design Company Expands to Meet Increased Demand for Decorative Stone

American consumers have increased their interest in natural products in recent years, allowing stone design firm PebbleArt Inc. to expand its exploration of creative stone products.

(PRWEB) September 25, 2007 -- New York based manufacturer and gallery distributor PebbleArt Inc. is expanding its line of stone and marble decorative items. This is in response to vastly increased consumer interest in natural and stone based products. The new items will include both pieces designed by local artists, as well as select imports which they are introducing to the American market.

PebbleArt was started in 2001 by a group of artists and masonry professionals, who saw a trend in the American market towards the use of natural materials in the home. Having witnessed the rise of Granite use during the preceding decade, they speculated that other rustic products such as slate, sandstone, and quartz would gain in popularity over the next few years. Since then the consumption of dimensional natural stone in the U.S. has doubled, with more than $250 million worth of material being purchased last year.

This has resulted in overwhelming success for the young company, allowing them to expand into new realms of natural stone development. With a strong focus on innovative design and artistic creativity, they have led the market creating a slew of unique and original products in the past few years.

One of the most popular products developed by the company was a line of stone drink coasters whose properties give them the ability to naturally soak up the moisture from a glass. Since their introduction, consumer demand for these coasters has risen 400%, and has given rise to the formation of several copycat companies focusing just on the distribution of these products. PebbleArt has chosen to stay ahead of this trend by incorporating a whole new set of imported marble coasters into their line, and introducing them to the American market.

Another popular PebbleArt innovation was the design of a series of unique stone chess sets, utilizing slate, marble, onyx, sandstone, and travertine materials. Unlike the traditional black and white marble design that can be found in any average gift shop, PebbleArt's chess sets emphasize the raw primitive features found in unpolished stone.

The company is also releasing a line of carved stone mantel clocks and desk clocks, designed by local affiliated artists such as Minerva Stone, and J. Daegons. The clocks range from rough and rustic designs to graceful contemporary forms, with abstract elements a common feature. The highlight of the collection is a grandfather clock carved from natural sandstone that stands three and a half feet tall, and including a swinging pendulum that is visible through a gap in its stand.

Complimenting their domestic designs, the company has also developed relations with decorative stone manufacturers around the world to introduce new and unique products to the American market. Drawing on contacts throughout Asia and Africa, the company specifically sought out items which were not readily available in this country.

Imported items include a line of decorative marble vases available in several different stone colors, as well as marble jewelry boxes, soapstone mugs, onyx stone ash trays, stone candle holders, and rock salt lamps. By creating personal relationships with the decorative stone import / export community, the company has managed to acquire stock in these products in several different sizes, styles, and stone colors. Expanding on a connection with a local wholesaler of African goods, PebbleArt has also acquired the rights to a line of unique stone candle holders.

As consumers and retailers continue to clamor for more, and more innovative natural products, PebbleArt already has plans to expand their product offerings further. Currently they are in development of several new illuminated onyx products, a line of carved sandstone jewelry boxes, granite book ends, lighted mantel clocks, and a variety of candle holders. These products are being made available to retailers and distributors, as well as to retail customers. To keep up to date on innovations at PebbleArt, you can check out their online outlet at http://PebbleZ.com

If you would like more information, or to interview one of our artists or stone professionals, please contact Joseph at info@PebbleZ.com

Contact Information:
Joseph Lewis
PebbleArt Inc.
1 866 STONE 16 (7866316)
516 334 6767
info(at)PebbleZ.com
PebbleZ.com
Questions and interviews welcome

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:45 AM | Comments (0)

'Maintenance Management -- Tips For Success' e-Booklet Now Available

SMGlobal Inc. announces the availability of the e-booklet "Maintenance Management -- Tips For Success". It contains a tips and advice for setting up and running a successful maintenance management program. Copies can be purchased from SMGlobal Inc.'s website (http://www.smglobal.com).

Apex, NC (PRWEB) September 25, 2007 -- SMGlobal Inc. (http://www.smglobal.com) announces the availability of the e-booklet "Maintenance Management -- Tips For Success". This handy e-booklet contains information useful to maintenance personnel of all experience levels.

The e-booklet contains tips and advice on how to set up and manage a successful maintenance management program. It covers items like identifying program goals, putting together solutions, planning, team management, reporting, controlling costs, etc. It is priced at $10 a copy and is available in Adobe's PDF (Portable Document Format). To purchase a copy or get more information please visit http://www.smglobal.com

About SMGlobal Inc.:
Founded in 2002, SMGlobal Inc. is based in Apex, North Carolina. SMGlobal has been a member of Microsoft's Certified Partner program since 2004. SMGlobal's FastMaint CMMS maintenance management software earned SMGlobal Microsoft's ISV/ Software Solutions Competency in 2006. FastMaint CMMS is used worldwide by a variety of organizations for plant maintenance, facility and building maintenance, resort and restaurant maintenance, fleet maintenance and more. Customers include Carnegie Mellon University, CIGNA, General Dynamics Robotics Systems, the General Services Administration (GSA), Mars Pet Care, Northrop Grumman Corporation and Westin Hotels. For more information, contact SMGlobal at (919) 647-9440 or visit www.smglobal.com.

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

Contact: SMGlobal Inc.
Phone: +1 919.647.9440
Web: http://www.smglobal.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:45 AM | Comments (0)

Upcoming Webinar Examines How to "Unleash the Power of Grid Computing"

Grid enablement experts from IBM and Objectivity, Inc. build the business case for Grid technology.

Sunnyvale, CA (PRWEB) September 25, 2007 -- A new webinar hosted by Objectivity, Inc., the leading provider of object-oriented real-time data management platforms for software applications with complex data management challenges, will examine how businesses can use the power of Grid computing to drive competitive advantage.

The webinar, "Unleashing the Power of Grid," will focus on the challenges faced by organizations using constrained technology to manage ever-increasing amounts of complex information. Presenters will discuss how Grid's distributed architecture and scalability can resolve these challenges. They will also discuss:

The business case for adopting Grid technology
The technical aspects of migrating an application to Grid technology
The use of data management technologies in a Grid environment

Leon Guzenda, CTO of Objectivity, Inc., and Clifford Spinac, a senior enablement architect at IBM, are the featured presenters.

Guzenda, who co-founded Objectivity in 1988, has helped the company achieve IBM certification for all Six Grid Strategies, ensuring that Objectivity/DB can run in a grid-enabled, service-oriented architecture environment. Objectivity/DB is a high-performance, distributed object database solution that stores and manages very large volumes of complex data for event and relationship processing within mission-critical applications.

"Most grid initiatives focus on the virtualization of processing or storage resources," Guzenda said. "In this webinar, we want to show system architects fresh, new ways to look at accessing complex datasets and existing data sources via a single, logical, object-oriented view."

Spinac helps developers and IBM's business partners understand technologies such as Linux, Virtualization, Grid computing, and System p exploitation. He has 98 patent filings, 31 U.S. patents issued, 14 published articles, and is an IBM Master Inventor.

The webinar will take place Thursday, September 27 at 9 a.m. PST. Participants can register at www.objectivity.com/gridwebinar .

For questions about webinar content or registration, please visit the registration page.

A note on Objectivity/DB
Objectivity/DB is a fully scalable, distributed processing architecture that manages localized, centralized or distributed databases by synthesizing large, complicated streams of data into a single logical view.

About Objectivity, Inc.
Objectivity, Inc. is the leading provider of complex data management solutions for sophisticated software applications. The company's flagship product, Objectivity/DB, is the leading object-oriented database management system (OODBMS) for the real-time management of complex interrelated data. It is used by government, security, complex manufacturing, commercial services, science, and engineering organizations to increase speed, precision and productivity. Objectivity remains on the leading edge of innovation by working directly with clients to build customized programs, find solutions to complicated challenges and seamlessly integrate technology across multiple platforms and languages.

Objectivity, Inc. is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, USA. Please contact us by visiting www.objectivity.com or calling (408) 992-7100. A 60-day free trial of Objectivity/DB is available at download.objectivity.com.

Note to editors: Objectivity/DB is a registered trademark of Objectivity, Inc. All other company, organization, product or alliance names mentioned herein remain the property of their respective owners.

Press Contact:
Hillary Schuler-Jones
Tel: (408) 992-7161

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:44 AM | Comments (0)

Business Strategy Coach - Scenario Planning Can Mitigate Effect of Economic Change

Strategic planning professional encourages businesses to prepare for critical uncertainties.

Reno, NV (PRWEB) September 25, 2007 -- Business strategy coach Erica Olsen warns that the current subprime credit market crisis and associated housing market slump could have far reaching effects on seemingly unrelated businesses. Olsen specializes in strategic planning facilitation and coaching small and medium-size businesses in scenario and continuity planning.

Scenario planning was first developed and used by the U.S. Air Force during World War II, and it gained acknowledgment in the business world when Shell Oil utilized scenario planning techniques to predict the oil crisis of the 1970s. Olsen says that scenario planning provides businesses "an invaluable opportunity to have a strategic discussion around key drivers and critical uncertainties in their operating environment."

She adds, "Scenario planning is a way of simplifying a complex future by providing you the opportunity to ask the 'what if' questions and to rehearse how you may respond should a certain event or trend happen in the future." Many businesses consider themselves removed from the big national headlines or immune to the business slow down, but Olsen cautions that "everyone should consider the ramifications of any economic change".

Typical scenario planning sessions involve addressing the driving forces - significant trends like social dynamics, and economic, political and technological issues likely to affect the larger world - along with the smaller scenarios that may hit closer to home. And lest scenario planning invoke only negative associations, Olsen notes that it's not only about preparing for unexpected threats but also trying to foresee unanticipated opportunities. "With scenario planning, you're imagining not just one, but a variety of future possibilities. All the great opportunities in the world aren't enough unless you have contingencies in place."

Erica Olsen is an owner of M3 Planning, Inc, a nationwide leader in on-demand strategic planning tools and services, and she was named Entrepreneur of the Year by The Business Report of Northern Nevada (February 2007). Through M3 Planning's online client base and onsite strategic planning facilitation work, Erica has developed and reviewed hundreds of strategic plans for organizations across the country. She has also authored several strategic planning books including Strategic Planning for Dummies and is a developer of MyStrategicPlan, a web-based system that helps organizations develop and manage their strategic plan.

M3 Planning is a strategic planning firm that works with growth-oriented organizations to develop and execute their strategic plans. Strategic planning helps you pave the most direct path towards your vision while driving growth and saving you time and money. For more information please visit www.m3planning.com or www.mystrategicplan.com. To schedule an interview, or request book copies please contact Matthew Kennard at (775) 747-7407.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:43 AM | Comments (0)

ABC's American Inventor Contestant Rayfil Wong Decrease Lead Poisoning Scare with Lead Doctor

Lead doctor is an all-in-one site on the education of lead poisoning from the political, business, and medical side. The site is easy to use and navigate aimed at teaching parents the ABCs of lead poisoning. The site covers possible trade war between China and the United States.

San Francisco, Calif. (PRWEB) September 25, 2007 -- ABC's American Inventor contestant season 2 Rayfil Wong creates lead poisoning prevention website with leaddr.com. Wong considers Lead doctor an all-in-one site on the education of lead poisoning from the medical to trade war issues.

Chinese American - UC Berkeley graduate inventor Rayfil Wong started inventing his wrist pen after his TV appearance on ABC's American Inventor. Mattel announced their massive toy recall tainted with lead poisoning while Rayfil Wong started talking to manufacturers in China. Rayfil Wong was concerned about the liability of lead poisoning in his future products.

As he researched more on lead poisoning, Rayfil Wong discovered that there was no website explaining the dangers of lead poisoning along with educating consumers with the political and business issues involved.

Rayfil Wong said, "I spoke to scared parents who just threw away all the toys that were made in China without having the basic education on lead poisoning prevention. As for the business and political side, I see the United States and China as a couple in a great marriage but needs marriage counseling at the moment."

He points out that United States and China can only be economic powers working with each other since the US has great consumption power and China with low labor cost.

For additional information on the news that is the subject of lead poisoning (or for a sample, copy or demo), contact Lead Doctor or visit www.leaddr.com.

About Rayfil Wong: Rayfil Wong was born in Hong Kong and a native of San Francisco. Rayfil Wong received a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Economics and Policy from University of California - Berkeley where he was part of Alpha Phi Omega, a national volunteer fraternity. Rayfil Wong is currently a marketing consultant who helps companies build brand image. In addition, he offers free speaking presentations at schools on the truths behind lead poisoning.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:43 AM | Comments (0)

Insightful Corporation Releases S-PLUS® 8 Enterprise Server; New Server Platform Provides Improved Scalability, Reliability And Compliance With IT Standards For Deployment Of Analytics Applications Across The Enterprise

Insightful Corporation (NASDAQ: IFUL), a leading provider of predictive analytics and reporting solutions, announced today the immediate availability of S-PLUS® 8 Enterprise Server, the latest release of Insightful's software platform for statistical data analysis and predictive analytics.

Seattle, Wash. (PRWEB) September 25, 2007 -- Insightful Corporation (NASDAQ: IFUL), a leading provider of predictive analytics and reporting solutions, announced today the immediate availability of S-PLUS® 8 Enterprise Server, the latest release of Insightful's software platform for statistical data analysis and predictive analytics.
S-PLUS 8 Enterprise Server provides organizations with the ability to deploy predictive analytics across the enterprise for improved communication and decision-making. Insightful delivers the knowledge to act immediately and decisively, assisting customers in improving operations and enhancing their competitive advantage.

Key Features in S-PLUS 8 Enterprise Server:

Greater Scalability: The server architecture allows for robust and efficient processing of analytic jobs including load balancing across server clusters. Synchronous and asynchronous access, queuing and scheduling of jobs provides greater flexibility for better performance during peak processing times. Support for 64 bit platforms and out-of-memory processing allow for greater volumes of data to be analyzed faster than with previous versions.
Improved Security: Single sign-on or pass through authentication through either LDAP or Microsoft® Active Directory® is supported. Encryption is supported through HTTPS or SSL protocols.
Compliance with IT Standards: Integration and extension of the server is supported through a Services Oriented Architecture including documented C#, .Net, Java, JavaScript, HTTP/URL API's and rich client examples.

S-PLUS 8 Enterprise Server: Continuing Evolution for Enterprise Deployment

S-PLUS 8 Enterprise Server is specifically designed to support the enterprise wide deployment and integration of analytic applications and reporting. The key benefits provided to customers are:

Improved communication: Results and measurements can be presented in easy-to-understand graphic displays. Decision makers get all of the information they need in an easy-to-understand format for full comprehension of the data being analyzed.
Timely, fact-based decisions: Rapid response to queries and desktop delivery of results through a web-based portal or custom rich client integration provides decision makers fast and statistically rigorous results upon which to make vital choices for the health of their business.
Low total cost of ownership: Perpetual licensing coupled with support for popular IT deployment standards make maintenance of the S-PLUS 8 Enterprise Server a much more cost effective alternative to competitive systems.

Availability/Platforms

S-PLUS 8 Enterprise Server is available today for the following server environments:

32 Bit: Windows, Solaris 8/9/10
32 Bit & 64 Bit: Red Hat Linux 3,4, SUSE Linux 10
In addition, 64 Bit: HP-UX 11i. IBM AIX 5.x will be available later this year.

"We are very pleased to announce the release of S-PLUS 8 Enterprise Server," said Jeff Coombs, CEO of Insightful. "We are committed to a process of continuous improvement in performance and reliability of our production platform in support of our customers' enterprise deployment of predictive analytics and reporting applications."

About Insightful
Insightful Corporation (NASDAQ:IFUL) is a provider of predictive analytics and reporting solutions. Insightful products S-PLUS®, Insightful Miner™, and S-PLUS® Enterprise Server allow companies to perform sophisticated statistical data analysis, data mining and create high-quality graphical reporting from numeric data. Insightful has been delivering industry-leading, high-ROI solutions to thousands of companies in financial services, life sciences, biotechnology, telecommunications, and manufacturing, plus government and research institutions, for 20 years. Headquartered in Seattle, Insightful has offices in New York, North Carolina, France, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, with distributors around the world. For more information, visit www.insightful.com, email info@insightful.com or call 1-800-569-0123.

Note to Investors - Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about the potential performance and advantages of our new product release and the potential value of our new product release to customers. Forward-looking statements are based on the judgment and opinions of management at the time the statements are made. Inaccurate assumptions and known and unknown risks and uncertainties can affect the accuracy of forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements for a number of reasons, including, without limitation, the risk that our new product release does not perform as designed and expected and the risk that this product release does not achieve market acceptance. More detailed information regarding these and other factors that could affect actual results is set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent report on Form 10-QSB. You should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this release. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated events.

Editorial Contact:
Theresa Smith
Pathway Communications
For Insightful Corporation
818-704-8481

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:42 AM | Comments (0)

Hat Life, the World's Foremost Hat Directory, Hits Markets Across the Globe

The 2007 tome features almost 320 pages of articles, in-depth interviews and market-specific directory listings.

Long Beach, CA (PRWEB) September 25, 2007 -- Hat Life, the only annual directory that specifically focuses on the hat trade, is now available to fashion-focused businesses around the world. The 2007 guide features dozens of stories on trends, interviews with industry news-makers, and an expanded, segmented directory of hat retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers.

"This year we outdid ourselves by gathering an extraordinary amount of intelligence from the hat industry's movers and shakers," says Diane Feen, Hat Life's editor. "Besides tracking the latest in hat fashion, we also expanded our print directory to feature thousands of companies in the United States, Asia and beyond. Combine the actual book with access to our expanded online directory, and the end result is groundbreaking."

The 2007 guide gives a detailed look at up-and-comers Pablo Fernandez, Jill Spriggs and Maiko Yoshihara, but also shines the spotlight on venerable, large-scale institutions like Bollman Hat Company and Sportsman Cap Network. Other articles tackle marketing challenges, brand promotion, and the industry's shift toward Asia-based manufacturing.

The 2007 directory, available through www.hatlife.com, costs $69 and includes a bi-weekly email newsletter and password access to the company's Web-based, expanded directory. Buyers get a $20 discount on the guide if they list their company, for free, in the online directory.

About Hat Life
Hat Life, the only industry directory focusing on the hat trade alone, was first published as a one-page newsprint document in the late 19th century. Now published and owned by Long Beach-based Mint Cards, a custom trading card company, the directory is seen as the voice of authority for the entire hat industry. Hat Life includes the annual guide, a bi-weekly newsletter, and an expanded online directory featuring thousands of international listings.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:41 AM | Comments (0)

Clipper Windpower Completes Sales Contract With BP For Delivery of 300 MW Of Wind Turbines In 2009

Clipper Windpower Plc today announced that it will supply 120 units, or 300 MW, of Clipper's 2.5 MW Liberty wind turbines to BP for delivery in 2009. This 300 MW transaction is among up to 2,250 MW of wind turbine sales contracts envisioned in the Strategic Turbine Supply And Joint Development Agreement (the "Agreement") between Clipper and BP announced on July 14, 2006. With the addition of this latest contract, firm wind turbine sales orders, including wind turbine supply for a joint development completed under the Agreement currently total 650 MW for deliveries through 2009.

Carpinteria, California (PRWEB) September 25, 2007 -- Clipper Windpower Plc today announced that it will supply 120 units, or 300 MW, of Clipper's 2.5 MW Liberty wind turbines to BP for delivery in 2009. This 300 MW transaction is among up to 2,250 MW of wind turbine sales contracts envisioned in the Strategic Turbine Supply And Joint Development Agreement (the "Agreement") between Clipper and BP announced on July 14, 2006. With the addition of this latest contract, firm wind turbine sales orders, including wind turbine supply for a joint development completed under the Agreement currently total 650 MW for deliveries through 2009.

"We are delighted with BP's continued momentum and leadership in bringing new renewable energy supply to its worldwide customers" said James G.P. Dehlsen, chairman and CEO of Clipper Windpower.

Designed to address current industry gearbox and other component deficiencies and minimize unscheduled maintenance events, the Liberty wind turbine distributes torque loads four times more efficiently than conventional machines through its patented Quantum Drive™ Distributed Generation Powertrain. Proprietary permanent magnet generator technology delivers higher powertrain efficiency, and variable speed operation is achieved in a simpler and more efficient manner. The on-board hoist, with a 2-ton capacity, simplifies maintenance and significantly reduces maintenance costs. Turbine installation can be accomplished with a crane sized for most commercial 1.5 MW units. Manufactured at Clipper's 330,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the 2.5 MW Liberty machine is the largest wind turbine built in the United States.

About BP
BP is one of the world's largest energy companies, with interests in more than 100 countries and over 96,000 employees. BP Alternative Energy, launched in November 2005, combines all of BP's interests in low and zero-carbon power generation: wind, solar, hydrogen power with carbon capture and storage and gas-fired power generation. In the United States, BP's wind portfolio includes the opportunity to develop almost 100 projects with a potential total generating capacity of 15,000 MW and the company operates facilities in Europe and Asia.

About Clipper Windpower
Clipper Windpower, www.clipperwind.com, is a rapidly growing company engaged in wind energy technology, turbine manufacturing, and wind project development. With offices in the United Kingdom, United States of America (California, Colorado, Iowa, and Maryland), Denmark, and Mexico and a ISO9001:2000 QMS Certified, 330,000 square foot manufacturing and assembly facility located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the company designs advanced wind turbines, manufactures its 2.5-MW Liberty wind turbine and actively develops wind power generating projects in the Americas and Europe. Clipper is a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market (AIM). Clipper's ticker symbol is CWP.

The ordinary shares of Clipper Windpower Plc are traded on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange and are not registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Such shares may not be offered or sold to residents of the United States or to persons acting on their behalf, or to other persons who are "United States Persons" within the meaning of Regulation S as promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, unless such shares have been registered under the Securities Act or there is an available exemption from registration.

For more information contact:

Mary McCann-Gates
Director, Global Communications

Clipper Windpower Inc.
6305 Carpinteria Avenue, Suite 300
Carpinteria, CA 93013
(main) 805.690.3275
(direct) 805.576.1323
(fax) 805.899.1115
(mobile) 661.301.0400
mmccann(at)clipperwind.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:41 AM | Comments (0)

EFD® Introduces New 787MS-SS MicroSpray™ Valve

Compact, Engineered Fluid Dispensing Systems increase throughput, improve yields, and reduce production costs

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (BusinessWire EON) September 25, 2007 -- EFD, Inc., a subsidiary of Nordson Corporation (NASDAQ: NDSN) introduces the new 787MS-SS MicroSpray valve.

As today’s cutting-edge products continue to pack more features and capabilities into smaller and smaller packages, the size of the fluid deposits used to build them also decreases. This makes getting the right amount of material in the right location—and doing it consistently—increasingly important.

To meet this challenge, EFD developed the new 787MS-SS MicroSpray valve. Based on EFD’s proven Low Volume Low Pressure (LVLP) precision spray technology, it provides fast, controlled application of a wide range of low- to medium-viscosity fluids, including solvents, lubricants and UV-cure coatings.

The new 787MS-SS valve features an innovative design that uses a small gauge (0.013” – 0.004” internal diameter) disposable dispensing tip in place of a standard spray nozzle. This concentrates the LVLP air used to atomize the coating into uniform spray patterns as small as 0.0625 inches in diameter—over 60% smaller than EFD’s standard spray valve configuration. Benefits include greater process control, faster throughput, fewer rejects and lower production costs.

EFD dispensing systems are available through their worldwide network operating in over 30 countries. For more information, contact EFD at 800-556-3484, +1-401-434-1680 or visit www.efd-inc.com.

EFD, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nordson Corporation. Since 1963 EFD has designed and manufactured precision dispensing devices for applying controlled amounts of the adhesives, sealants, lubricants and other assembly fluids used in almost every manufacturing process.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:40 AM | Comments (0)

Eagle's Foodservice Equipment Attains UL 197 Rev 9 Certification from Underwriters Laboratories

Eagle Foodservice Equipment announces that its entire product line has been certified to meet Underwriters Laboratories’ new rigorous UL 197 Rev 9 standards for commercial kitchen equipment.

Clayton, DE (Vocus/PRWEB ) September 25, 2007 -- Eagle Foodservice Equipment announces that its entire product line has been certified to meet Underwriters Laboratories’ new rigorous UL 197 Rev 9 standards for commercial kitchen equipment. Among the Eagle products tested and certified include Panco® cook-and-hold cabinets, Panco® transport systems, chef preparation stations, heated drawers, and the full range of Red Hots® countertop cooking and warming equipment, among others.

The UL 197 Rev 9 standard combines the National Electric Code (NEC) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards for commercial kitchen equipment – thereby making it the most challenging one for today’s product manufacturers to meet. Products that comply with the very latest UL 197 standards mean that customers can use those products with the greatest level of assurance that the equipment has been properly designed to protect against workplace injury, loss of life, and property damage.

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is one of the nation’s oldest and best-known independent testing firms. Established in 1894 as a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization to help reduce the incidence of injuries, loss of life and property damage due to faulty equipment design, UL scientifically investigates and tests thousands of products, materials and systems every year to evaluate electric, fire and casualty hazards. The UL 197 standard for commercial kitchen equipment is just one of nearly three dozen categories in six major product groups that are evaluated by the organization.

Eagle was one of the first manufacturers to obtain UL 197 Rev 9 certification for its entire foodservice equipment line. “We believe it’s best for our customers to be able to select products with complete confidence that they’re in compliance with the very latest ,” Larry McAllister, president, explained. “That’s why we made it such a high priority to have not just some, but all of our products tested – and to ensure that each one meets or exceeds the most rigorous testing criteria being conducted in our field today.”

For details on the full line of Eagle Foodservice Equipment’s products certified to meet UL 197 Rev 9 standards, contact Lynda Donavon with sales inquiries, or the Marketing Department with inquiries pertaining to marketing support. Tel. 800-441-8440. Or, visit www.eaglegrp.com.

Contact Info:
Lynda Donavon
800-441-8440 or 302-653-3000 ext 3027

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:39 AM | Comments (0)

New Stainless Steel Tools Stop Rust Before it Starts

Wera Tools introduces a true industry first and major advance in tool technology. Using a new metal hardening process, Wera developed stainless steel with the right hardness and flexibility for professional tools. The new stainless steel tools solve the problem of rust on stainless steel screws and other fasteners, caused by contamination from standard carbon steel fastening tools.

Chicago IL (PRWEB) September 25, 2007 -- Stainless steel has become a top choice for screws and other fasteners used in precision manufacturing and demanding environments, but until now users have not had the right tools to keep stainless fasteners rust-free.

All-new stainless steel fastening tools from Wera Tools should help make rust history. At a press conference held at Assembly Technology Expo on Sept. 25/07, Wera's Kraftform® Stainless screwdrivers, L-keys and bits were presented as the way to stop rust from ever starting by eliminating the cause of corrosion. They will have special application for aerospace, marine and boat, appliance, and food processing equipment manufacturing.

Today, manufacturers and builders give rust a fighting chance each time they use a standard screwdriver to fasten a stainless steel screw. Traces of carbon steel contaminate the screw head and can later bloom into eyesore streaks of corrosion. Stainless steel fastening tools are the obvious answer, but regular stainless hard enough for industrial use is too brittle for all but micro tool applications.

Wera Tools spent two years developing a cryogenic tempering process for stainless steel to give it the proper hardness and flexibility for shop floor use, then incorporated it into tools whose award-winning design provides the ultimate in ergonomic comfort and overall performance. Wera's stainless tools feature the unique Kraftform® handle, so ergonomically designed it feels custom-fitted to the hand. The distinctive Kraftform® micro-rough Lasertip drive ends (think serrated metal) ensure that cam outs are a thing of the past. The line includes screwdrivers, screwdriver insert bits, quick release bit-holders and hex keys to meet all fastening needs.

"Most stainless steel fasteners on the market claim to prevent rust, but they don't work if 'normal' fastening tools are used," says Wera General Manager Ian Parkhill. "Stainless fasteners need stainless drivers. Our Kraftform® Stainless products are an entirely new class of tools that help end users eliminate the risk of rust and achieve total quality assurance."

A specialist in professional tools and winner of numerous awards for quality and innovation, Wera Tools is a leading European manufacturer with offices in Germany, North America, Great Britain, France, Spain and Singapore. Wera Tools are available from distributors and select retail outlets across the U.S. and Canada. For more information contact: Wera Tools, 3-730 South Service Road, Stoney Creek, Ontario L8E 5S7, Canada. Toll free: 800.267.5541. E-mail: info@weratools.com, or visit www.weratools.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:39 AM | Comments (0)

World's Leading Manufacturer of Water-Activated Tape Dispensers Reinforces Leadership Role at Pack Expo International Packaging Trade Show October 15 through 17

Better Packages--the world's leading manufacturer of water-activated tape dispensers and carton sealers--will display its full line of products in Las Vegas at Pack Expo International, October 15 through 17. For 90 years, Better Packages has been setting industry standards with its durable, dependable Better Pack® brand of water-activated tape (WAT) dispensers and semi-automatic BP Sealmaster® brand case sealers.

Shelton, CT (PRWEB) September 25, 2007 -- Better Packages--the world's leading manufacturer of water-activated tape dispensers and carton sealers--will display its full line of products in Las Vegas at Pack Expo International, October 15 through 17. For 90 years, Better Packages has been setting industry standards with its durable, dependable Better Pack® brand of water-activated tape (WAT) dispensers and semi-automatic BP Sealmaster® brand case sealers. Show attendees are invited to stop by Better Packages' booth C-819 to view product demonstrations, get free environmentally friendly tape samples and see the company's array of recently introduced and existing products, including the following:

The Better Pack® 333 Plus Manual Dispenser is rugged and it is the world's number-one selling manual water-activated tape dispenser. This easy-to-operate dispenser is perfect for light to medium volume packing and is mechanically superior to all other machines in its class. Better Packages' manual dispensers average over 20 years of useful life.

Visitors at Pack Expo can also see the Better Pack 333 Stainless (S) Manual Dispenser. Sturdy stainless steel construction allows the machine to be washed down on a regular basis, thereby preventing the buildup of bacteria while resisting corrosion. The Better Pack 333 S is particularly useful in food packaging facilities or where corrosive chemicals are present. It can be used in any packaging environment with significant humidity and moisture.

The Better Pack® 555e Series Electric Dispenser offers the most options and the highest level of automation available from any WAT dispenser manufacturer. The Better Pack 555 is the only electronic water-activated tape dispenser in the industry to pass current UL requirements for electronic and operational safety. It is UL approved and listed and it is engineered and built to meet or exceed FCC, CE, CSA, CUL regulatory requirements. Visit the booth at Pack Expo and ask to see how the Better Pack 555 with the AMD (Automatic Measuring Device) accessory can save time and money in busy packaging areas by eliminating material waste and significantly improving productivity. The standard age of Better Packages electric dispenser models in use today is over 16 years.

Environmentally friendly BetterSeal Secure Tape™ is designed to maximize the performance of Better Pack dispensers by providing a complete, secure and sustainable sealing system bearing the trusted Better Packages name. This water-activated tape is available in a wide variety of styles, including BP E-Z Pull Tab® Tape, which has a patented pull tab and tear strip. Besides making a package easy to open and tamper evident, the strip protects the package's contents from being damaged because it eliminates the need for box cutters. Free samples and demonstrations are available during exhibition hours.

Semi-automatic BP Sealmaster® Case Sealers are inline water-activated case sealers that provide security and automation in one package. The case sealers come in a variety of configurations to seal both top and bottom, automatically fold flaps or apply the BP E-Z Pull Tab tear strip. The Sealmaster Case Sealer with the BP E-Z Pull Tab System will be fully operational at Pack Expo and ongoing demonstrations will be given.

For visitors with low-volume packaging needs, the Packer 3S Pull-and-Tear Dispenser will be on hand. The unit offers simple loading and operation and is a portable, compact option that requires no electricity and minimal maintenance.

Better Packages' Mission
Better Packages' mission is to be recognized as a trusted leader and educator within the global packaging community by providing carton-sealing solutions that are simple, safe and secure. According to CEO and President Philip White, "Pack Expo International is the premier event for the packaging industry, so it is the appropriate venue for Better Packages to celebrate 90 years of leadership and reinforce our track record of excellence in products, distribution and support. Better Packages is continually looking for ways to improve the packaging operations of our global customers. We will continue to invest in our products and distribution network so we can deliver the best possible carton sealing solutions and support to our customers. We look forward to setting the pace in the industry for the next 90 years as well."

About Better Packages
Better Packages, based in Shelton, Connecticut, is the world's leading manufacturer of water-activated tape dispensers used for carton sealing. Its products, including tape dispensers, case sealers, water-activated tape and many accessories, are sold and serviced in the United States, Canada and Mexico and in 20 countries worldwide. Its systems are used whenever security, strength, efficiency, productivity and a professional image are needed. Founded in 1917, the company has been headquartered in Shelton, Connecticut, since 1924. For more information, please visit www.BetterPackages.com.

Better Packages, the Better Packages logo, Better Pack, BP Sealmaster and Packer are registered trademarks of Better Packages, Inc.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:38 AM | Comments (0)

Fractional Manufacturing Is the Great Equalizer: Making the Move From 'Cab Driver' to Mega Success

Fractional Manufacturing shakes up manufacturing industry. Entrepreneurs and inventors now have the firepower of Boeing, the R&D of Xerox and the design capabilities of Apple, all on a budget that even a Manhattan cab driver can handle, according to US Reliant, itself an unabashed disruptive force in business and technology.

Springville, UT (PRWEB) September 24, 2007 -- Hark all ye entrepreneurs, inventors and fellow planetary disrupters. Now you can have the firepower of Boeing, the R&D of Xerox and the design capabilities of Apple, all on a budget that even a Manhattan cab driver can handle, according to US Reliant, itself an unabashed disruptive force in business and technology.

Indeed, the magic of fractional ownership of rapid-prototyping equipment is that it allows the little guy (or gal) to enjoy the full benefits of ownership of leading-edge technology, without the full price of ownership.

The potential, notes US Reliant, is unlimited and - get this - so far the competitive field is sparsely populated.

Rapid-prototyping and rapid-manufacturing (RP-RM) technology is two decades old. But it has largely been used in unimaginative and conventional ways. Moreover, the only companies that could really afford to own the technology were giants such as Boeing, Xerox and Apple.

"The industry is crying out for fresh blood and creativity, and now, the same entrepreneurial spirit that propelled the Internet boom is poised to (finally) launch the RP-RM industry into the stratosphere," says David A. McInnis, founder and CEO of US Reliant.

That is because with an investment of under $10,000, innovators can now own - not rent or use - a share of state-of-the-art RP-RM equipment. "It's yours to experiment with, test, create and profit from," says McInnis.

And these are no toy or self-assembled RP-RM machines. In fact, in some cases, they are more modern and more powerful than those currently in use by many well-known Fortune 500 companies.

The disruptive force behind this new fractional ownership model is Tangible Express, a unit of US Reliant, which has applied the long-proven aircraft fractional ownership concept to the emerging fields of RP-RM.

Among the earliest creative pioneers using RP-RM have been medical device makers and toy manufacturers. But they haven't even begun to scratch the surface of potential uses.

"In a nutshell, RP-RM allows inventors and entrepreneurs to design new products using computer aided design software readily available for personal computers," explains C. Alex Linde, president and COO of Tangible Express. "Then, without the high costs and delays required for conventional molds, RP-RM can 'print' actual 3d prototypes within hours."

In fact, dentists, hearing aid companies and some toymakers are already using the machines to make final versions of successful, customized short-run products.

"What the industry needs now are all the folks around the world who've got great ideas, but until now haven't had the means to bring them to fruition," McInnis says. "With fractional ownership of RP-RM equipment, you can have the idea in the morning, manufacture it in the afternoon, and begin showing it to potential investors or customers the next day."

US Reliant offers a wide range of informational articles on RP-RM and fractional manufacturing at its web site, http://www.usreliant.com/blog. Those interested may also visit the Tangible Express web site, http://www.tangibleexpress.com, which provides specific details on how everyone can own a own share of the future.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:37 AM | Comments (0)

BidClerk.com Reports Construction Projects Up For Bid in the Houston, TX Area

BidClerk's daily update of Texas construction projects coming up for bids and starting construction within the next 90 days.

(PRWEB) September 24, 2007 -- BidClerk, the Construction Industry Search Engine, reported today that the following construction projects are planning to go out for bids and start construction in the next 90 days in the Houston, TX area. Businesses interested in providing services relative to these construction projects should visit BidClerk.com and reference the Project ID listed below to obtain direct contact information for each job:

Houston, TX - Massage Heights / Houston, 2,000-square-foot spa, October 2007, $150,000. Project ID: 669602

Houston, TX - Draper's and Damon's / Houston, 3,000-square-foot retail store, November 2007, $250,000. Project ID: 667180

Tomball, TX - Dollar Tree #1146 / Tomball, 22605 Tomball Pkwy., 10,000-square-foot retail store, November 2007, $500,000. Project ID: 655763

Houston, TX - Washington Avenue Mixed-Use Building, 4600 Washington Ave., 54,423-square-foot mixed-use building, October 2007, $6 million. Project ID: 667968

Houston, TX - Randalls #1773 Remodel / Houston, 2225 Louisiana St., 57,000-square-foot retail store, October 2007, $2.4 million. Project ID: 667232

BidClerk.com is the only Search Engine dedicated to providing businesses with in depth information on thousands of new construction projects coming up for bid all throughout the United States. Our daily updates of commercial and residential construction project leads are available to general contractors, subcontractors, and businesses in related industries that are seeking bid opportunities. For more information on bidding construction projects in your area, visit BidClerk.com or call 877-737-6482.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:36 AM | Comments (0)

BidClerk.com Reports Construction Projects Up For Bid in the Atlanta, GA Area

BidClerk's daily update of commercial construction projects coming up for bids and starting construction within the next 90 days.

(PRWEB) September 24, 2007 -- BidClerk, the Construction Industry Search Engine, reported today that the following commercial construction projects are planning to go out for bid or start construction in the next 90 days in the Atlanta, GA area. Businesses interested in providing services relative to these projects should visit BidClerk.com and reference the Project ID listed below to obtain direct contact information for each job:

Monroe, GA - Walgreens #11539, Broad Street and Davis Street, 10,500-square-foot retail store, November 2007, $900,000. Project ID: 573693

Buford, GA - Storesmart of Buford, 1200 Laurel Dr. 93,684-square-foot mini-warehouse/self-storage, November 2007, $6 million. Project ID: 610667

Kennesaw, GA - Homewood Suites, To Be Announced, 76,251-square-foot hotel, November 2007, $9 million. Project ID: 635737

Suwanee, GA - Shawnee Commons II & III, Satellite Boulevard, 100,175-square-foot mixed-use, November 2007, $12 million. Project ID: 642872

Newnan, GA - Five Guys Burger & Fries Restaurant, 236 Newnan Crossing Bypass, 2,500-square-foot chain restaurant, October 2007, $150,000. Project ID: 671842

BidClerk.com is the only Search Engine dedicated to providing businesses with in depth information on thousands of construction projects coming up for bid all throughout the United States. Our daily updates of commercial and residential construction project leads are available to general contractors, subcontractors and businesses in related industries that are seeking bid opportunities. For more information on bidding construction projects in your area, visit BidClerk online or call 877-737-6482.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:36 AM | Comments (0)

Northwest Growth Financing Conference Sells Out Again

ACG Seattle's Northwest Growth Financing Conference once again proves to be a huge success.

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) September 24, 2007 -- Chuck Gottschalk, Managing Partner of Tatum LLC's Seattle office and President of the Association for Corporate Growth - Seattle noted that the 2007 Northwest Growth Financing Conference sold out as did the inaugural conference in 2006. The programs explored the many financing options available to "middle market" companies in the Northwest.

Mr. Gottschalk added, "it is the only event of its kind in the Northwest and as a result drew 70 private equity firms with over $75 billion of capital under management. Clearly they are very interested in investing in Northwest companies."

James M. Weber, President and CEO of Brooks Sports, Inc. in Bothell (a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway), gave the keynote address describing in detail how the company transformed itself to very successfully compete in an industry dominated by the mega-brands Nike and Adidas. Weber commented, "Brooks has had record growth in sales and profits for the past five years."

Franz von Bradsky, Chairman of the Northwest Growth Financing Conference attributed the sellout of conference to a number of factors:

1. The great uncertainty facing the credit markets brought on by the collapse of several hedge funds and sub-prime lenders which has led to the scuttling in recent weeks of several high profile LBO's and possibly even the KKR initial public offering.

2. It is a conference devoted solely to the financing of "middle market" companies in the Northwest. In addition, there has been a dramatic Increase on the part of private equity firms and mezzanine funds in identifying mundane prosaic "middle market" companies in the Northwest and the conference offers a unique opportunity.

ACG is the leading authority on corporate growth in the United States. Its President regularly quoted by the business media on topics related to corporate growth. ACG was founded in 1954 as a forum for corporate leaders and other professionals to exchange ideas and address pertinent issues related to both internal and external corporate growth. Its mission is to foster and facilitate sound corporate growth - high quality and rising earnings as well as increased shareholder value.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:35 AM | Comments (0)

September 22, 2007

Pool Guard Purchases Sur-Tek Powdercoating -- National Pool Safety Fence Company Streamlines Manufacturing

Pool Guard Manufacturing, Inc. (www.poolsafetyfences.com), one of the nation's largest creators of pool safety fences, has found success by streamlining the manufacturing process and making its industry leading safety gates completely in-house.

Largo, FL (PRWEB) September 22, 2007 -- Pool Guard Manufacturing (www.poolsafetyfences.com) recently purchased Sur-Tek Powdercoating, and moved into a shared facility in Largo, Florida. The expansion allows Pool Guard to build fences faster and guarantees quality control. This saves money, which in turn allows Pool Guard Manufacturing to offer customers nationwide the highest quality pool safety fences at extremely competitive prices.

"Safety and superior construction are what the customer is searching for with a pool fence,'' said Pool Guard President Mitch Currie. "We now have complete control of manufacturing at the highest standards with the best products in America. This gives the customer great comfort."

Sure-Tek, now a subsidiary of Pool Guard Manufacturing, owns one of the largest powdercoating ovens in Florida. Not only can the company manufacture large orders, it is equipped to ship the product as needed to any of the 40 distributors nationwide.

Pool Guard is also securing patent rights for a self-closing, self-latching gate which it manufactures in-house. Pool Guard employs a full-time certified welder to ensure that each gate is welded to exact specifications. The company estimates it ships on average 350 self-closing gates per month.

Pool Guard uses parts and materials, including it's advanced-technology mesh, which are made in the United States. Pool Guard is able to warranty that its pool fence meets and exceeds all ASTM safety requirements. Each Pool Guard customer who buys a pool fence to keep their children safe can have the peace of mind of knowing their Pool Guard fence is ASTM-rated and approved.

About Pool Guard Manufacturing
Based in Largo, Florida, Pool Guard Manufacturing is one of the nation's largest suppliers of pool safety fences. The privately-owned company manufactures its product completely in-house. It distributes fences across the country. Over the last 15 years, the company has installed more than 75,000 pool fences. For more information visit: www.poolsafetyfences.com or call 888-876-4005.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:05 AM | Comments (0)

Modern Seawall Materials Protect Southampton Marina

ShoreGuard vinyl sheet pile, manufactured by Crane Materials International (CMI), was chosen to protect Conscience Point Marina which is owned by the town of Southampton, NY.

Atlanta, GA (Vocus/PRWEB ) September 21, 2007 -- ShoreGuard vinyl sheet pile, manufactured by Crane Materials International (CMI), was chosen to protect Conscience Point Marina which is owned by the town of Southampton, NY. The marina is famous for being the site where Manhattan socialite Lizzie Grubman drove her SUV into a crowd of people, which resulted in high profile media coverage.

Conscience Point had a 20 year old timber bulkhead that was near failure from marine borer attack. The engineering firm of Cashin Associates was selected to design the new bulkhead and manage the entire construction project.

The firm did an analysis on several possible seawall materials which included timber, steel, concrete and composite sheet piling. Treated timber was immediately rejected because the town of Southampton no longer allows the toxic CCA treatment in any of its waters. The EPA has outlawed the use of CCA in any freshwater application and many responsible townships and municipalities have followed suit to protect the sensitive marine ecosystem.

Steel corrodes and concrete is susceptible to cracking in colder climates.

“In the end, ShoreGuard vinyl sheet piling is the best product for the best price which was in the best interest of our client”, said Jim E. Gladysz, Senior Vice President and John Perrotta, Project Manager from their offices in Hauppauge, NY. “We have designed with ShoreGuard vinyl sheet pile many times in the past and are comfortable with its performance and longevity.”

The forward-thinking engineers knew that vinyl sheet piling is only one component of a seawall and many other critical components are often overlooked. Again Cashin Associates looked to CMI to provide modern components. The walers and cap used on the project are anodized aluminum and the tie-rod system is specially coated to protect against the harsh marine environment. The result is a complete seawall solution which will last significantly longer than any other alternative.

Terry Contracting & Materials Inc. of Riverhead, NY was awarded the contract for seawall construction as well as site work including the parking lot, landscaping, drainage, sidewalks and septic system. Construction began in October of 2006. The scope of the bulkhead project was over 900 linear feet of seawall with an average eight foot exposure, tied back into a poured concrete anchor system. The 23’ ShoreGuard vinyl sheet pile was driven to a median depth of 15’ using an excavator mounted vibratory plate compactor supplemented by a water jet. “We have been installing ShoreGuard sheet pile for over ten years and it has come a long way” said Bob Terry, President. “The newer materials manufactured by CMI are more rigid and stable which makes them easier to install.”

In the 20 plus years that Bob’s company has been doing marine construction they have installed every seawall material available. “Coatings often fail on steel sheet pile after a couple of years. Vinyl does not corrode and stays more attractive over time”, said Bob. The project was completed in May of 2007 -- on time and on budget.

There are many seawall products available to today -- some old or ancient -- and also many modern solutions. The owners of Conscience Point Marina have a new seawall constructed from modern materials that will far outlast any other available option. Maintenance cost will be little to none and the seawall will look beautiful for many years to come. The contractor appreciates ease of installation and the engineers feel confident in specifying a proven product that will serve their clients well and save them money.

CMI Waterfront Solutions is the new vision of waterside life. We offer a complete line of waterfront solutions including seawalls, docks, piers, and gangways.

Stacy Acton
CMI Waterfront Solutions
800-256-8857 Ext 1132
770-262-0375 Cell
www.cmiwaterfront.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:04 AM | Comments (0)

S.E. Kim to lead new Marine Services Center in Seoul and business units in Korea, Japan, China, Southeast Asia and Australia

Intergraph establishes Asia-Pacific Marine Services Center and five local business units to support its growing Marine customer base in the region.

Huntsville, AL (Vocus/PRWEB ) September 21, 2007 -- Intergraph Corp. has established the Intergraph Marine Services Center in Seoul, Korea, to provide consulting, support and technical resources for its growing marine customer base in the Asia-Pacific region. The company has also launched marine business units in Japan, China, Southeast Asia and Australia as part of this market emphasis.

The expansion underscores Intergraph's commitment to serve its increasing customer base of leading Asia-Pacific shipbuilding and offshore companies, including COSCO Shipyard Group, Keppel FELS, Marine Design and Research Institute of China, Samsung Heavy Industries and others.

Yeong Soo Bae, executive vice president of Samsung Heavy Industries said, "The new Marine Services Center is a sign of Intergraph's dedication to the marine industry and its willingness to respond to customer needs."

"Intergraph is building on its success in the Asia-Pacific marine market with this significant business investment," said Gerhard Sallinger, president of Intergraph Process, Power & Marine. "With two-thirds of the world's commercial ships and offshore devices being built in this region we will continue to grow our resources, helping the industry to increase its productivity and profitability by adopting Intergraph's superior solutions."

The announcement was made at the Process & Power Client Community (P2C2) Korea 2007 Conference in Seoul. The conference brings together industry leaders and decision-makers from across Korea to consider contemporary industry issues, plus global and national opportunities. Similar conferences are also held in Japan, China, Thailand and Australia.

Opening in the fourth quarter of 2007, the Intergraph Marine Services Center will assist Intergraph principal customers, as well as facilitate the delivery and execution of new Intergraph technology to marine prospects in the region. This will include Intergraph experts in marine engineering and naval architecture to provide application assistance and technical consulting, which will enable front-line support for customers to help ensure their success.

S.E. Kim, president of Intergraph Korea, will assume the additional duties of vice president of marine sales in Asia-Pacific and as head of the Marine Services Center.

Kim added, "We have compiled a very experienced team with extensive backgrounds in the marine industry and technology. It is a strong signal from our corporate leadership about Intergraph's commitment to this market by dedicating these very valuable members of our team to this task."

About Intergraph:
Intergraph Corporation is the leading global provider of spatial information management (SIM) software. Security organizations, businesses and governments in more than 60 countries rely on the company's spatial technology and services to make better and faster operational decisions. Intergraph's customers organize vast amounts of complex data into understandable visual representations, creating intelligent maps, managing assets, building and operating better plants and ships and protecting critical infrastructure and millions of people around the world. For more information, visit Intergraph.com.

© 2007 Intergraph Corporation. All rights reserved. Intergraph and the Intergraph logo are registered trademarks of Intergraph Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries. Other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:04 AM | Comments (0)

New Magnetic Clutches and Couplings Feature No Friction or Wearing Parts

A new series of magnetic clutches and couplings from Sterling Instrument (an ISO 9001 manufacturer) features no friction or wearing parts, uses no electricity and no magnetic particles to leak. These units, identified as the S90MCC-MTL Series, are stocked in 7 different bore sizes: .250", .375", .500", .625", 750" .875" and 1.000". Unit lengths range from 1.65" to 3.11". Their torque range is from .06 lb. in. up to 25 lb. in. They weigh from .73 lb. to 8.95 lb.

New Hyde Park, NY (PRWEB) September 21, 2007 -- A new series of magnetic clutches and couplings from Sterling Instrument (an ISO 9001 manufacturer) features no friction or wearing parts, uses no electricity and no magnetic particles to leak. These units, identified as the S90MCC-MTL Series, are stocked in 7 different bore sizes: .250", .375", .500", .625", 750" .875" and 1.000". Unit lengths range from 1.65" to 3.11". Their torque range is from .06 lb. in. up to 25 lb. in. They weigh from .73 lb. to 8.95 lb.

Other features include being incredibly accurate, repeatable torque control, easy to adjust, easy to apply, perfect for continuous slip, zero "stick slip", smooth with no friction.

Applications include: material handling such as for conveyor belts, film transport, capping of syringes or bottles, shrink wrapping, constant wire tension coil winding, film tensioning and torque limiting.

Detailed specifications are contained in catalog D805 available free upon request from Sterling Instrument Instrument, 2101 Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park, NY 11042-5416. Phone: 516-328-3300 Fax: 516-326-8827 Web: www.sdp-si.com/Press/New/Clutches.htm

Note to Editor: An electronic version of this release including a 300 D.P.I. at 3" wide .JPEG image can be downloaded at: http://www.sdp-si.com/Press/New/Clutches4_4.htm

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:03 AM | Comments (0)

Pronto Software Partners with Canadian Reseller BSA

Australia's most successful domestic ERP vendor, Pronto Software, has secured a footprint into the lucrative Canadian ERP market after announcing a value-added reseller partnership with Business Solutions Alliance, Inc. (BSA).

Melbourne, Australia (PRWEB) September 21, 2007 -- BSA is a leading ERP consulting services firm based in Toronto. It has more than 100 customers and has specialist expertise in the manufacturing sector throughout Canada and USA.

The partnership forms part of Pronto Software's international expansion plans and is already returning dividends having secured its first major customer, Paintearth Energy Services, a leading manufacturer of production equipment and wholesaler of subsurface tools for the oil and gas industry.

David Jackman, Managing Director of Pronto Software, said Canada presents significant market opportunities and is a strategic region for Pronto with similar market drivers to Australia.

"As part of our global growth strategy, we were looking to develop long term partnerships with vendors that had proven ability to implement integrated software solutions, with domain knowledge in an area of functionality that PRONTO-Xi could support.

"BSA is a dynamic, growing company that provides an excellent fit with Pronto Software in terms of its target market and customer base for our solution, as well as its customer-focused corporate culture.

"In partnering with BSA we see tremendous opportunities to replicate our Australian success in the Canadian manufacturing sector given BSA's strong market presence and understanding of business requirements in this industry.

"This isn't a 'set and forget' relationship. It's a true partnership in every sense of the word that is already bearing fruit. It has demonstrated that we can compete with the world's biggest ERP players - and win," Jackman said.

BSA's president, Marc Harris, mirrors Jackman's sentiment. "BSA was in search of an integrated fit with a partner who could offer a strong solution while aligning with our company values. It became obvious very early on that Pronto Software's culture was very compatible with our own - which is the number one ingredient to a good partnership. Like us they pride themselves on their strong customer relationships, their integrity and they always get the job done."

Harris senses the need in Canada for a broad-based ERP system that has a focused development team to meet the needs of Canadian industry. "The breadth and depth of PRONTO-Xi will not only enable us to further grow market share in our core manufacturing base but penetrate other market segments with distribution, services and retail requirements.

"Pronto Software sits beautifully with our market on so many levels. It's an ideal fit strategically, culturally and of course the strength of the product is already generating a lot of interest from both existing and prospective customers. It's a breath of fresh air and we're very confident we can really differentiate ourselves in a marketplace that has a decreasing number of very large players.

"The Paintearth partnership is right in line with the size of companies we are targeting. It is mid market growth companies that will benefit most by the depth and breath of the PRONTO-Xi solution. We are confident that we will see more companies the size of Paintearth come on board over the next 12 months."

Don Parsons, Project Manager of Paintearth Energy Services, said Pronto's extensive product and service history outside of North America and BSA's reputation throughout this region was a winning combination.

"Both BSA and Pronto Software brought a serious commitment and effort to tailor a solution to meet our advanced manufacturing requirements. We've set aggressive growth, productivity and profitability targets, which requires more than a simple customer-vendor relationship but a long term partnership to take the company into the future."

Harris concluded: "This partnership with Pronto Software has changed the game for us and we're looking forward to really shaking up the Canadian ERP market."

About BSA
As a leader in the ERP consulting services market, Business Solutions Alliance, Inc. (BSA) is known for its dedication, professionalism and its comprehensive knowledge of manufacturing principles and practices. Comprised of experts in the fields of Manufacturing, Finance and Information Technology, BSA offers its customers full service business solutions. BSA has assisted hundreds of manufacturers across Canada and the United States in reducing operating costs, improving operating efficiencies and gaining competitive advantages in their marketplaces.

BSA Media Enquiries:
Nora Lynch / Marc Harris
Business Solutions Alliance
+1 (416) 567 6811 / +1 (416) 723 6193
nora.lynch(@)BSAinc.ca
marc.harris(@)BSAinc.ca
http://www.BSAinc.ca

About Pronto Software
With 30 years experience, Pronto Software is Australia's most successful domestic ERP vendor with more than 1,200 customers in 27 countries, and was the 2006 The Age/D&B Victorian Business of the Year 2006.

Our flagship ERP product, PRONTO-Xi, has broad business application and deep functionality, enabling customers to maximise productivity, streamline their supply chain and deliver superior customer service. PRONTO-Xi delivers fully integrated Accounting, e-Business, Facilities Management, Manufacturing, Project Costing, Retail Point of Sale and Supply Chain Management functionality.

Pronto Software Media Enquiries:
Hayley Skinner / Michael Panosh
Keep Left Public Relations / Pronto Software
+61 3 9510 3910 / +61 3 9887 7770
hayley(@)keepleftpr.com.au
michael.panosh(@)pronto.com.au
http://www.pronto.com.au

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:03 AM | Comments (0)

Pfizer Selects printLogic from Coastal Logic as its MatrixOne Batch Printing Solution

Pfizer to provide users regulated, enterprise-wide batch printing and stamping with printLogic.

(PRWEB) September 21, 2007 -- Coastal Logic, Inc., the leading provider of batch printing and PDF/TIFF rendering integrations for Enovia MatrixOne PLM, today announced that Pfizer. Inc. will be deploying printLogic as their MatrixOne batch printing solution.

Pfizer is the world's largest research-based biomedical and pharmaceutical company, earning $48.4 billion last year. Founded in 1849, Pfizer is dedicated to better health and greater access to health care for people and their valued animals. Pfizer will be providing regulated, enterprise-wide batch printing to their users by supplementing their Matrix environment with printLogic.

printLogic will allow Pfizer's users to print over 450 file types directly from their Matrix databases without using the native application to first open or view the file. Printed files can be automatically stamped with metadata based on multiple stamp templates created by the Matrix administrator. Using printLogic's simple point-n-click interface, administrators comprehensively control all printing and metadata stamping settings, all of which are layered on top of Matrix privileges.

Through these and additional functionalities, printLogic helps companies increase efficiency, reduce costs and attain regulatory compliance.

About Coastal Logic:
Coastal Logic is a leading provider of Batch Printing with Metadata Stamping and PDF/TIFF Rendering integrations for MatrixOne. Coastal Logic's printing and rendering solutions are globally deployed by numerous Fortune 500 companies in a wide variety of industries including aerospace, industrial and medical manufacturing.

By providing strict control over printing, rendering, metadata stamping and watermarking, Coastal Logic helps companies increase efficiency, reduce costs and attain regulatory compliance.

Contact Information:
Phone: 904.221.2399
Fax: 904.221.2067
Email: Sales@CoastalLogic.com
http://www.coastallogic.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:02 AM | Comments (0)

For the 2nd Year AxxiemWebSolutions Wins WMA's Best Construction Website

For the 2nd year in a row, AxxiemWebSolutions has won the WMA's Best of Industry award in construction.

(PRWEB) September 20, 2007 -- AxxiemWebSolutions of Westchester New York, today announced that the Boston-based Web Marketing Association (WMA), has named its website for client MGA Roofing (www.mgaroofing.com) winner of the Best Construction Website for 2007. Axxiem's client PAF Painting took the same honor last year for its website, www.pafpainting.com.

"We are committed to helping construction and manufacturing firms utilize the web in the way that can most effectively grow their businesses," says Axxiem's COO, David BP Lewenz, himself a former home builder in Michigan. "Whether it's show-casing their project galleries or communicating what makes them different from their competitors, we believe that the construction industry is one that can be hugely benefited by proper representation on the Web."

"The new site Axxiem built for us is terrific and has had a very positive effect on our company's growth even in just the past year," said Sam Jaskiewicz, CEO of MGA Roofing.

The annual Web Award Competition was founded in 1997 to set high standards for Internet marketing and site development on the World Wide Web. WebAward entries are submitted by leading interactive agencies, website owners and in-house marketing departments from more than 19 countries.

For more information please visit: www.mgaroofing.com , www.axxiem.com.

About AxxiemWebSolutions (www.axxiem.com)
Based in Westchester, NY, Axxiem boasts a powerful team of internet business consultants, innovative designers, content writers, SEO specialists, project managers and programmers. Axxiem's 120+ design, programming and build teams are located in New York, Florida, California and New Delhi, India. Axxiem has been the recipient of numerous design awards, including Best Biotech Website and Best Construction Website from the Web Marketing Association in 2006.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:01 AM | Comments (0)

FenderSplendor.com Astonishes The Paint Meter Industry With The 2007 Model Year Closeout Sale On The FS 488 Paint Gauge For Car Dealers.

18 months ago FenderSplendor shocked the Instrument Industry when it initiated heavily discounted prices on the 2007 FS 488 Paint Meter. Today, President Allen Willey announced the "first ever model year closeout sale" for the 2007 FS 488 Paint Thickness Gauge.

Gulf Shores, Alabama (PRWEB) September 20, 2007 -- 18 months ago FenderSplendor shocked the Instrument Industry when it initiated heavily discounted prices on the 2007 FS 488 Paint Meter. Today, President Allen Willey announced the "first ever model year closeout sale" for the 2007 FS 488 Paint Thickness Gauge.

"Every New Car Dealer and Used Car Dealer can afford a FS 488 Paint Meter if they act fast during the first ever 2007 model year closeout." Allen Willey, President of FenderSplendor and a former New and Used Car Dealer said he is taking a page out of the Car Dealers 'play-book' by announcing drastically reduced prices on the remaining 2007 FS 488 Paint Meters.

FenderSplendor set up a special page on their website 2007 FS 488 Closeout Information to provide all the details for this closeout event. "When Paint Meters first came out they sold for as much as $1,000. Only the buyers dealing in high-end vehicles could afford them. We set out the change that."

"When I realized what the potential loss was from missing paintwork I made a decision to make Paint Meters affordable for every car dealer and auction. We started discounting paintmeters 4 years ago and became the dominant distributor." Willey went on to say; "in order to make Paint Meters even more affordable we worked with a precision instrument laboratory to manufacture our own paint gauge--the 2007 FS 488." We held the price even lower by selling on the Internet at http://www.wholesalepaintmeters.com Willey commented.

Introduced in March of 2006 the FS 488 quickly became the paint meter of choice for new car and used car dealers, along with many of the major car auctions. Today over 3,300 car dealers and auto auctions use an FS 488. Full information on the sale is available at 2007 FS 488 Closeout Information

When asked why he was having a closeout sale on the 2007 FS 488, Willey said that the only request he has had in the last 18 months, to improve the FS 488, was to add a lighted readout. "Car Dealers appraise a lot of cars at night and a lighted readout is a benefit." The 2008 FS 488 will have an Ice Blue Lighted Display when it is released on October 1st.

"FenderSplendor sells a more advanced gauge Precision Mil Gauge that has many feature car dealers don't really need, but we found that dealers were buying the FS 502--and paying $110 more--just to get the lighted display." Willey said the new 2008 FS 488 will sell for the same price as the unlighted 2007 FS 488.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:00 AM | Comments (0)

Spill Control and First Responder Courses Make Safety a Priority

Two new environmental health and safety training titles released by Mastery Technologies and Excal Visual. These onlne training courses address OSHA, DOT, and EPA compliance for handling hazmat spills and hazardous waste.

Novi, Mich. (PRWEB) September 20, 2007 -- Mastery Technologies, Inc., a leader in workplace health and safety training technology, proudly announces its release of two new courses available on Web, Intranet, or CD. Both media-rich courses utilize the full motion video and expertise of Excal Visual, a recognized leader in environmental, health, and safety training.

New titles include Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC), based on EPA requirements, and HAZWOPER: Haz Matters - First Response, which meets OSHA requirements.

"We've been in this business for over 15 years now," said Mike King, president of Excal Visual, "and there has been a strong trend from the industry to move to this kind of CBT that Mastery provides. Mastery's interactive platform is very accommodating and easy to work with."

Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure

SPCC is aimed at employees in facilities with the capacity to store or handle in excess of 1,320 gallons of any oil or oil product (gasoline, heating oil, lubricants, residual fuels, vegetable and animal oils and other oils). "A lot of people think that this is for all chemicals," said King, "but this course is specifically focused on oil."

Thirty-eight course interactions help teach:

- Effective spill prevention
- Oil pollution regulations
- Effective oil storage
- Oil transfer procedures
- Discharge procedure protocols
- First response measures
- Site security

Those in the petroleum industry (or any other industry that handles large quantities of oil) learn the importance of handling these potentially harmful materials," said Kirk Berry, Vice President of Sales for Mastery Technologies, Inc.

HAZWOPER: Haz Matters - First Response

HAZWOPER is focused on all personnel whose duties include being a First Responder to emergencies involving hazardous materials.

Thirty-seven interactions help first responders learn:

- OSHA's Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER): First Responder Awareness Level regulation
- Key aspects of DOT's Hazardous Materials regulation

Lesson interactions provide opportunities for the worker to apply what he or she has learned. To ensure the promise of mastering all course objectives, each missed question is followed by a review of the specific content. At the end of each lesson's quiz, the learner's attention is focused on areas of difficulty until he or she can successfully demonstrate mastery. Questions are fully narrated, adding welcome support for learners with reading skill deficits. Narration also assists learners when English is their second language.

Both courses are equipped with Closed Captioning and provide Continuing Education Units.

"We are very excited about these courses," said Berry, "because they enable workers to meet regulations, behave safely, and respond properly if an accident occurs."

About Mastery Technologies, Inc.
Mastery Technologies, Inc., located in Novi, Michigan and Plano, Texas, has been a leader in workplace health and safety training technology since 1986. Mastery has partnered with leading video content providers to co-produce the largest interactive multimedia training library available today to the workplace health, safety and environmental marketplace. Mastery Advantage™ products are sold by Mastery Technologies, its licensed Content Partners and The Mastery Group. The Mastery Group is comprised of independent licensed distributors with in-depth experience in workplace training and technology.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:00 AM | Comments (0)

Ultimate Truck and Auto Accessories Expands Manufacturing Capabilities with the Addition of New Plant in North Idaho

With the addition of the new manufacturing facility, Ultimate Truck and Auto Accessories will increase production and heighten quality control over our products. The new facility allows for complete control of the manufacturing process by doing everything in-house, from powder coating to modifying for customer options.

Spokane, WA (PRWEB) September 20, 2007 -- Ultimate Truck and Auto Accessories, known mostly as a wholesale distributor of automotive accessories such as tonneau covers, floor mats and pickup truck accessories, with two retail locations, recently announced their plans to expand their manufacturing capabilities. This announcement comes from the decision to build a new manufacturing facility that would increase production of the Ultimate Flap, Ultimate Truck's own crafted custom fitting, indestructible mudflap. After years of producing Ultimate Flap's within the Spokane location, Ultimate Truck will relocate all the manufacturing and fabrication to the new facility in North Idaho and keep wholesale automotive accessories such as tonneau covers, car cover, floor mat and other pickup truck accessories in the Spokane facility.

"Demand for the Ultimate Flap, has increased beyond our current production level capacity" states Randy Weiss, general manager at Ultimate Truck and Auto Accessories. Weiss adds, "We're just meeting the needs of our customers, while committing ourselves to a separate facility just for manufacturing and fabrication. Now we'll have the room to make more products and control every level of production. While at the same time continue to grow the wholesale side by offering more products such as tonneau covers, floor mats and more". Ultimate Truck also plans to move all production of the Ultimate Bumper, a custom fit, steel front bumper to the new facility. Scott MacPherson, owner of Ultimate Truck and Auto Accessories provides, "we're all excited about the new plant. It will really heighten our quality control and increase production." For UltimateTruck.com newest product, the Ultimate Bumper the new facility will add the capability to do everything in-house, from powder coating to buffing to custom fits. "We stand behind every product we manufacturer. Our North Idaho plant will be focused on producing superior products for our customers while our Spokane facility will focus on increasing product lines such as tonneau covers, car covers, floor mats etc." states MacPherson.

The announcement of Ultimate Truck's expansion to the Sandpoint area is welcomed news to the growing North Idaho community. Jamie Miller, General Manager at the Sandpoint facility. "Timing to build was right. Sandpoint is growing so fast but still offers a high quality of life for people who appreciate the natural beauty of our area. Our employees are highly motivated and now we'll be able to do things even better." says Miller. "We will still offer tonneau covers, grille guards, floor mats and other truck accessories at our retail store" says Miller.

Ultimate Truck's new manufacturing facility will add another location to Ultimate Truck and Auto Accessories current two retail locations in Spokane, WA and Sandpoint, ID. With over 20 years experience as a wholesaler and distributor of quality automotive accessories such as tonneau covers, floor mats, car covers, performance intake kits and much more, Ultimate Truck and Auto Accessories is well respected throughout the communities it serves.

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

Bay Area Company Vetrazzo Redefines What It Means to Be “Green” Bucking a National Trend, Makers of Vetrazzo Recycled Glass Countertops Focus on “Triple Bottom Line,” Keep Living-Wage Jobs in USA

SAN FRANCISCO (BusinessWire EON) September 20, 2007 -- In today’s market where sales of green building products are growing by 30 percent a year, every company is trying to claim that their product is “green.” The makers of Vetrazzo recycled glass countertops are redefining what it means to be green by producing the most eco-friendly surface materials on the market, and honoring the triple bottom line of “people, planet, and profit” in their everyday business operations.

Vetrazzo believes that a green product should do more than just use recycled materials or avoid release of dangerous airborne toxins — it should solve an environmental problem. Vetrazzo does just that by creating a new market for waste glass, including glass that cannot be recycled into other products. Each countertop panel is made from 550 pounds of crushed recycled glass from traffic lights, windshields, and beverage bottles. In 2007, Vetrazzo transformed over 250 tons of recycled glass — including 125 tons of waste glass not recyclable elsewhere — into beautiful, functional surface products.

“Sustainability is achieved when you no longer have to sacrifice aesthetics for the good of the people or the planet,” says James Sheppard, president of Vetrazzo. “People won’t do the right thing if the right thing isn’t gorgeous.”

The company’s revolutionary commitment to the triple bottom line — serving people, planet, and profit — is the larger story.

PEOPLE: At a time when manufacturing jobs are outsourced all over the world, Vetrazzo is keeping living wage jobs at home. They offer full health and dental benefits while paying 50 percent higher wages than many other West Coast manufacturing jobs. With its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in a remodeled Ford auto plant, Vetrazzo focuses on local hiring in economically depressed Richmond, California. Workers enjoy natural light, safety equipment that goes well beyond what is mandatory, and a continuing education program. Vetrazzo believes this investment in their people produces highly motivated workers, greater retention, and a top-quality product.

PLANET: Vetrazzo’s most obvious commitment to the planet is the use of recycled glass that would otherwise go directly into landfills. Vetrazzo offers a “green alternative to natural stone” like granite and marble, which come with a steep environmental price tag.

“Quarried stone products are usually produced in developing countries that often don’t have adequate worker safety regulations and are quarried in a way that is very destructive to the environment,” says Sheppard. And burning the fossil fuel necessary to transport those heavy materials halfway around the globe releases greenhouse gasses that contribute to global warming.

Even the company’s daily operations are designed with the planet in mind. Vetrazzo operates on a closed-loop water filtration system, saving approximately 150,000 gallons per month. The factory will be 100-percent solar powered by year’s end.

PROFIT: The socially responsible entrepreneurs of Vetrazzo wanted to do more than make a green countertop, they wanted it to be beautiful, durable, and distinctive. And they wanted the entire company to be sustainable with a focus well beyond economic profit. The community’s economic health and the planet’s environmental health are equally as important as the bottom line at Vetrazzo.

About Vetrazzo

Vetrazzo, LLC transforms recycled glass into artful home or commercial surfaces including countertops, tabletops, and walls. Invented and first produced in 1996 by Counter Production, Vetrazzo surfaces enable customers to showcase their individual sense of style and respect for the environment. Vetrazzo uses only recycled glass, in a patent-pending formulation comprised of 85-percent recycled glass by weight. Vetrazzo is made in the United States, with headquarters in Richmond, Calif., and dealers and fabricators across the country. For more information, visit www.vetrazzo.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:58 AM | Comments (0)

Fiber Laser Leader IPG Photonics Ranks in Deloitte New England Technology Fast 50 Pioneer of Fiber Laser Technology Rated One of Region's Fastest Growing Companies

OXFORD, Mass. (BusinessWire EON) September 20, 2007 -- IPG Photonics Corporation (NASDAQ: IPGP), the leading global manufacturer of high-power fiber lasers and amplifiers for diverse applications in numerous markets, today announced that it has been ranked 33rd in Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 Program for New England.

“This ranking is a reflection of IPG’s growth and leadership position in fiber lasers,” said Dr. Valentin P. Gapontsev, IPG Photonics’ chief executive officer. “Fiber lasers have enormous benefits in terms of performance, cost of ownership, and ease of use over traditional lasers. They are replacing both traditional lasers and other non-laser technologies in a wide range of applications. We have grown over 500% in the past five years and are pleased to be recognized as the pioneer in this space.”

The New England Technology Fast 50 is a ranking of the 50 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications and life sciences companies in the area by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP and is based on the percentage revenue growth over five years from 2002-2006. To qualify, companies must have had operating revenues of at least $50,000 in 2002 and $5,000,000 in 2006, be headquartered in North America, and must own proprietary technology or proprietary intellectual property that contributes to a significant portion of the company’s operating revenues.

“To rank on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50, companies must have phenomenal revenue growth over five years,” said Steve DiPietro, partner at Deloitte & Touche LLP. “IPG Photonics has proven to be one of the fast-growth success stories in New England and we applaud their dedication to making their vision a reality.”

IPG’s revenues for 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 were $22.2 million, $33.7 million, $60.7 million, $96.4 million and $143.2 million, respectively.

About IPG Photonics Corporation

IPG Photonics is the leading global manufacturer of high-performance fiber lasers and amplifiers for diverse applications in numerous markets, such as materials processing, communications, medical, and scientific and research. Founded in 1990, IPG Photonics pioneered the development and commercialization of optical fiber-based lasers, a new generation of optical sources that combine the advantages of semiconductor diodes with the high amplification and precise beam qualities of specialty optical fibers. Fiber lasers deliver superior performance, reliability and usability at a lower total cost of ownership compared with conventional lasers, allowing end-users to increase productivity and lower operating costs. IPG has headquarters in Oxford, Massachusetts, and has additional plants and offices throughout the world. For more information, please visit www.ipgphotonics.com.

About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, a Swiss Verein, its member firms and their respective subsidiaries and affiliates. As a Swiss Verein (association), neither Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu nor any of its member firms has any liability for each other’s acts or omissions. Each of the member firms is a separate and independent legal entity operating under the names “Deloitte”, “Deloitte & Touche”, “Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu” or other related names. Services are provided by the member firms or their subsidiaries or affiliates and not by the Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Verein.

Deloitte & Touche USA LLP is the US member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. In the US, services are provided by the subsidiaries of Deloitte & Touche USA LLP (Deloitte & Touche LLP, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP, Deloitte Tax LLP and their subsidiaries), and not by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP.

IPGP-G

2007-019

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

U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and New York Times Columnist and Author Thomas Friedman to Attend FORTUNE Global Forum 2007

Friedman Will Interview Secretary Paulson about Perspectives on Mastering the Global Economy at the New Delhi Event, 29-31 October 2007

NEW DELHI, India (BusinessWire EON) September 20, 2007 -- U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Henry M. Paulson, Jr., and New York Times columnist and author of The World is Flat, Thomas L. Friedman, are confirmed to speak at the world’s premier summit for chief executives, The FORTUNE Global Forum. (www.FortuneGlobalForum.com). The thought leaders will join more than 300 other global participants at the Forum in New Delhi, 29-31 October 2007.

“We could think of no better place than India—and its capital, New Delhi—to serve as host city to a global dialogue among global leaders,” said Andrew Serwer, managing editor of FORTUNE. “As a potential consumer market, emerging global manufacturing center, and powerhouse in technology and services, India is on the minds of corporate leaders around the world.”

The theme of this year’s Global Forum, “Mastering the Global Economy,” reflects the changing business climate and new mandates affecting multinational corporations. As world economies become more dependent upon one another, and as corporations continue their expansion worldwide, there are new responsibilities, opportunities and considerations for the leaders of those corporations. The FORTUNE Global Forum will be the culmination of a yearlong look, both in the pages of the magazine and at other events in 2007, at globalization and its related issues.

Participation at the FORTUNE Global Forum is by invitation only and limited to the heads of major multinationals. Confirmed Forum participants to date include HE Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa (Bahrain Petroleum), Carol Bartz (Autodesk), João Bezerra (Transportadora de Gas), Lloyd Blankfein (Goldman Sachs), John Chambers (Cisco Systems), Michael Cherkasky (Marsh & McLennan), Clay Christensen (The Innovator’s Dilemma), Victor Chu (First Eastern Investment Group), Michael Dell (Dell), Chris DeWolfe (MySpace), Wolfgang Driese (DVB Bank), Mary Ma (Lenovo), Lakshmi Mittal (ArcelorMittal), Nandan Nilekani (Infosys), Richard Parsons (Time Warner), C.K. Prahalad (University of Michigan), Azim Premji (Wipro), Thomas Pütter (Allianz), Albert Stroucken (Owens-Illinois), and Torgny Wännström (AFA Insurance).

Many of India’s top leaders will also be attending the Forum, including Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Commerce Minister Kamal Nath, Minister of Civil Aviation Praful Patel, and Chief Ministers Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee (West Bengal), Vilasrao Deshmukh (Maharashtra), and Sheila Dikshit (Delhi).

The 2007 Forum in New Delhi will be the tenth FORTUNE Global Forum. Inaugurated in 1995, the Global Forum has previously been located in Singapore, Barcelona, Bangkok, Budapest, Shanghai, Paris, Hong Kong, Washington D.C., and Beijing. Previous participants in the FORTUNE Global Forum have included People’s Republic of China President Hu Jintao, 41st U.S. President George H.W. Bush, former U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, France’s President Jacques Chirac, former People’s Republic of China President Jiang Zemin, 42nd U.S. President William Jefferson Clinton, and the chairmen and CEOs of major corporations including ABB, Alcoa, Bank of China, Boeing, Citigroup, Daewoo Group, DaimlerChrysler, Dell, eBay, General Electric, General Motors, Motorola, Nissan, Novartis, Sony, Xerox, Yahoo, and many others.

For more information about The FORTUNE Global Forum, please visit: www.FortuneGlobalForum.com.

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

A2B Tracking Solutions Names Trace Automation as Reseller Partner

A2B Tracking Solutions Inc, the leading provider of unique identification (UID) compliance products and services for Department of Defense (DoD) contractors and installations has added Trace Automation of Pittsburgh, as a Reseller Partner. A2B's UID Comply!® Software Suite enables full compliance with MIL STD 130 and MIL STD 129.

Portsmouth, RI (PRWEB) September 20, 2007 -- A2B Tracking Solutions Inc, the leading provider of unique identification (UID) compliance products and services for Department of Defense (DoD) contractors and installations has added Trace Automation of Pittsburgh, as a Reseller Partner. A2B's UID Comply!® Software Suite enables full compliance with MIL STD 130 and MIL STD 129. These standards are a response to the CFO Act of 1990 which requires greater visibility and lifecycle management of the military's assets worldwide.

In making the announcement A2B's UID Business Development Sales Engineer Will Sniffen says, "Trace Automation has the experience required to help DoD suppliers work through complex UID requirements. Their specialty is helping companies replace paper--based processes with automatic identification and data collection systems based on bar coding, direct part marking and RFID. That expertise is spot-on for UID compliance."

Trace Automation designs and delivers automated data collection and inspection solutions to error-proof manufacturing operations, increase throughput and provide product and process traceability.

Trace Automation Business Development Manager Kurt Menges says, "As the volume of contracts and affected parts increases, our customers are seeking solutions that provide end-to-end management of their UID data and compliance processes. We believe that A2B's UID Comply!® Software Suite provides the most comprehensive and cost effective solution to meet these requirements."

UID is mandated landmark policy by the DoD requiring all assets and personal property owned by the DoD, including assets in the possession of contractors and legacy items at military installations, to be marked with a unique serialized identification number and then registered in accordance with MIL STD 130M.

About A2B Tracking Solutions Inc.
A2B Tracking Solutions Inc. is the leading provider of total solutions for bar code tracking. Most recently A2B has developed UID Comply!® a total solution software suite that streamlines the UID compliance process. Since it was founded in 1994, A2B has lead the bar code industry movement into mobile computing, developing a state-of-the-art mobile tracking system for one of America's largest parcel delivery companies. Principals of A2B include founders of the bar code industry who have lead innovations in applications for 40 years. To date, A2B has completed more than 2,000 tracking installations around the world. For more information about A2B Tracking, visit www.uidsolutions.com or phone 800-733-7592.

About Trace Automation
Trace Automation LLC delivers leading-edge automated data collection solutions to solve specific manufacturing challenges. From receiving raw materials to shipping finished goods -- and all steps in between -- Trace Automation helps clients automatically identify and track inventory, assets, and manufacturing operations. Utilizing bar code, direct part marking, and RFID technologies along with mobile computers and application specific software we help clients comply with mandated requirements for automatic identification. For more information contact us at 1-877- TRACE 99 or visit www.traceautomation.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:55 AM | Comments (0)

Universal Foam Products Announces Expanded Polystyrene Production (EPS)

Universal Foam Products, one of the industry leaders in styrofoam products, styrofoam packaging, and polystyrene production, has announced they are providing Expanded Polystryrene (EPS).

Lutherville, MD (PRWEB) September 20, 2007 -- Universal Foam Products is pleased to report that Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) and other foam products are now available nationally through a network of over 50 manufacturing partners. EPS is available in sheets, blocks, and shapes. It can be cut or molded into an infinite number of shapes and sizes.

Styrofoam and polystyrene products are increasingly experiencing larger demands. With consumers around the world in need of these products for regular shipping and the expanded use of these types of products, Universal Foam Products is committed to their customers' satisfaction. While providing superior quality products and excellent customer service, Universal Foam Products has established a reputation as one of the very best in the industry.

Universal Foam Products has captured sales in their market due to competitive pricing, excellent customer service, and extremely convenient ordering practices. For any order or inquiry, Universal Foam Products can be reached by phone, fax or e-mail. All in-stock orders over $250 are guaranteed to be shipped within 48 hours from the time of ordering. Deliveries can be made to every state in the country. The company offers a wide variety of payment methods to accommodate to their customer's specific needs.

For additional information on foam and polystyrene products, visit http://www.univfoam.com or call 410-825-8300. Discover why Universal Foam Products is an established industry leader.

About Universal Foam Products -- Universal Foam Products has a network of more than 50 manufacturing partners to assist in providing top quality Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) and other styrofoam products in all shapes and sizes. Universal Foam Products is committed to providing exceptional products and customer service.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:55 AM | Comments (0)

Can Rapid Growth in the Middle East Cement Industry be Sustained?

As the region's construction industry continues to grow, and numerous billion dollar plus projects still to be built, the region's cement producers are heading for success. But as cement companies across the Middle East and North Africa embark on expansion plans with associated increased outputs, they need to look now at global distribution networks and developing new markets if they are to sustain current levels of success over the long term.

Singapore (PRWEB) September 20, 2007 -- As reported by 'The Peninsula,' high oil prices are helping to accelerate the momentum of the Gulf region's construction sector and its rising contribution to individual country's GDP.

The Gulf countries alone account for more than 2100 existing and planned construction projects currently valued at US 1.2 trillion. The region is seeing a steady upturn in the GCC cement market with the enormous infrastructure growth from high profile building projects such as the Pearl Qatar project, Lusail Development project, Dubai Waterfront and Palm Deira.

The mind-boggling infrastructure investment has lead to a tremendous increase in cement production. UAE will emerge to be one of the largest producers with a yearly production of about 50 million tons and there are concerns if the production boost in Saudi Arabia will outstrip the demand.

The fear of oversupply due to massive expansions has forced Mideast producers to look at Africa as the potential buyer in the near future. Demand developments in Africa are taking huge strides with the region embarking on large infrastructure program.

As the region's construction industry continues to grow, and numerous billion dollar plus projects still to be built, the region's cement producers are heading for success. But as cement companies across the Middle East and North Africa embark on expansion plans with associated increased outputs, they need to look now at global distribution networks and developing new markets if they are to sustain current levels of success over the long term.

For the 2nd year running, CMT will host the 2nd Mideast/Africa CemenTrade on 4-5 December 07 in Doha, Qatar. The conference will provide insights into cement demand and supply trends in the GCC, Mashreq and Africa regions and predict the challenges that lie ahead.

Invited to discuss the development of carbon emissions, which clearly remains a major debate topic for the industry in upcoming years is Fichtner, an engineering consultancy firm in Energy and Environmental Technology. An understudy of carbon market demand and reducing CO2 emission in cement production will be discussed. Another presentation on environmental issue will be given by Environmental Building Materials (EBM) who will speak on the utilization of fly ash as an additive to clinker.

Other topics will include market outlook and growth prospects for Dubai, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Africa, and South Asia, strategies on how to cope with the massive wave of capacity expansions and whether demand developments in Africa will create sustainable export opportunities for producers in the Middle East as well as freight rates analysis and trading issues.

Cement producers, traders, ready-mix concrete producers, raw materials suppliers, coal, slag, fly ash, steel companies, construction/infrastructure building analyst, banks, analysts, engineering & technology and equipment providers, cement transportation, dry bulk, bulk handling companies are expected to be present at this premier event.

For more detail, please contact Ying Ying, Event Executive at 65 63469145 or visit us at www.cmtevents.com/?ev=071262&st=13&pg=sc

Visit our website at www.cmtevents.com for more information on this conference.

About the Centre for Management Technology (CMT)

A global organizer HQ in Singapore, CMT is dedicated to the provision of latest business and technology information through high profile conferences for various industries. CMT forums encircle the globe from Asia Pacific to Middle East to New Europe/Russia and the Americas. In 24 years of operations, CMT has hosted leading conferences on Cement, Petrochemical, Olefins & Polyolefins, Aromatics, Petrochemical Feedstock, Methanol, Phenol, Surfactant, Coatings, Steel and many more. Visit www.cmtevents.com for further information about us.

Press Contact:
Ying Ying (Ms)
Event Executive
Tel: 65-63469145
Fax: 65-63455928

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

Business Development Asia Advises Global Power Equipment Group on Divestment of China Business Unit

Business Development Asia LLC advised Global Power Equipment Group ("Global Power"; OTC: GEGQQ.PK) which has agreed to sell its China boiler business in Nanjing, China, to A-TEC Industries.

New York, NY (PRWEB) September 20, 2007 -- Business Development Asia LLC ("BDA") is pleased to announce that Global Power Equipment Group ("Global Power"; OTC: GEGQQ.PK) has entered into an agreement with A-TEC Industries subsidiary AE&E Group GmbH, for the sale of Global Power's China boiler business, located in Nanjing, China. The sale comprises Global Power Asia Limited ("GPAL"), a Hong Kong company, including GPAL's 90% ownership stake in Deltak Power Equipment (China) Co. Ltd. ("DPEC"). DPEC was acquired in July 2004, since when it has primarily supported the Heat Recovery Steam Generator ("HRSG") business line of Global Power as a manufacturing facility. It was identified as non-core following the decision to withdraw from the large HRSG market in autumn 2006.

The transaction is expected to close in approximately one month and is subject to certain conditions including Bankruptcy Court approval. The disposal is part of Global Power's strategy to exit from Chapter 11 creditor protection. Both GPAL and DPEC are non-debtor affiliates of Global Power and were not subject to the US Chapter 11 filings.

BDA was the exclusive financial advisor to Global Power in connection to the sale, which was conducted as a competitive auction process.

John Matheson, President and CEO of Global Power, said: "We have valued our relationship with our associates in Nanjing and wish AE&E great success."

Christian Schmidt, Member of the Management Board of A-TEC Industries and of the Supervisory Board of AE&E, stated: "This acquisition in China represents another important step into the Asian growth market for AE&E."

About Global Power
Oklahoma-based Global Power Equipment Group is a leading design, engineering and manufacturing firm providing a broad array of equipment and services to the global energy, power infrastructure and process industries. Additional information about Global Power is available at www.globalpower.com.

About BDA
Business Development Asia LLC was founded in 1996. BDA assists multinational corporate and financial sector clients to identify and execute acquisitions, divestments, JVs, restructuring and capital raising, in Asia and internationally. The company is headquartered in New York with offices in London, Bahrain, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul, and Tokyo. BDA employs 55 full-time professional staff across its eight offices, supplemented by a team of senior advisors around the world. BDA's client list includes Air Products, Cadbury Schweppes, Celestica, DIC, Dow Chemical, DuPont, Ecolab, Godrej, Great Lakes, Hanjin Shipping, Hercules, Huntsman, Inabata, Johnson Controls, Kimberly-Clark, Lear, Lubrizol, Mars, Molex, Morgan Stanley, Nalco, Parker Hannifin, Reuters, Rohm & Haas, Ryder, Siemens, SigmaKalon, Sumitomo Chemical, TATA Auto Components, Tenneco, Tredegar, Visteon, WR Grace, and the British Government. Further information on BDA is available at www.bdallc.com.

For more information regarding this transaction, please contact Charles Maynard in New York on (1) 212 265 5300 or Mark Webster in Shanghai on (86) 21 5407 5580. For more information about BDA, please contact one of our offices.

www.bdallc.com

BDA transaction team:

New York
Charles Maynard, Managing Director
Jason Song, Associate

Shanghai
Mark Webster, Director
Sherry Zhou, Analyst
Tanya Wang, Analyst

BDA offices

New York
Euan Rellie, Managing Director, erellie @ bdallc.com
(1) 212 265 5300

Charles Maynard, Managing Director, cmaynard @ bdallc.com
(1) 212 265 5300

London
Andrew Huntley, Managing Director, ahuntley @ bdallc.com
(44) 20 7655 3500

Bahrain
Tamer Makary, Assistant Director, tmakary @ bdallc.com
(973) 1756 7918

Mumbai
Rohit Singh, Director, rsingh @ bdallc.com
(91) 22 2643 0290

Hong Kong
Paul DiGiacomo, Director, pdigiacomo @ bdallc.com
(852) 2537 9565

Shanghai
Jeffrey Wang, Director, jwang @ bdallc.com
(86) 21 5407 5580

Seoul
Hans Kim, Director, hkim @ bdallc.com
(82) 2 3276 3150

Tokyo
Yuuichiro Nakajima, Director, ynakajima @ bdallc.com
(81) 3 3433 5803

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

Suncor Energy selects Asset Performance Technologies (APT) and its partners for RCM project at Suncor's upgrading facilities in Ft. McMurray AB, Canada

On-time, on-budget solution for RCM analysis and implementation

Albuquerque, NM (PRWEB) September 19, 2007 -- Suncor Energy, Inc. has selected Asset Performance Technologies, Inc. (APT) and its partners, Meridium, Inc. and the Marathon Consulting Group, for its RCM project at Suncor's upgrading facilities in Ft. McMurray AB, Canada. APT will use its PRO-M software and methodology to expedite the RCM facilitation and analysis work, resulting in optimized PM recommendations based on the highest value PM activities for all equipment in scope. Using Meridium's RCMO software, Marathon personnel will implement the RCM recommendations into Suncor's SAP data system.

According to David Worledge, CEO of APT, "We are very pleased to be working with the leading oil sands recovery company. Working with Suncor's operations, maintenance, and reliability staff, we can very quickly translate our experience in the power industry into relevant equipment models for the refining industry. Using PRO-M and our efficient methodology, APT will save Suncor time and money during the RCM analysis, increasing uptime and reducing annual maintenance costs. Our approach makes use of Suncor's personnel resources in a very flexible manner - a new development replacing the traditional team-based approach that is so difficult to sustain."

APT's products are currently in use in 84% of the nuclear power generation facilities in the U.S. as well as Japan. To learn more about PRO-M and the services APT can provide to your business, please contact:

Mark S. Benak
VP, Business Development
mbenak @ assetperformanceinc.com
+1 (505) 350-6327

About Asset Performance Technologies

Asset Performance Technologies (APT) produces the revolutionary PRO-M, a unique enterprise software package with proven ability to deliver improvements in preventive maintenance (PM) task effectiveness and PM program ROI, setting the standard for Economic Based Maintenance (EBM). PRO-M delivers an optimal PM program for your site that can be dynamically updated to reflect changing plant needs and economics. It can be used as a standalone solution or to support corporate PM improvement efforts.

About Suncor Energy

Suncor Energy Inc. is an integrated energy company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. Suncor's oil sands business, located near Fort McMurray, Alberta, extracts and upgrades oil sands and markets refinery feedstock and diesel fuel, while operations throughout western Canada produce natural gas. Suncor operates a refining and marketing business in Ontario with retail distribution under the Sunoco brand. U.S.A. downstream assets include pipeline and refining operations in Colorado and Wyoming and retail sales in the Denver area under the Phillips 66® brand.

For more information on Meridium and its RCMO product, please visit www.rcmo.com.

For more information on the Marathon Consulting Group and its services, please visit www.marathoninc.com.

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

"Driving Lean through Your Supply Chain" White Paper a Valuable Tool for Evaluating Lean Suppliers

Free white paper provides an in-depth look at cultivating a lean network; includes 15-Point Lean Supplier Checklist.

Hastings, MN (PRWEB) September 19, 2007 -- The principles of lean manufacturing alone are not enough to prosper in today's global market. Lean enterprise - integrating lean into every facet of business including the supply chain - is now the gold standard. Yet many suppliers are still lagging in lean. Why is this so and what can be done about it?

Driving Lean through Your Supply Chain, a free white paper from Intek Plastics, answers these and other vital questions. From understanding the value of a lean supply chain to identifying the telltale signs of a real lean supplier, the article provides useful information for building a complete lean enterprise.

Article Includes 15-Point Lean Supplier Checklist
Closing with a 15-Point Lean Supplier Checklist, the article provides a convenient resource for evaluating suppliers' lean initiatives. The checklist will help manufacturers determine whether suppliers are positive contributors to their lean enterprise goals.

The Driving Lean through Your Supply Chain white paper is now available as a free PDF at www.inteklean.com. No registration required.

About Intek Plastics
Intek Plastics (www.intekplastics.com) engineers, extrudes and fabricates custom plastic extrusions for companies requiring unique, high-performance solutions. Intek's scale and sophistication allow it to serve any industry with world-class manufacturing, including construction, refrigeration, agriculture, recreation, appliance, telecommunications, point of purchase and transportation.

Founded in 1961, Intek Plastics is a privately held company with two facilities 30 minutes south of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. More than 350 Intek associates work together to create value for customers through their commitment to lean and continuous improvement.

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

September 19, 2007

Software Link, Inc. Ranks No. 4,061 on the 2007 Inc. 5,000 With Three-Year Sales Growth of 60.2%

First ever list of the 5,000 fastest growing businesses reports total revenue of 194.5 Billion.

New York, NY (PRWEB) September 19, 2007 -- Inc. today ranked Software Link, Inc. No. 4,061 on its first-ever Inc. 5,000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the country. The Inc. 5,000, an extension of Inc. magazine's annual Inc. 500 list, catches many businesses that are too big to grow at the pace required to make the Inc. 500, as well as a host of smaller firms. Taken as a whole, these companies represent the backbone of the U.S. economy.

"The Inc. 5,000 provides the most comprehensive look ever at the most important part of the economy - the entrepreneurial part," said Inc. 5,000 Project Manager Jim Melloan. "The expansion of the list has allowed us to tell the stories of larger companies, older companies, and a wealth of companies in industries like Manufacturing and Construction that are underreported in the business media.

Software Link is the Southeast's leading accounting and business management software advisor, reseller and certified trainer. Software Link exclusively offers Sage Software's suite of small to mid-sized products including Peachtree, Sage BusinessWorks, Sage MAS 90, 200, 500 ERP, Sage CRM and CRM SalesLogix. Helping clients manage growth through scalable technology solutions is their core function. Software Link is a Certified Sage Business Partner, Certified Microsoft Partner and Registered Cisco Systems Partner.

The 2007 Inc. 5,000, as revealed online at www.inc.com, reported median revenue of $9.4 million and median three-year growth of 140 percent. Complete information on this year's Inc. 5,000, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000. The list features a profile for each company, almost all of them written as a result of Inc. interviews with management. In addition, the list is searchable according to numerous criteria, including industry, city, state, region, and year founded.

Methodology
The 2007 Inc. 5000 list measures revenue growth from 2003 through 2006. To qualify, companies had to be U.S.-based and privately held, independent - not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies - as of December 31, 2006, and have had at least $200,000 in revenue in 2003, and $2 million in 2006.

Companies can apply for next year's Inc. 500 and Inc. 5,000 by registering with IncBizNet, the new social network for private companies that will launch this fall on Inc.com.

About Inc.com
Inc.com, the Daily Resource for Entrepreneurs, delivers advice, tools, breaking news, and rich multi-media to help business owners and CEOs start, run, and grow their businesses more successfully. Information and advice covering virtually every business and management task, including marketing, sales, finding capital, managing people can be found at http://www.inc.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:50 AM | Comments (0)

Jokari® Announces New Product

Jokari introduces Cool-Ups.

Carrollton, TX (PRWEB) September 19, 2007 -- Jokari is adding to its product offering a new innovative product called Cool-UpsTM. Cool-Ups are re-usable ice cream serving cones with a built in push-up handle that do double duty as an ice cream scoop and a serving vessel. This handy little contraption is mess-free and provides welcome refreshment on any day. They are easy to use, easy to clean and come in four bright fun colors. Cool-Ups are also designed with a protective cap to store ice cream in the Cool-Up in the freezer to serve later. They are available in packs of 4 for $4.99.

The novel design of this product has been entered into the 2008 Housewares Annual Design Awards in the Kitchen Hand Tools category. Winners to be announced at the end of this year.

Founded in 1974, Jokari/US, Inc is the leader in creating innovative products for the home and beyond. The company offers a wide range of patented products designed to simplify everyday tasks, create storage solutions and extend the life of common household products such as; carbonated beverages, wine, and more.

For more information, press only:
Stephanie Smith
972-478-4908
ssmith(at)jokari.com

For more information on Jokari Products: Jokari

Jokari is a registered trademark of Jokari.US, Inc - All Rights Reserved

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:50 AM | Comments (0)

EGL Company, Inc. Announces Mer Plus™ Electrodes -- The Safe, Reliable Neon Electrode

EGL Company, Inc. has expanded on the world's most extensive neon electrode line with the introduction of the EGL Mer Plus™ electrode. The EGL Mer Plus™ electrode is a specially designed neon electrode which contains mercury in a protective capsule. This electrode allows neon professionals to process neon or cold cathode tubing in a quick and efficient procedure -- eliminating the risk of mercury exposure.

Berkeley Heights, NJ (PRWEB) September 19, 2007 -- EGL Company, Inc. has expanded on the world's most extensive neon electrode line with the introduction of the EGL Mer Plus™ electrode. The EGL Mer Plus™ electrode is a specially designed neon electrode which contains mercury in a protective capsule. This electrode allows neon professionals to process neon or cold cathode tubing in a quick and efficient procedure -- eliminating the risk of mercury exposure.

First demonstrated at the ISA International Sign Expo in Las Vegas, NV in April of 2007, the Mer Plus™ electrode was designed by neon professionals specifically for neon sign and lighting applications. Intended to cut down production time for neon professionals, this neon electrode will save sign shops money and improve productivity. The Mer Plus™ electrode is a safe alternative to building mercury traps and injecting your own mercury, which are currently standard procedures for processing regular neon electrodes. Using the EGL Mer Plus™ electrode is the safest way to properly process neon and cold cathode tubing as it removes all open mercury in neon shops - eliminating the possibility of exposure to mercury.

Harold Cortese Jr., president of the EGL Company, Inc., is proud to introduce this new neon product into today's developing neon market - "In today's evolving lighting market, we felt it was important to develop a neon electrode that eliminates all loose mercury in neon shops. We spent extensive time and resources developing the EGL Mer Plus™ electrode to help make processing neon more efficient, economical, and safe. Using the EGL Mer Plus™ electrode will eliminate all safety concerns when it comes to mercury exposure. The response we received on the Mer Plus™ electrode at the International Sign Expo in Las Vegas was overwhelming, and we are pleased to have been able to demonstrate this product at the largest sign exhibition in the United States."

The EGL Company, Inc. currently offers 4 models of the Mer Plus™ electrode - 15CL 2 7/8, 15CL 2 5/8, 15CM, and the 13CL. Each varies in size and rating, and plans are in place to expand the line to offer additional sizes for every neon application. The EGL Mer Plus™ electrode is now available worldwide through sign supply distributors at reasonable prices.

The EGL Company, Inc. was formed by Ralph Cortese in 1930 and has been the world leader in producing neon components, neon electrodes, and neon tubing since its inception. Today, the EGL Company, Inc. is still owned and operated by the Cortese family, now in its 4th generation. EGL continues to be the world leader in the neon industry, and plans to diversify its product line to service the specialty lighting industry.

For additional information please visit http://www.egl-neon.com or contact:

Michael Cortese
EGL Company, Inc.
100 Industrial Road
Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922
Phone: 908-508-1111
Fax: 908-508-1122

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:50 AM | Comments (0)

Plexus Systems' Jerry Foster Selected to Present at 2007 PASS Community Summit

Chief Technical Officer Jerry Foster will make a technical presentation on September 20, 2007, at the 2007 PASS Community Summit on plan cache analysis in SQL Server 2005.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., (PRWEB) September 19, 2007 -- Plexus Systems, Inc., providers of Plexus Online on-demand software for the manufacturing enterprise, today announced that Plexus Systems, Inc. Chief Technical Officer Jerry Foster will make a technical presentation on September 20, 2007, at the 2007 PASS Community Summit on plan cache analysis in SQL Server 2005.

The conference, the largest event dedicated to SQL server and business intelligence education in the world, is set for September 18-21 in Denver, Colorado. Over 2,000 IT users, developers, and Microsoft experts will attend more than 130 technical sessions, hands-on technical presentations and a conference exposition.

Foster's presentation examines the practical application of examining the plan cache on a live production system. It will show how to implement a monitoring system that efficiently captures plan cache information in real time.

Foster is one of the founders of Plexus Systems, where he has been the development and technical lead for over 16 years. He has transitioned the development department through each phase of Plexus Online, starting with Microsoft SQL Server 7.0, 2000, and now 2005. While at Plexus, Foster has been responsible for maintaining and improving performance of this highly transactional system. Plexus Online handles nearly 30,000 transactions per second, with 35 billion logical page reads per day.

The conference provides vendors with opportunities to share the latest innovations in SQL Server products and services. The Professional Association for SQL Server links thousands of highly qualified prospects that help expand customer bases.

Plexus Online is an on-demand solution, building on the "software as a service" model pioneered by Salesforce.com and NetSuite. Plexus Online offers over 350 functional modules, providing companies instant access to vital information and management functions using a simple web browser The on-demand solution features enterprise resource planning (ERP) functions such as accounting and finance modules, customer relationship management (CRM) features such as order entry and tracking, manufacturing execution systems (MES) function such as production scheduling and machine integration, and supply chain management (SCM) functions such as supplier quality and traceability.

About Plexus Systems

Since 1995, Plexus Systems, Inc. (Auburn Hills, Mich.) has maintained a singular vision -- to drive significant cost, quality and productivity improvements for manufacturers, from the shop floor to the top floor. Plexus Online™ is an on-demand software for the manufacturing enterprise, delivering a powerful, real-time interface. Plexus Systems originated internally at a manufacturing company, and was designed to resolve quality challenges, including production, distribution and global supply chains management issues. Today, Plexus Online also enables businesses to manage accounting, financials, compliance and human resources and other top priorities. Plexus Systems serves a cross section of manufacturing industries (OEM and suppliers), particularly automotive, defense, medical device and aerospace companies headquartered in the Americas, Asia, and Europe.

Plexus Systems has partnered with Apax Partners (www.apax.com), one of the world's leading global private equity groups, to drive global expansion and further strengthen the company's products, services and market position. Apax Partners operates across the US, Europe and Asia and has more than $20 billion in funds under management and advice. In 2006, funds advised by Apax made a strategic investment in Plexus Systems, joining the founding investment group as stakeholders in Plexus. Visit www.plex.com for more information.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:49 AM | Comments (0)

StratAssemble Founder Offers Effective Communication Strategies in Better Process Podcast Interview

StratAssemble founder talks about communication challenges affecting small and mid-sized manufacturers and offers a solution with his company's web-based project collaboration services. Applicable to any industry, the software offers people a better, more productive way to work together, which translates into higher profits, lower turnover, higher morale, and new supportive corporate cultures where people look forward to coming to work.

Petaluma, CA (PRWEB) September 19, 2007 -- StratAssemble (www.stratassemble.com) a leading developer of web-based project collaboration services designed to improve communication and increase productivity, was featured in a recent radio interview conducted by Ken Rayment, host of Better Process Podcast, with StratAssemble Founder and President, AJ Wacaser. The podcast is featured both on Better Process Podcast and Podcaster News. Rayment launched the series in July 2005 to be the voice of small and mid-sized U.S. manufacturers and to showcase their innovation and untold success stories.

You can listen to an excerpt of the podcast in the attached files section.

In the interview, Wacaser discussed with Rayment some of the biggest challenges facing small and mid-sized manufacturers in this country, as well as some of the solutions available in the marketplace, and emphasized the new-in-nature answers provided by his software solution, StratAssemble. According to Wacaser, "The main challenge has to be effective communication in real-time. There is a big difference between communicating what's happening now and reacting to old data. Too often major decisions and course corrections are made with outdated information way past deadline." He added, "More often than not, people in the same building aren't communicating effectively, let alone when they have remote offices or business partners." He further stated that "email has made us less effective in communicating, and it is proving costly as employees misuse it," and that the problems caused by this miscommunication often lead people to feel as if they do nothing but fight fires all day. (Check out our ROI calculator (www.stratassemble.com/roicalc/) to see how your business fires can be reduced.)

Bringing to bear the project management experiences he had while working with a global team--with team members in Europe, Asia, and the U.S.--Wacaser talked about the frustrations of working within the limitations of traditional project management software. Teams were frequently out of sync with each other, and email--that great tool that was supposed to make communication better--often only served to make things worse. Out of that frustration, the idea for StratAssemble was born.

Believing there had to be a better way for people to work together, he developed a solution for better communication and better collaboration. StratAssemble changes the model by inviting participation from everyone involved with a project's outcome, even staff only peripherally connected. Its simple, open web platform is available anytime and anywhere for teams to strategically assemble, and it encourages many types of people to work together. Because project management is something all people do every day on their jobs, even if that isn't their title, having a tool that facilitates what they need to do--in the fastest, easiest way possible--can make any company more successful in the long run.

Wacaser pointed out that StratAssemble has all of the relevant information in terms of discussion, files, to-do lists, latest versions of documents, and supporting documentation all in one central, secure place, allowing people to build on each other's work, and to share and document their thoughts and opinions in constructive ways.

He concluded, "Our customers have reported increases in productivity which have translated into higher profits, lower turnover, more free time, lower stress, higher morale, and new supportive corporate cultures where people look forward to coming to work. StratAssemble simply provides projects and the people behind them the best opportunity to succeed. We are revolutionizing project collaboration services and communication, and transforming companies every day."

You can listen to the entire podcast at http://media.libsyn.com/media/betterprocess/bpp-2007-09-11.mp3 To learn more about how StratAssemble can help your organization streamline communications, see our video below.

About StratAssemble
At StratAssemble we believe in team creativity and sharing ideas, and are passionate about the collaborative process. Our purpose is to enable and inspire our customers to better manage their knowledge bases and workforces by providing a simple, open platform where every staff member can assemble, participate and contribute--revolutionizing corporate communications and strategic planning in the process. Since 2004 there's been a better way to collaborate with StratAssemble.

About Better Process Podcast
Based in Colorado and across the US via Skype, the Better Process Podcast interviews small and mid-sized manufacturing companies, and the companies that service these companies. Shows are free to download from iTunes (search for Better Process Podcast in iTunes music store) and are available most business days. More information on the show can be found at www.BetterProcess.com. The Better Process Podcast is the voice of the small and mid-sized manufacturing firm.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:48 AM | Comments (0)

Century Systems, Inc. Introduces Hot Swap® Saver, a Revolutionary, Value-Added Service for Barcode Printers

Century has added a new, unique service to its full line of barcode printer repair/service plans.

Dayton, OH (PRWEB) September 19, 2007 -- Century has introduced a new service plan option for barcode printer owners.

Hot Swap® Saver - Buy it when it's needed. If a barcode printer breaks down, the customer can call Century Systems, Inc. and purchase a Hot Swap® Saver plan that same day. A new printer will be shipped to the customer out of Century's extensive stock of barcode printers. After the customer receives a replacement, they pack their disabled printer in the box provided and Century will arrange for it to be picked up.

This plan is unique because it enables overnight replacement of nearly all broken barcode label printers. It's simple and easy. Call Century Systems, Inc. at 800-228-3606 to begin taking advantage of Hot Swap® Saver.

About Century Systems
Century Systems is a Master Distributor for barcode printers, scanning equipment, thermal ribbons, labels and tags, label rewinders and label dispensers, printing accessories, and label design and printing software. Century's National Service Network is the best in the business. Century Systems specializes in providing complete solutions options to resellers throughout the United States and abroad
Contact Century Systems: 800-228-3606 - www.centurysystems.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:48 AM | Comments (0)

Office Zone Announces The Addition of the New Instant Cart Business Card Cutter.

Office Zone has just added the new Instant Card business card cutter to is line of office equipment. This new business card will make it easier for businesses to create their own business cards in-house.

Kaysville, Utah (PRWEB) September 19, 2007 -- This month Office Zone, an online dealer of office equipment, announced the addition of the Instant Card business card cutter to is online selection. This new business card cutter is designed to help businesses of all types create their own business cards in-house and save operation costs in the process. This addition increases Office Zone's business card cutter selection to seven models.

Most businesses use business cards for daily operations. It is a way to promote a company, distribute contact information and is an absolute necessity for sales associates and trade shows. Business cards are typically outsourced and produced in high volumes. This option isn't always practical for home and small businesses. This is and example where the Instant Card business card cutter may be an alternate option.

Information on business cards can also become outdated due to company name changes, new employees, phone number changes and other reasons. Re-printing business cards can be inconvenient, take time and waste money. Creating business cards on the fly is another example of where the Instant Card business card cutter can be used.

The Instant Card business card cutter takes a piece of paper, printed in any kind of laser or inkjet printer, and cuts it down into individual cards. It accepts a variety of paper including card stock, glossy and standard copy paper. After a few passes through the machine, standard-size business cards are ready to be passed out or be placed in a wallet. It uses a motor to run the slitter wheels and can create dozens of cards in minutes. The Instant Card business card cutter can be seen here: http://www.officezone.com/business-card-slitter.htm?NR

Office Zone continues to increase its selection on a daily basis and offers options and alternatives to businesses trying to simplify business operations. To see the entire selection of business card cutters, please go here: http://www.officezone.com/cardcut1.htm?NR

For further information, please contact David Stuart, Marketing Supervisor of Office Zone, 1-800-543-5454

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:47 AM | Comments (0)

Kenneth W. Botterbrodt Named President of Stick Packaging Leader, T.H.E.M.

T.H.E.M., a global leader in stick packaging technologies, names Kenneth W. Botterbrodt as President.

Marlton, NJ (PRWEB) September 19, 2007 -- Neil Kozarsky, chief executive officer of T.H.E.M. (Technical Help in Engineering and Marketing), has announced that Kenneth W. Botterbrodt, a leading authority in packaging systems development and engineering, has been named the company's president. T.H.E.M. is a provider of innovative packaging solutions to global food, beverage and healthcare organizations. Botterbrodt has played a major role in the evolution of T.H.E.M. as a leading North American provider of flexible stick packaging solutions.

Botterbrodt joined T.H.E.M. in 2000 as senior vice president, leading the company's engineering, production and operational business units. Recognized as an innovator in packaging systems development and engineering, Botterbrodt's focus has been the "Americanization" of overseas equipment, such as Sanko stick packaging from Japan, now T.H.E.M.'s core business focus.

A pacesetter in the packaging systems arena, Botterbrodt holds U.S. patents for a diverse range of container and process control technologies. Having been involved in processing machinery and systems since 1979, he has extensive experience with corrugated box equipment, pharmaceutical processing, and machinery design and development. Botterbrodt's earlier career credentials also include the design and manufacture of semiconductor production equipment.

When Botterbrodt joined T.H.E.M. in 2000, the company was known primarily for providing innovative, integrated supply chain solutions to leading consumer products group organizations. T.H.E.M. is now a global leader in stick packaging technologies and related applications development. T.H.E.M. works closely with companies such as Power Packaging, an Exel Company, to help clients scale up their productions.

"Ken's significant contribution to the growth of T.H.E.M.'s revenues and capabilities cannot be overstated. His skills, strong work ethic and dedication to our customers have helped vault T.H.E.M. to the leadership position in the stick packaging industry," said Kozarsky. "He is the 'go to guy' for new, challenging packaging applications and is a true professional who solves problems and gets things done."

Botterbrodt predicts continued growth and a bright future for T.H.E.M. as he commits to continuing to apply the principles that have resulted in his past successes.

"T.H.E.M.'s 'can do' culture and fighting spirit is what attracted me to the company in the first place," explains Botterbrodt. "We do whatever it takes to meet our client's needs, and accomplish what many say can't be done. I'm grateful for the chance to serve as president of T.H.E.M., and look forward to the many opportunities the future holds."

When not immersed in packaging, Botterbrodt enjoys spending time with his other passion: radio communications. He holds a number of radio licenses, including General Class Radio Telephone and Extra Class Amateur Radio licenses. In 1995, he received the Atlantic Division Amateur of the Year award. He served as president of the South Jersey Radio Association, for which he still serves on the Board of Directors, and he is a member of the advisory committee to review electronics curriculum at Camden County Vocational School in New Jersey.

Founded in 1973, T.H.E.M. has served as the gateway for North American companies to find innovative packaging solutions. By monitoring packaging trends globally, T.H.E.M identifies innovations from all over the world for application in a diverse range of industrial and consumer product companies in North America. T.H.E.M., in conjunction with Power Packaging, has been credited as a leading force behind the commercialization of flexible stick packaging in North America. Visit www.them.net for more information.

For more information on T.H.E.M.'s products and services, please contact:
T.H.E.M.
Attention: Colleen
5A Stow Road
Marlton, NJ 08053
Tel: 856-988-8436, x47
E-mail: sales(@)them.net
Website: www.them.net

For more press information, please contact:

Trish Hamer
Delia Associates
295 Route 22 East, Suite 102w
Whitehouse, NJ 08888
Tel: 908-534-9044
E-mail: thamer(@)delianet.com
Website: www.delianet.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:47 AM | Comments (0)

Brand New Website Offers High Quality Deck and Fence Post Caps at Manufacturer Prices

postcapsplus.com offers high quality post caps at manufacturer prices. Post Caps are often overlooked by homeowners, but are essential in maintaining the integrity of your posts. This in turn will lengthen the life of a homeowners deck or fence.

Marlborough, MA (PRWEB) September 19, 2007 -- PostCaps Plus introduces its new website, www.postcapsplus.com, as the lowest prices available for high quality post caps.

Post caps are an essential item in maintaining the integrity of posts on decks or fences. PostCaps Plus specializes in not only standard post cap sizes, but also large or oversized caps, meaning if 12' X 12" caps are needed, all a customer would have to do is call (978) 833-7373 and place an order. The companies' customer service is excellent and all questions will be answered to the fullest.

PostCaps Plus is a small business, but has the ability to put out a large quantities with a fast turnaround time.

There is no mark-up in shipping so don't worry about paying top dollar for shipping charges, a delivery and installation may be available for a small fee. Post caps isn't the only product available on the site, there are also mailbox posts, balusters, ball caps for posts, and more. Customer satisfaction and quality are for sure the top priorities for PostCaps Plus.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:46 AM | Comments (0)

Leading Industrial Filtration and Separation System Creator Launches Redesigned Website

Filtra-Systems, Inc., a leading international provider of proven and patented industrial filtration and separation systems for international industries, announced today the launch of the newly redesigned website: http://www.FiltraSystems.com Filtra-Systems has installed over 16,000 Filtration/Separation Systems worldwide.

Farmington Hills, MI (PRWEB) September 18, 2007 -- Filtra-Systems, Inc., a leading international provider of proven and patented industrial filtration and separation systems for international industries, announced today the launch of the newly redesigned website www.FiltraSystems.com.

By expanding the content of the former Filtra-Systems website, the new site will enable management, specifiers, engineers and purchasers a single source for almost any industrial filtration and separation application. This makes Filtra-Systems one of the largest--single source--online industrial suppliers of proven filtration and separation systems.

"We are pleased to introduce this greatly improved information source for our customers, suppliers and future clients," said Scott Bratten, Vice President of Filtra-Systems. "FiltraSystems.com is the result of an extensive process of listening to feedback from both clients and future clients, researching their needs, and redesigning our website to meet those needs.

Our goal was a one-stop B2B industrial filtration and separation site that continues the Filtra-Systems tradition of efficiently bringing the latest and greatest technology to the world.

Besides a new layout, FiltraSystems.com now features tested and proven product, application and installation examples for metal working, steel, water and wastewater, chemical and mineral industries.

FiltraSystems.com users will love the simplified site navigation, and will quickly see more detailed application information.

About Filtra-Systems:
For 29 years Filtra-Systems have custom engineered industrial filtration & separation products, systems and technology for the metalworking, water & wastewater, chemical & industrial minerals, and steel industries, worldwide.

In the metalworking industry we are market leaders in the design, manufacturing and installation of machine tool coolant filtration systems, fluid transfer technologies, chip processing systems and packaged oil treatment systems.

In the water and wastewater industry, we developed the "Best Available Technology:" for removing suspended solids and oil from industrial wastewater, process water or contaminated ground water, which allows the water to be recycled or meet environmental disposal guidelines.

In the chemical, mining or steel industry, we supply a wide variety of liquid-solid separation systems developed and patented by Filtra-Systems which help our customers simplify processes, increase production, improve product quality, reduce energy consumption and reduce labor requirements.

Filtra-Systems brands include:
Verti-Press, Hydro-Vac, Perma-Flow, Magne-Tight, Hydro-Lift, and Seal-Trench.

FiltraSystems.com fills the need for customized and profitable filtration and separation systems in most major industrialized countries and can help you with almost any filtration and separation problem you need solved, fast.

Filtra-Systems: Better Filtration Through Better Technology

Contact Info:
Joe Haligowski
Filtra-Systems, Inc.
23900 Haggerty Road
Farmington Hills, Michigan 48335
ph. 248-427-9090
fax. 248-427-9895
www.FiltraSystems.com

Filtra-Systems is an ISO9001:2000 registered company

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:46 AM | Comments (0)

Energy Solutions Secures a $110,000 Refund for Sushiden America

Energy Solutions secures a $110,000 refund for overcharges on Sushiden America's water bill from The Department of Enevironmental Protection. After 4 years of being overcharged Energy Solutions uncovered errors made by the DEP causing years of erroneous billing. Sushiden will have an ongoing savings of over $35,000 per year due to the efforts of Energy Solutions.

New York, NY (PRWEB) September 18, 2007 -- Energy Solutions secures a $110,000 refund for overcharges on Sushiden America. Feeling that the their expenses were rising too fast, Energy Solutions was contracted by Sushiden, one of NY's premiere Japanese restaurant, located at 49th Street and Madison Avenue to review and audit their energy expenses. Robert P. Mc Kinney, who is Energy Solutions Director of audits and procurement and who actually conducted the audit, initially spoke to management and uncovered where Sushiden's concern was in regards to there utility expenditures.

Mr.Yasumura, who is the general manager of Sushiden, was concerned with the rising costs of Sushiden's water bill. Energy Solutions collected electric, gas, water and telecommunications bills and proceeded with an audit concentrating on water initially.

"While conducting the audit on Sushiden's water bills we were concerned with the exuberant amount of there bills considering the typical usage of restaurants of this size," Mc Kinney says.

Energy Solutions proceeded to do an on-site inspection and feasibility study of the facility as well as the meter and found no leaks or waste in Sushiden's restaurant.

"After the feasibility study was concluded we realized that Sushiden was being overcharged. We took our report to DEP where they proceeded to verify our results and also do their own feasibility study as well as test the meter for inaccuracies. After one month, DEP concurred with our findings and issued a refund to Sushiden in an excess of $110,000," Mc Kinney says. Energy Solutions was also able to save Sushiden on their water bill over $35,000 per year in perpetual savings.

Energy Solutions is an energy management firm dealing in energy management and efficiency (including but not limited to lighting retrofits, smart metering, power factor correction and demand limiting and shedding), utility and telecommunication bill auditing and negotiating and procuring electric and gas from third party suppliers known as ESCO's. Energy Solutions is also a member of the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce as well as a member of the Association of Energy Engineers.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:45 AM | Comments (0)

Cara Release New Range of MIG Welders

A new range of MIG welders targeting the DIY novice has been released in Australia.

Brisbane, QLD (PRWEB) September 18, 2007 -- A selection of MIG welders is the latest addition to the Cara range of consumer and industrial products. Aimed at the novice these welders offer distinct advantages over other welding processes in their ease of use. Creating an arc between the work piece and the wire, the operator need only focus on directing the MIG gun at the object and using the proper motion.

As with all Cara products, the welders will only be available through online shopping channels. It is this direct distribution model that allows the company to keep its costs down and deliver unbeatable value to its customers.

Ryan Murtagh, Cara Brand Manager, commented: "Since releasing these welders for Pre-sale online demand has been unprecedented. By cutting out the middle man and selling on web sites such as www.BIGshop.com.au we really have been able to offer our customers a high quality welder for a fraction of what you would expect to pay for a comparable product."

Cara is an Australian brand that was established in 2006. Other products in the Cara range include TIG and MMA inverter welder, air compressor, car battery charger, plate compactor, water pumps and air conditioners.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:44 AM | Comments (0)

LegalView Re-Launches Mesothelioma Portal to Provide Even More Important Information

LegalView.com would like to inform readers of its newly re-launched mesothelioma information portal, with included attorney referral services. The new site includes more important information and resources dealing with Mesothelioma causes, symptoms and treatment than ever before.

Denver CO (PRWEB) September 18, 2007 -- LegalView.com, your complete online resource for everything legal, would like to inform readers that they can now find even more complete, accurate information on the deadly cancer mesothelioma at mesothelioma.legalview.com. Mesothelioma is a type of lung cancer that is almost always caused by preventable occupational exposure to asbestos, a building material that was extremely common in shipyards, construction and other heavy industry in the decades following World War II. Hundreds of thousands of American workers and service members were exposed to the carcinogen. Because mesothelioma symptoms can remain dormant until decades after exposure, mesothelioma continues to appear in retired workers even today. As a service to victims of mesothelioma, LegalView.com is proud to announce the launch of much larger and more extensive collection of information and resources at the newly reformatted mesothelioma.legalview.com

Since the early 20th century it has been commonly known among the scientific and medical communities that asbestos causes mesothelioma and other serious health problems. According to several U.S. government reports, documents exposed in the 1970s illustrated that the asbestos industry and the federal government knew for decades that asbestos was dangerous, but covered it up, fearing a legal backlash As a result, workers in industries that used asbestos heavily continued to be exposed, in some cases as late as 1990, with some workers still possibly being exposed today. Decades later, these workers are at a drastically increased risk of being diagnosed with mesothelioma. And unfortunately, mesothelioma is almost always deadly; victims have a median survival rate of six months to a year after diagnosis.

Visitors who would like to learn more about mesothelioma, asbestos exposure and related health concerns are invited to visit LegalView.com's new mesothelioma information portal at mesothelioma.legalview.com. Recognizing that mesothelioma will be a public health problem for decades, LegalView has established a collection of original articles on the disease; a glossary of terms; up-to-date news articles; FDA alerts; and jury verdicts and settlements. In addition to new features, such as detailed information about mesothelioma symptoms, causes, companies that used asbestos, as well as treatment resources. Also, visitors to the mesothelioma portal can utilize the free mesothelioma lawyer referral service to find a mesothelioma attorney in their state.

The mesothelioma portal is just part of LegalView's collection of free, comprehensive information on the legal issues important to Americans. Visitors with broader legal concerns can use LegalView.com's many information portals to help them find a brain injury lawyer, a construction accident attorney, or a birth injury law firm. Along with the attorney referral services for these different issues, readers can find original, factual and clearly written information; the latest news and research, including blogs dedicated to a specific legal issue; government information and releases; and guides to relevant legal and medical terms.

LegalView.com is a free service to the public, brought to you by Legal WebTV Network, LLC, a Limited Liability Corporation created by a group of highly respected national law firms: Anapol Schwartz; Brent Coon and Associates; Burg Simpson; Cohen, Placitella and Roth; James F. Humphreys and Associates; Lopez McHugh; and Thornton and Naumes. For more information on the accomplishments and track records of LegalView.com's distinguished sponsoring law firms and to get in touch with LegalView attorneys, visit LegalView at http://www.legalview.com/

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:44 AM | Comments (0)

Newly Available to Engineers: When it Comes to the Right Industrial Brush: The Flexible Hone is One Smooth Operator

When selecting a flexible hone, many applications require customized designs by a manufacturer with engineering skills.

(PRWEB) September 18, 2007 -- Brush Research Manufacturing, an industrial brush maker in Los Angeles, has patented a Flex-Hone tool, a ball hone for deburring and refinishing cylinder walls. The applications for this tool vary from golf club shaft finishing to much more complex finishing jobs. Since many criteria must be considered including tool size, abrasive and grit/grade, Brush Research Manufacturing customizes its industrial brush and tools to meet a customer’s specifications, a relatively unheard of concept in the tool manufacturing trade.

Although many honing tools share similar characteristics, there is a significant quality difference between catalogue tools and a custom-adapted honing tool.

“There are over-the-counter hones but most are 120-grit silicon carbide, and that won’t work for everything,” says Technical Manager Keith Jones of Total Seal, a manufacturer of performance piston rings. “With the original ball hone you get a variety of media and the grit you need.”

According to Jones, a failure to employ the right media and grit for engine cylinder wall finishing can detrimentally affect engine operation. Should the cylinder surface end-up too rough, too smooth, or out of the range of recommended finish numbers, the pistons may not seat.

“Our customers have stringent tooling requirements,” he adds. “A racing engine has to be in top running order at all times.”

For engineers, the ball hone is a highly specialized industrial brush that is instantly recognizable. Characterized by the small, abrasive globules that are permanently mounted to flexible filaments, the product is a flexible, low cost tool utilized for sophisticated surfacing, de-burring and edge blending.

One example involves “plateauing,” a process by which cylinder walls are subjected to a bore finishing procedure that increases the life of both the cylinders and the piston rings. The goal is remove loose, cut, torn and folded material within the cylinder, create valleys and remove peaks that would otherwise damage rings or seals. The result is that more lubricant is retained, improving engine startup and performance.

“The trouble is, no two plateauing scenarios are alike,” explains Jim Huffman, director of engineering, Salem Tools. “Frequently there’s a finishing problem. The bore is either too smooth or too rough. A ball hone will eliminate such problems so long as the tool is adjusted to meet the application.”

Miller Industrial Products Inc. is a job shop specializing in machining of disc brake motors and brake drums. “We’ve incorporated Flex-Hones into our operations,” says President Bill Miller. “The machining of the inside of a brake drum must be very precise. You have to work to exact tolerances and Brush Research Manufacturing custom-engineered a flexible hone to meet that requirement.”

The shop employs a flexible hone to resurface the inside of auto brake drums to create a non-directional surface finish, and limit “brake hum,” Miller explains. In the past, this was accomplished with tedious grinding, but Brush Research Manufacturing engineered a flexible hone large enough to perform the task painlessly. Since that time, Miller has adapted the abrasive technology to do finishing work on brake rotors as well.

“The automotive industry runs on quick turnaround, and there’s no time to buy equipment every time a new requirement arises,” Miller adds. “Instead we call Brush Research and get a specialized industrial brush solution custom-built.”

Contact Info:
Heather Fowlie
Brush Research Mfg. Co., Inc.
4642 East Floral Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90022
Phone: (323) 261-2193
Fax: (323) 268-6587
Web : www.brushresearch.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:43 AM | Comments (0)

Geoprise Technologies Launches World-Ready ERP On-Dmand

Visionary Software as a Service (SaaS) offering targets medium-sized businesses with international operations.

Bangkok, Thailand (PRWEB) September 18, 2007 -- Geoprise Technologies (www.geoprise.com) announced today that it launched GeoBooks On Demand™, its visionary enterprise resources planning (ERP) application suite. The new SaaS offering is hosted in several countries and is delivered to end-users exclusively through a Web browser over the Internet. Geoprise customers using the GeoBooks On Demand service get all the capabilities of costly high-end ERP systems while realizing substantial information technology (IT) cost savings. Because there's no ERP software to install or maintain, customers can also minimize or even eliminate the substantial up-front software licensing investment and customization required for traditional on-premise ERP applications.

"GeoBooks On Demand is an on-line ERP system designed specifically for businesses who need world-class accounting, planning and control capabilities but can't justify the cost and complexity of high-end ERP software packages," said Nelson Nones, the founder and President of Geoprise. "A key goal of ERP systems is to enable information sharing in conjunction with effective governance safeguards so everyone in the business has a 'single bona fide version of the truth.' But this can become a huge challenge when a business operates in many countries, time zones and languages. Most ERP offerings available today were never originally designed with the needs of multinational businesses in mind. Even today, the majority of low-cost and on-demand solutions just can't handle basic requirements like multiple currencies and languages, nor do they provide the necessary precautions to protect the integrity of corporate data," he said.

"We chose GeoBooks On Demand because of its multi-company, multi-currency and multi-language capabilities, and because it allows us to comply with local accounting requirements while doing all the currency translation, consolidation and financial reporting we need for our global operations," reports Peter Holman, a Director of InfraAsia Limited, which provides project management, engineering and technical services covering communications and control technologies to clients throughout the Asia-Pacific region. "GeoBooks On Demand will replace three separate QuickBooks® installations with a single ERP system that is always available, can be accessed in any language from our offices in Hong Kong and Thailand, and allows us to instantly monitor the performance of our entire business," he adds.

GeoBooks On Demand is very different in its conception and architecture from on-demand ERP offerings that are merely hosted versions of packages that can also be licensed on a perpetual-use basis for use on customer premises. Rather than adapting an existing ERP application, Geoprise chose to build completely new computer programs using PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor), a widely-used scripting language that is well-suited for Web server development and provides an ultra-thin browser front-end. Recognizing that some of its customers would prefer to have total control over their own data, while realizing cost savings from using on-demand ERP, Geoprise offers a unique GeoBooks Exclusive™ Service option in addition to its standard GeoBooks VPD™ (virtual private database) Service. Customers choosing GeoBooks Exclusive service can host their own ERP database on their own premises, behind their corporate firewall, while using the hosted GeoBooks On Demand application. As with the GeoBooks VPD Service, each Geoprise customer appears to run their own ERP system, and no customer is ever aware that other Geoprise customers are using the same application server.

Traditional menu-driven ERP systems operate on the basis of individual business transactions, but GeoBooks On Demand is driven by end-to-end business workflows that enable entire administrative processes to be carried out electronically. This is particularly useful for businesses that operate from diverse locations across the globe, because it eliminates the wasteful effort and delays that come from passing paper documents between various locations. This feature, in combination with built-in role-based access controls, makes it easy to implement segregation of duties (SOD) policies so no single person can initiate, authorize and monitor a critical process from start to finish.

GeoBooks On Demand is offered on a monthly subscription basis starting at US$ 65.00 per user per month, including maintenance and 24/7 customer support. There is no limit to the number of companies that a customer can set up or run with a single subscription. Customers have the flexibility to add or remove users at any time because there is no need to sign annual or long-term service agreements. Advance purchase and volume discounts are available that can reduce the cost of a monthly subscription by up to 15%.

About Geoprise Technologies

Geoprise Technologies Corporation was formed in 1999 by a core team of software executives with over a century of previous cumulative experience building enterprise resources planning (ERP) systems and implementing them worldwide. The company's mission, then and now, is to create exceptional value for its customers by harnessing the power and economy of the World Wide Web to deliver world-class Software as a Service (SaaS) on a global scale. GeoBooks On Demand, the company's flagship product, is truly visionary software built from the beginning as a Web 2.0 application. Geoprise values integrity through continuing professional accreditation, intense commitment to business ethics and profound respect for intellectual property rights. The company's headquarters are in Minneapolis, Minnesota USA and its Asia-Pacific headquarters are located in Bangkok, Thailand. For further information, visit the company's website at www.geoprise.com.

QuickBooks is a registered trademark of Intuit Inc., or one of its subsidiaries, in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks or service marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:43 AM | Comments (0)

Kinaxis RapidResponse Selected by QUALCOMM for Effective Global Supply and Demand Management

Wireless technology provider to deploy response management solution to dynamically align supply and demand amid volatility.

Ottawa, Ontario (PRWEB) September 17, 2007 -- Kinaxis™ Inc., the leading provider of an on-demand Response Management service for visibility and coordination to drive rapid response to constant change across global supply and fulfillment networks, today announced that QUALCOMM has chosen to deploy the Kinaxis RapidResponse solution to drive operations performance and efficiency in aligning supply with demand in the face of constant volatility.

QUALCOMM, a FORTUNE 500® company, develops its advanced technologies and solutions for the purpose of enabling key participants in the wireless value chain. QUALCOMM works to quickly bring to market cutting-edge solutions that meet the vigorous demands of its consumers around the globe. As such, supply chain efficiency and customer service performance are important to maintaining a competitive advantage in the wireless market. RapidResponse, which will integrate with QUALCOMM's Oracle environment, will be used to facilitate effective impact analysis of supply and demand, ultimately driving rapid resolution to continually changing circumstances as persistently experienced in the fast paced environment in which QUALCOMM operates.

With RapidResponse, users throughout the supply chain organization will be able to access accurate and detailed supply and demand information in an easy-to-use spreadsheet interface that is embedded with ERP analytics and automatically populated with live data feeds from the QUALCOMM Oracle ERP system. Demand management participants across various functional groups will model ERP data to instantly simulate, share and score "what-if" supply and demand scenarios.

"At QUALCOMM, we are focused on rapid technology innovation and expanding our addressable markets," says Lisa Henderson, Senior Director of Information Technology for QUALCOMM. "Responding to the growing demand for our products across a global market requires a system solution that can offer flexibility and speed with instant and detailed insight. RapidResponse offers our supply chain group the tools to manage changes as they occur, allowing them to monitor fluctuations, anticipate trouble points and quickly resolve them to keep our supply chain operating at peak efficiency."

"Faced with a growing market and increasingly sophisticated customer needs, QUALCOMM requires a responsive supply chain network - one that is not confined to ad hoc manual processes," says Randy Littleson, vice president, marketing, Kinaxis. "RapidResponse can provide the visibility, coordination and decision support tools required to enable front-line staff to take action with speed and confidence."

Through Kinaxis' deployment and training services, RapidResponse is expected to be fully implemented in QUALCOMM's network within four months and offer immediate value to a broad user-base.

About Kinaxis:
Kinaxis delivers an on-demand Response Management service for visibility and coordination to drive rapid response to constant change across global supply and fulfillment networks, resulting in breakthroughs in customer service and operating performance. Kinaxis RapidResponse combines multi-enterprise visibility, collaborative "what-if" analysis and rapid decision support to empower front-line manufacturing and fulfillment teams to take quick and effective action when faced with constant changes in demand, supply and product. Global leaders such as Casio, Honeywell, Jabil, Raytheon, Solectron and Benchmark Electronics use Kinaxis RapidResponse to empower their supply networks with superior responsiveness and gain competitive advantage. For more information, visit the Kinaxis web site at www.kinaxis.com or the company's blog at blog.kinaxis.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:42 AM | Comments (0)

New EchoPod Level Switch System Maintains Proper Domestic Well Water Levels from Flow Line Options

Flow Line Options New EchoPod Well Tank Level System uses ultrasonic technology to measure the water level and control the level of well water holding tanks. The new system includes a relay, alarm strobe, and display unit that mounts on the wall or flat surface and is used to indicate the tank level in either gallons or inches. Installation is fast and easy and usually can be done by the homeowner.

Cleveland, OH (PRWEB) September 17, 2007 -- Flow Line Options Corp. has introduced a new EchoPod level controller, an inexpensive well water level device that can measure the amount of water in the well tank and turn the well pump on and off automatically, based on the water level. Homeowners are finding the convenience of the EchoPod Systems' digital readout of tank volume level gives them the peace of mind knowing that they will not run out of water when taking a shower or washing the car.

The new EchoPod Well System includes the EchoPod ultrasonic level switch, strobe alarm, and controller with digital readout. Other configurations based on the EchoPod level switch are possible, making the system adaptable for individual wells, or property owners with more complex needs.

Home owners and apartment operators are often faced with the dilemma of trying to maintain sufficient water volume in the well tank based only on the operation of an inexpensive pressure switch. In the case of multiple users on one system, this problem will magnify itself as the pressure will reduce with a rapid water discharge and the tank may empty with the result being a loss of water flow. The new EchoPod system solves this problem.

The EchoPod can work as a stand-alone level controller, or its automatic control mechanism is easy to connect to the existing pressure switch, allowing the use of both pressure and liquid level sensors to monitor and control the tank level. The level controller is easy to adjust and set for optimum tank level, and comes with a strobe light to provide a visual alarm of low water level or pump failure.

One customer recently wrote Flow Line Options to say "Thanks for the help in solving my water monitoring problem... the EchoPod and relay are running as I had hoped. Thank you so much again... I'll point others your way - Jason."

The EchoPod uses ultrasonic technology to measure the water level and simply monitors and controls the level of the tank. The relay and display unit mounts on the wall or flat surface and is used to indicate the tank level in either gallons or inches. Installation is fast and easy and usually can be done by the homeowner.

About Flow Line Options Corp.
Flow Line Options was incorporated in the State of Ohio in 1988, and is located near Cleveland. The corporation started with the purpose of servicing a small number of manufacturers focused in the marketing and service of instrumentation to municipal, electrical and industrial markets. These include Steel, Automotive, Petro-Chemical, Food, Consumer Health Care, Municipal, Regulated and Non-Regulated Utilities.

In late 1999, Flow Line expanded to the Web, and provides services worldwide. The company also began packaging systems and manufacturing many of its own products. Although it deals with a world market, Flow Line has maintained its small business attitude and commitment to customers.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:41 AM | Comments (0)

The World’s Most Comprehensive Online Embroidery Design Shop Now Open—www.myembroideries.com SVP Worldwide Gives Sewers Access to 17,000 Embroidery Designs 24/7, 365 Days a Year

HAMILTON, Bermuda (BusinessWire EON) September 17, 2007 -- Today SVP Worldwide, owner of SINGER®, HUSQVARNA VIKING®, and PFAFF® sewing machine brands, announced the introduction of www.myembroideries.com. With a click of a mouse, sewers can now download one, two, twenty or an entire collection of professional designs from SINGER, HUSQVARNA VIKING, PFAFF, CACTUS PUNCH®, and INSPIRA®. Myembroideries.com provides over 17,000 elite embroidery designs from the best international designers, top licensees, digitizers and sewing celebrities.

“SVP Worldwide’s market and innovative leadership is increasing the popularity of sewing throughout the world,” said Don Fletcher, CEO of SVP Worldwide. “With the opening of myembroideries.com, consumers can find everything they have ever dreamt of embroidering, all at a competitive price and with the support that only the world’s largest sewing machine company can provide.”
Sewers, notorious for pulling late-into-the-night creativity sessions, can download top-quality embroidery designs and purchase them by credit card any time of day or night.

Once on myembroideries.com, consumers may search the entire collection of popular designs or filter their search by price, design type, size or brand.
Local sewing machine dealers are identified simply by clicking on a map. The sales credit for site shopping goes back to the local dealer allowing sewers to show brand loyalty and support of their local retailers without ever leaving home.
Embroidery designs, available in multi-formats for easy use in all sewing machine brands, can be downloaded to the sewers computer, USB stick, CD or even directly to the sewing machine, if this option is available on the machine.
The password protected “My Homepage” allows sewers to see their favorite designs, view their purchasing history, select their favorite dealer and manage their personalized account.
When viewing designs, sewers can select their favorite thread brand to view designs in palettes they prefer or access educational helps such as types of needles or proper stabilizer for different fabrics.
“Everyone from the beginning sewer to the advanced enthusiast will find the design they are looking for at myembroideries.com,” said Brad Hunsaker, Global Vice President of Sales and Marketing for SVP Worldwide. “Myembroideries.com is the result of combining the previous leading embroidery web shops into one site that is convenient, inspirational, educational and easy to navigate.”

Individual designs available at myembroideries.com range in price from $7 to $30 depending on the brand and size of the design, while collections range in price from $25 to $119. Visitors to myembroideries.com are treated to special offers and design promotions all of which will entice them to add to their design stashes.

About SVP Worldwide®

SVP Worldwide, a global company headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda and doing business through its affiliated companies in over 190 countries, specializes in the design, manufacture and sale of high quality household sewing machines and related products under the SINGER, HUSQVARNA VIKING, and PFAFF brand names. For more information about the Company and the company’s brands view the following websites: www.svpworldwide.com, www.singerco.com, www.pfaff.com, and www.husqvarnaviking.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:41 AM | Comments (0)

KETIV Technologies, Autodesk's Leading CAD Partner for Manufacturing in the Southwest United States, Expands Geographic Coverage into Arizona KETIV's 2D and 3D Software Solutions Experts Will Boost Arizona's Mechanical Design Engineering Community

FULLERTON, Calif. (BusinessWire EON) September 17, 2007 -- KETIV Technologies of California, Inc., the only manufacturing Premier Solutions Provider for Autodesk® in the Southwest, announced today the opening of its new office in Phoenix, Arizona. Continuing its commitment to the mechanical design engineering community, this expansion provides local support and training for 2D and 3D design customers.

“We're eager to provide the growing Arizona market with leading computer-aided design (CAD) consulting, training, and services,” said vice president Anthony Rodriguez, who will oversee Arizona's office sales and operations. “Several of Arizona's leading engineering and manufacturing organizations have already partnered with us and have seen positive results. This, along with our focus and commitment to customer success in the Southwest, made our expansion into this area a logical decision,” Rodriguez added.

Precise Metal Products Co., a KETIV customer based in Phoenix and fabricator for the aerospace, aircraft, and medical sectors, looks forward to continuing their momentum with KETIV. “Precise Metal Products has taken the next step to becoming an industry leader by utilizing Autodesk Inventor® in our manufacturing strategy. Our alliance with KETIV Technologies is an integral part of this implementation,” Joel Cheiky, engineering manager said. Chad Swanson, manufacturing engineer, stated, “The company has provided exceptional customer service and technical support. We look forward to continuing our partnership and welcome KETIV into the Valley.”

“For 20 years KETIV has excelled as a trusted Autodesk partner because they focus on understanding customers' business goals and requirements, while helping to improve their design-to-manufacturing process,” said Robert “Buzz” Kross, senior vice president of Autodesk Manufacturing Solutions. “We are very happy to see that KETIV is expanding their business, and we look forward to continuing to work with their team to provide customers with the most comprehensive manufacturing solutions.”

Three KETIV customers have been selected among 600,000 worldwide Inventor users over the last year for their engineering excellence and groundbreaking innovation. Recognized through Autodesk's Inventor of the Month program, these customers were chosen for their innovative design and engineering advancements.

Arizona Training and Events

The Arizona office will serve as a training, support and sales center. KETIV is offering a variety of free training courses for the mechanical design engineering community focused on:

Autodesk Inventor for SolidWorks Users
Autodesk Inventor Suite
AutoCAD® Electrical
AutoCAD Mechanical
Autodesk Vault
KETIV is offering free events including Autodesk's Experience the Possibilities Tour in Phoenix on September 20, 2007. Experience the Possibilities attendees will have the opportunity to see 2008 manufacturing software solutions and meet KETIV's industry experts at a luncheon open to the manufacturing community. To sign up for free training, webinars and events, register at www.ketivtech.com/arizona.

Arizona Staff and Office

The company has hired three local associates to staff the office, and will also utilize their team of dedicated application engineers to support technical questions and related services.

Kevin Thompson, Area Sales Manager for Arizona, has spent the last 5 years selling ERP, manufacturing, and CRM software for Microsoft value added resellers in Phoenix.
Rick Renda will serve as application engineer and brings more than 35 years of industry experience to KETIV. Renda has used manufacturing design software including Inventor, SolidWorks and UGS Solid Edge.
Peter Ephland, inside sales specialist, has 20 years of experience in consumer product engineering and industrial design. His experience in these fields gives him the ability to match the right software solution to meet customers' business needs.
Conveniently located in the Camelback Center building, the new office is 3131 East Camelback Rd., Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85016.

About KETIV Technologies, Inc.

KETIV Technologies is a leading Autodesk solutions provider with 20 years' experience delivering CAD software and services in the Southwest United States. KETIV's team of industry experts increase the profitability of engineering services companies by proactively engaging with them to identify their business issues and deliver relevant solutions. KETIV currently serves the civil and mechanical engineering industries. For more information, visit www.ketivtech.com.

Autodesk is a registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk is not responsible for typographical or graphical errors that may appear in this document.

© 2007 KETIV Technologies of California, Inc. All rights reserved.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:39 AM | Comments (0)

New Vertical Storage Cabinets from Eagle MHC Provide Dust-Free Protection

New enclosed vertical storage cabinets from Eagle MHC are specially designed for critical manufacturing, assembly and storage areas where products and components need to be securely stored in a dust-and dirt-free environment.

Clayton, DE (PRWEB) September 17, 2007 — New enclosed vertical storage cabinets from Eagle MHC are specially designed for critical manufacturing, assembly and storage areas where products and components need to be securely stored in a dust- and dirt-free environment.

Eagle’s NSF-approved vertical storage cabinets feature a chemically resistant, easy-to-clean stainless steel exterior. The cabinet body is made of 18-gauge stainless steel, with interior stainless steel shelves adjustable on 4-inch vertical increments. Double-pan, 20-gauge stainless steel-hinged key-locking doors provide long-life durability, along with secure, dust-free protection of all cabinet contents.

Enclosed vertical storage shelves are available with a flat top, or an alternative sloped top providing laminar flow to meet stricter cleanroom requirements. In addition to stationary cabinet models, Eagle offers a mobile version featuring
5-inch plate casters and brakes, so that the shelving unit can be moved easily from one location to another without needing to remove the merchandise during transport.

Eagle MHC’s enclosed vertical storage cabinets are 72 inches high, and are offered in 36- and 48-inch lengths. Custom sizes are also available upon request.

For more details on these cabinets or other material handling equipment for clean environments, contact Lynda Donavan (ext. 3027) with sales inquiries, or Eagle’s Marketing Department (Ext. 3129) with inquiries pertaining to marketing support. Tel. (800) 637-5100 or (302) 653-3000.

Web: www.eaglegrp.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:39 AM | Comments (0)

BCG Systems Ramps up Operations for Global Belting Technologies

Another successful business management software implementation, this time for Global Belting Technologies, a state of the art provider of high quality conveyor belting for industrial operations.

Akron, Ohio (PRWEB) September 17, 2007 -- BCG Systems, Inc. announced today another successful business management software implementation, this time for Global Belting Technologies, a state of the art provider of high quality conveyor belting for industrial operations. The solution BCG Systems designed incorporates Microsoft Dynamics GP and integrated container tracking software.

Rapid growth had stretched Global Belting Technologies' entry-level accounting software to its limits. Inventory and container shipments were tracked manually using an extensive series of spreadsheets. Management began looking for an integrated system that could manage inventory, billing, and shipping in one cohesive system. The company sought recommendations from its accounting firm, and was directed to BCG Systems of Akron, Ohio.

"We liked the fact that they sold two systems and could advise us which would be a better fit," said Scott Phillips, operations manager. "BCG took the time to come out and learn our business model, and then presented us with a solution that covered all of our requirements."

BCG Systems proposed a solution based on Microsoft Dynamics GP and incorporating the integrated Container Management solution from Blue Moon Industries to manage the movement of goods from Global Belting Technologies' manufacturing operations overseas to their customer locations in North America.

Now the company is able to build a manifest that specifies what is in each container, even when the contents originate from multiple purchase orders and are going to different customers. Staff can update the location of the goods on the manifest, and when received, the goods automatically post into the Dynamics GP purchase order receipts.

The integrated solution means Global Belting Technologies can invoice its customer earlier, when the product leaves the factory, substantially improving cash flow. Efficiencies in the billing process have shaved up to two hours of processing time per invoice.

Philips attributes much of the success of the company's solution to the diligence and expertise of BCG Systems' consultants. "It's just what we needed," he said, "All the parts of the puzzle are in one system and talking back and forth to each other."

About BCG Systems, Inc.:
Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, with offices in Atlanta and Nashville, BCG Systems, Inc. is a single-source provider of business management software, hardware, and infrastructure planning. Nationally recognized for providing exceptional information management solutions and service, BCG Systems designs, implements, and supports cost effective ERP, CRM, and networking systems -- in addition to custom applications and Web development. BCG Systems, Inc. employs certified professionals who combine experience, commitment, and ingenuity to maximize the return on each client's technology investment.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:38 AM | Comments (0)

EmploymentGroup Collaborates with VCG, Inc. to Develop SuccessCheck

Staffing Solutions Company and leading HR Software Company develop technology to assist with candidate placements.

Battle Creek, MI (PRWEB) September 17, 2007 -- EmploymentGroup (www.employmentgroup.com), a solutions-based staffing company in Michigan announces the development and implementation of SuccessCheck, an online pre-employment assessment that ensures the best placements. EmploymentGroup and VCG collaborated on developing one of its latest product offerings, SuccessCheck.

EmploymentGroup was looking for an assessment tool that would provide its clients with a 'success predictor' for potential candidates. In order to accomplish this, we enlisted the assistance of our technology partner, VCG, Inc. who also developed our current StaffSuite and StaffSuite WorldLink online portals. EmploymentGroup wanted the assessment to integrate seamlessly with these online portals that are utilized by candidates to upload their resumes and register. Once the decision to move forward on the project was made, Linda Miller, CFO of EmploymentGroup, and Steve Taylor, President & CEO of VCG met to discuss the project. From that meeting, VCG's product management team began reviewing assessment vendors and together with EmploymentGroup selected Psichometrics. Based on the feedback EmploymentGroup provided and together with VCG, SuccessCheck was developed.

SuccessCheck is an online tool that assesses the general intellectual, emotional, ethical, and personality suitability for a job or position. The assessment is comprised of three parts: attitude, personality, and cognitive. EmploymentGroup client service specialist use SuccessCheck assessment results, in conjunction with a face-to-face interview, to predict an applicant's success and fit within the company and the position prior to being placed.

Following the development of SuccessCheck, Bill Hofrichter, VP of Human Resources for EmploymentGroup, began the training and testing phase of the project. EmploymentGroup team members tested SuccessCheck's functionality and integration with StaffSuite daily for one month. Once the testing was complete, EmploymentGroup implemented SuccessCheck. Currently, all applicants are required to pass and complete each section to be placed by EmploymentGroup.

"Thanks to the collaboration with VCG, we were able to make SuccessCheck a reality. It is another example of our commitment to technology in order to provide our clients with successful placements, "said EmploymentGroup CFO, Linda Miller. "It is this type of ongoing collaboration that makes VCG and EmploymentGroup mutually successful," said Steve Taylor, President & CEO of VCG. "Both companies worked together to develop the most effective integrated attitudinal, personality, and cognitive assessment product for the staffing and recruiting industry," said Taylor.

About EmploymentGroup
Founded in 1958, EmploymentGroup is a solutions-based business and managed services company, providing and delivering quality staffing solutions to allow its clients to focus on their core business functions. With offices in Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois, EmploymentGroup specializes in recruiting, training, and placing permanent and temporary field associates in contract, administrative, professional, technical, and light industrial positions. EmploymentGroup, through its EG Managed Services division provides essential but non-strategic managed services to companies including mail and document management, archives, courier, shipping and receiving, custodial and grounds. To find out more about EmploymentGroup, please visit www.employmentgroup.com, or to learn about EmploymentGroup Managed Services, please visit www.egmanagedservices.com.

About VCG, Inc.
VCG provides comprehensive staffing and recruiting solutions that power success. Since 1976, VCG has helped hundreds of companies and more than 14,000 professionals worldwide achieve operational excellence by streamlining their unique business processes and accelerating finding and placing the people most likely to thrive. VCG, C-PAS, StaffSuite, TempWare-V, WebPAS, StaffSuite WorldLink and WebPAS WorldLink are registered trademarks of VCG, Inc. Pointwing is a trademark of VCG, Inc. For more information visit: www.vcgsoftware.com or call 1.800.318.4983.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:38 AM | Comments (0)

ADMET Debuts Low-force, High-speed eXpert 5607 Universal Testing Machine for Dynamic Testing

ADMET Inc., a provider of integrated materials testing systems, today introduced a low-force, high-speed tabletop universal testing machine. Called the eXpert 5607, the tabletop machine performs compression, tensile and cyclic testing up to 1000 grams maximum force. It features crosshead speeds of up to 350 inches per minute and is ideal for testing biomedical materials, plastics, textiles, etc.

Norwood, Mass. (PRWEB) September 17, 2007 -- ADMET Inc., a provider of integrated materials testing systems, today introduced a low-force, high-speed tabletop universal testing machine. Called the eXpert 5607, the tabletop machine performs compression, tensile and cyclic testing up to 1000 grams maximum force. It features crosshead speeds of up to 350 inches per minute and is ideal for testing biomedical materials, plastics, textiles, etc.

Coupled with ADMET's eP-DS (dynamic servo controller), the eXpert 5607 offers precise measurement of extremely low-force tests plus cyclic testing to 15Hz. Users can program ramp, square and triangular waveforms. They can also adjust control gains and end point values on the fly or activate amplitude control so that the eP-DS automatically adjusts the end point values to ensure that the desired targets are met.

"The ADMET eXpert 5607 continues to deliver on our commitment to provide testing equipment that is optimized for emerging biomedical and plastics applications," said Richard Gedney, ADMET founder and president. "Our easy-to-use yet flexible (in the good sense) and inexpensive compression, tensile and cyclic testing equipment gives researchers and manufacturers an efficient way to certify that their products meet customer requirements and industry standards."

The eXpert 5607 is available immediately directly from ADMET and through ADMET representatives. Pricing for the eXpert 5607 with the eP-DS Digital Controller starts at $5,900. Product specifications are available at: http://www.admet.com/assets/eXpert560x.pdf

About ADMET
ADMET Inc., founded in 1989, combines high-quality products and services to deliver the most efficient and cost effective materials testing systems. Its products range from new and used universal testing frames, to software and specialized control units, as well as grips and fixtures. The company also retrofits electromechanical, hydraulic and digitally controlled testing machines from any manufacturer to deliver more reliable test results, simplify operations, meet international standards and integrate with data collection systems. Highly skilled engineers provide customers with personalized research and development services and support to make ADMET the most responsive materials testing equipment supplier. ADMET's loyal customer base includes leading manufacturers, testing labs, researchers and universities in aerospace, automotive, biomedical, concrete, construction, metals, plastics, textiles and other industries. ADMET's products are widely distributed in North America, Central and South America, Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim. ADMET can be reached at 781-769-0850 or by visiting http://www.admet.com

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
High resolution photo available. Contact Sandy McLaughlin.

EDITORS - For further information:

Marc Venet
ADMET Inc.
781-769-0850 X13

Sandy McLaughlin
Soucy Communications Group
781-898-7305

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:37 AM | Comments (0)

RFID-Enabled Applications To Be Showcased in Microsoft's Partner Pavilion at EPC Connection 2007 Conference & Exhibition

RFID Journal and EPCglobal North America announced today that Microsoft and its partners will demonstrate ready-to-deploy RFID-enabled applications in a special exhibit hall theatre pavilion at EPC Connection - the fourth annual EPCglobal North America Conference & Exhibition - October 2-4, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, in Chicago, IL.

New York (PRWEB) September 17, 2007 -- RFID Journal, the world's leading media and events company covering radio frequency identification (RFID), and EPCglobal North America™, a not-for-profit, vendor-neutral, user-driven organization supporting the adoption of EPC technology, announced today that Microsoft and several of its key technology partners will demonstrate ready-to-deploy RFID-enabled applications built on Microsoft's in a special exhibit hall theatre pavilion at EPC Connection, October 2-4, at Chicago's Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.

"It's important for companies to understand that deploying RFID applications doesn't have to be complex and expensive," said Anush Kumar, Senior Product Manager, Microsoft BizTalk RFID. "With BizTalk RFID, companies can use a proven platform to extend visibility to the edge of their enterprises and across their supply chains. And our partners will be demonstrating ready-to-deploy RFID-enabled applications that leverage this capability today."

"With new capabilities, such as native support for electronic data interchange (EDI) and RFID, BizTalk Server 2006 R2 provides the ability to gather data from the edge of the enterprise, enabling real-time visibility needed to achieve new levels of efficiency across the supply chain. BizTalk Server 2006 R2 provides the infrastructure to connect existing applications (regardless of the platform) and to create and leverage new applications, Kumar said.

The Microsoft Partner Pavilion will feature live demonstrations of these applications:

Returnable Asset Tracking Solution: TCS/Motorola
Often, reusable assets are misplaced and the lack of visibility into their movement leads to substantial losses for companies. TCS (http://www.tcs.com/Solutions/RFID.html) has partnered with Microsoft (http://www.microsoft.com/business/rfidlanding.mspx) and Motorola (http://www.symbol.com/products/rfid-readers) to offer an asset tracking solution that allows companies to better manage their returnable assets with RFID. TCS' RFID-enabled asset tracking solution provides customers with an automated process with a web-based interface to track and monitor returnable assets movement across customer premises. It provides customers with information about assets that are due back from various trading partners. It also gives information about the status of returnable assets against the associated order number thereby providing enhanced levels of visibility of assets in the possession of different partners across the supply chain. The solution uses Microsoft's BizTalk-RFID platform for easy development, integration, installation and deployment.

Asset Management, Automated Goods Receipt: Xterprise
Xterprise (http://xterprise.com/index.html) enterprise applications are defining the High Definition Supply Chain™ for companies in a variety of markets around the world. The company uses RFID technology to enable process automation for material handling from supplier to manufacturer, across multiple markets. At EPC Connection, Xterprise will demonstrate XAM, its returnable transport item (RTI) management application, and TraX-AGR, its automated goods receipt application. Using BizTalk 2006 R2 and other Microsoft platform products, Xterprise has enabled real-time reusables management and seamless process integration between manufacturers and suppliers. Working within the context of an enterprise level SAP ERP, TraX AGR enables automated receipt and suggested put away of goods into SAP IM. Providing accurate, real-time availability of goods to the production line as they are received, eliminating receipt delays, reducing cycle times and required inventory levels

Track and Trace: Cactus Commerce
The Track and Trace solution by Cactus Commerce (http://www.cactuscommerce.com/home/default_e.asp) leverages data-capturing technologies commonly available today for product identification. Enabled by Avery Dennison, the Track and Trace solution produces smart labels by encoding RFID data and printing barcode and human readable labels out of the box. Organizations in such industries as government, retailing, consumer packaged goods, manufacturing and health and life science can use Cactus's Track and Trace to configure both out-of-the-box or more complex custom business workflows and processes. Track and Trace is built on BizTalk Server 2006 R2, providing a hardware-agnostic layer with easy integration into disparate systems, including leveraging out-of-the-box EDI capabilities.

Supply Chain Execution: 3M and HighJump
HighJump Software (http://www.highjumpsoftware.com/), a 3M Company, is leveraging BizTalk RFID to further optimize supply chain effectiveness for their customers. RFID is longer just for compliance applications; it can be used throughout business applications to provide additional business process efficiencies. HighJump has partnered with Microsoft to leverage the RFID framework for RF and RFID applications, linking the capability at a platform level to allow for adoption throughout their suite of supply chain execution solutions.

RFID Enabled Retail Store Accelerator on BizTalk RFID
Wipro's Retail Store Accelerator is envisaged to operate like an accelerator/framework that provides a platform to enable various apparel store level use cases at ease. In addition, the extent of automation the technology provides enables store and warehouse personnel to focus on improving operations and business facilities in addition to tracking of various item movements in the store. The solution is built on BizTalk Server 2006 R2, which provides an RFID/Integration infrastructure with SQL Server 2005 providing Business Intelligence (BI) capabilities.

Solutions for Common RFID Challenges
In this session by Victor Vega, an educator of more than 2,000 RFID professionals at the Alien RFID Academy, Mr. Vega highlights solutions to common RFID implementation challenges for demanding applications

Real-World RFID Solutions for Small and Medium-size Businesses
Unisys will be demonstrating real-world RFID solutions for the small and medium business space through the integration of BizTalk RFID with Microsoft Dynamics, Microsoft's SMB enterprise resource planning solution. Specifically, Unisys will be showcasing supply chain scenarios, such as shipping and receiving, with Dynamics Axapta integrating to RFID events through BizTalk RFID.

How the Intel UHF RFID Transceiver R1000 is Changing the Way RFID is Deployed
The Intel UHF RFID Transceiver R1000 chip is a highly integrated, high-performance UHF reader radio chip that brings unprecedented capabilities and cost effectiveness to UHF readers. Intel will demonstrate how the R1000 benefits end users by providing:

Performance and flexibility: The Intel® R1000 has all of the performance and flexibility needed to enable the full range of UHF RFID applications and reader form factors, all based on a common Intel R1000 platform.
Simplicity and cost: High integration lowers design complexity, reduces reader size, and cuts manufacturing costs.
Support for worldwide standards: Transceiver and firmware support EPCglobal Gen 2 and ISO 18000-6C specifications, regional regulatory requirements and the full 840-960 MHz band.
Ease of deployment: Transceiver and software enable low-level diagnostics, remote management and provisioning, and easy integration.
Breakthrough development tools: Protocol firmware, programming tools, radio drivers and schematics all enable quick time-to-market.
Customer Case Study: An RFID Success Story
Avery Dennison, one of the world's leading suppliers of RFID solutions, will showcase the successful deployment by one of its key customers.

"Microsoft's decision to move into the RFID market in a big way with its technology partners heralds a new stage in the evolution of RFID, where the focus is more on the software that uses data to drive value than on the ability to gather data with the hardware," said Mark Roberti, founder and editor of RFID Journal. "We're very excited that attendees at EPC Connection will be able to see several ready-to-deploy applications that can deliver a quick ROI."

EPC Connection features four educational tracks--Supply Chain/Inventory Management, IT/Infrastructure, Manufacturing, and Distribution/Logistics. It will also feature three preconference seminars: EPC Essentials, RFID in Packaging, and the sixth RFID Academic Convocation, highlighting the latest research on RFID applications.

In addition, EPC Connection 2007 will offer new case studies and objective end-user presentations from such companies as Ahold, AmerisourceBergen, Anheuser-Busch, Boeing, Cephalon, Coca-Cola, Dean Foods, Dow Corning, Excel, Kimberly-Clark, Jungheinrich Lift Truck, Lockheed Martin, McKesson, Microsoft, Northrup Grumman, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Rolls-Royce, Schiff Nutrition, Shaw Industries, Technicolor, Wal-Mart and Wilson Sporting Goods.

Companies interested in attending EPC Connection can register online by going to http://www.rfidjournalevents.com/EPCconnection/

About RFID Journal
RFID Journal is the leading source of news and in-depth information about radio frequency identification (RFID) and its many business applications. Business executives and implementers depend on RFID Journal for up-to-the-minute RFID news, in-depth case studies, best practices, strategic insights and information about vendor solutions. This has made RFID Journal the most relied-upon and respected RFID information resource, serving the largest audience of RFID decision-makers worldwide--in print, online and at face-to-face events. www.rfidjournal.com

EPCglobal North America™ serves subscribers in the United States and Canada fostering the adoption of the EPCglobal Network®, and related technologies. The EPCglobal Network combines Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, existing communications network infrastructure, and the Electronic Product Code (EPC), the number used for uniquely identifying an item that enables accurate, cost-efficient visibility of information in the supply chain. The end result helps organizations to be more efficient, flexible, and responsive to customer needs. For more information, please visit www.EPCglobalNA.org

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:37 AM | Comments (0)

Rush Tracking Systems and OATSystems' Partner to Deliver Asset Tracking and Work-in-Process Solutions for Manufacturing

Rush Tracking Systems, one of the world's top RFID solution providers, announced that they have entered into a partnership with OATSystems to deliver turnkey asset tracking solutions for industrial automotive and aerospace manufacturing companies.

Kansas City, KS and Waltham, MA, September 17, 2007 - Rush Tracking Systems, one of the world's top RFID solution providers, announced that they have entered into a partnership with OATSystems to deliver turnkey asset tracking solutions for industrial automotive and aerospace manufacturing companies.

"We are thrilled to be working with OATSystems to implement real-time visibility solutions that provide significant, measurable value for our customers," said Toby Rush, President of Rush Tracking Systems.

Rush Tracking and OATSystems are currently providing RFID-enabled visibility and manufacturing automations solutions for multiple customers. These solutions are built on OAT's Asset Tracking platform and is enabling a Kan-Ban replenishment system and asset tracking application for a $25 billion durable goods manufacturer. They are also implementing OAT's platform to track temperature-sensitive raw materials such as carbon based fibers from receipt through usage until disposal for a $32 billion aerospace manufacturing company.

OATSystems' CEO Michael George added, "As a fellow RFID pioneer, Rush Tracking has years of asset tracking expertise in complex manufacturing and distribution environments. We consider them as a key partner in enabling our mutual customers to deploy RFID solutions and realize value quickly."

About Rush Tracking:
Rush Tracking Systems ultimate goal is to drive value by enabling visibility. Rush is a leading end-to-end RFID systems integrator offering turnkey solutions through a proven, repeatable process based on years of real-world implementation. Rush serves as trusted advisors and systems integrators to numerous Fortune 100 companies in CPG, aerospace and defense, manufacturing, life sciences and government sectors.

Kim Niebaum
913-227-0922 x139
www.rushtrackingsystems.com

About OATSystems, Inc.:
OATSystems Inc. is the recognized RFID solution leader with software that empowers businesses to achieve competitive advantage and ROI from radio-frequency identification (RFID) enabled applications. As a pioneer in developing RFID technology, OAT has been setting the standards in RFID for over half a decade and is responsible for industry firsts that include the largest scale and largest scope of deployments, as well as the most innovative approaches to providing enterprise-wide RFID solutions. OAT's multinational client base consists of nearly 100 customers in retail, CPG, consumer electronics, manufacturing, life sciences, aerospace and defense. OAT is headquartered in Waltham, MA, and has a development office in Bangalore and various direct sales offices and resellers around the globe. To learn more about the company's latest developments, visit the website at www.oatsystems.com.

Contact:
George Cohen
George Cohen Communications
(617) 325-0011

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:36 AM | Comments (0)

ClaudiaTracie™ Announce Appointment of CBI Laboratories to Create Luxury Product Line: Exclusive Bath and Body Products to Launch Spring 2008 In Upscale Retailers and At Cosmoprof Bologna

Tracie Dyer and Claudia Sweeney, partners and co-founders of ClaudiaTracie™, announced today that they have engaged CBI Laboratories, Ft. Worth, TX, to create their exclusive bath and body range of products. "We have researched the many fine creative labs in the country," said Ms. Dyer. "Our visit to CBI, seeing their history of creativity and the growth of the Company made our decision an easy one."

Tulsa, OK (PRWEB) September 17, 2007 -- Tracie Dyer and Claudia Sweeney, partners and co-founders of ClaudiaTracie™, announced today that they have engaged CBI Laboratories, Ft. Worth, TX, to create their exclusive bath and body range of products.

"We have researched the many fine creative labs in the country," said Ms. Dyer. "Our visit to CBI, seeing their history of creativity and the growth of the Company made our decision an easy one."

"Our company is committed to offering the discerning consumer, quality products that offer identifiable, unique, features and benefits," said Ms. Sweeney. "We want to enter the cluttered bath products category with a product that is easily recognized as being wonderfully advanced and special. CBI is giving us exactly that!"

ClaudiaTracie™ managing consultants Duquesa Marketing handled the search process for the company. Geoff Ficke, President of Duquesa Marketing, said, "Claudia and Tracie have been very clear about their vision. Quality, creativity, honesty, exclusivity! Our search process was made dramatically easier by the clarity of their goals for the line. CBI is the gold standard for creating products that offer cutting edge user benefits."

ClaudiaTracie™ is an idea factory, creating unique, upscale consumer products for the international retail market. The Company plans to launch its exclusive bath products in select fine retailers and at Cosmoprof Bologna in spring 2008.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:36 AM | Comments (0)

Independent Insurance Agency Celebrates Important Anniversary

How one local independent insurance agency is providing value added services to their clients.

Brockton, MA (PRWEB) September 16, 2007 -- Chris Sheppard, Vice President, CPCU, AFSB, of Smith Buckley & Hunt Insurance Agency (http://www.sbhins.com) announces their one year anniversary with Mywave. Mywave is a web based software product developed by Zywave, Inc., of Milwaukee, WI and used by independent insurance agencies.

Chris said, "Mywave has allowed us to separate ourselves from other brokers in our marketing area and has allowed us to achieve significant growth in the softening P&C marketplace. Our clients have been very impressed with Mywave and its capabilities. I never thought I would ever hear a client say that we make insurance look "sexy" (actual words)."

He went on to say, "it has allowed us to provide customized documents on demand, the ability for our clients to communicate with other business owners across the country, online OSHA logs and analysis, newsletters and payroll stuffers, just to name a few. The fact that a client can have access to over 1700 customizable documents at the click of a mouse is truly amazing. For instance, if they need a fleet safety policy, all they have to do is point, click and presto, a customized fleet safety policy."

Additionally, he explained how Zywave purposely limits the amount of agents they provide the Mywave product to in a given geographic area. He said, "In a competitive situation, we know we are the only broker coming in with Mywave, and that separates us right from the start."

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:35 AM | Comments (0)

5th Latin America PET (LAPET) Conference in Mexico City on 15-16 Nov, 2007

With PET manufacturing sector still in the cycle of oversupplied and under pressure, PET producers have to strive to optimize their cost position in order to survive in the industry which is characterized by high growth but tight margin. The 5th Latin America PET (LAPET) conference offers authoritative views and analysis on the burgeoning market and PET players' initiatives.

(PRWEB) September 16, 2007 -- Building on the highly successful 4th MEX-ACCRA PET conference in 2006 which attracted over 100 attendees, Centre for Management Technology (CMT) is delighted to host the 5th Latin America PET (LAPET) 2007 on 15-16 November in Mexico City.

Mexico, a country with a population of over 100 million drinks 14.4 billion litres of carbonated soft drink (CSD). Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) takes the biggest share for packaging. Mexico, along with its neighbours Central America, Caribbean, and Andean region (Columbia, Venezuela, Peru and Ecuador), consume over one million tons of PET resin per annum. The South Cone region (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile) is also seeing a surge in PET sales, led by strong demand from food, beverage and cosmetic sectors.

The two-day event features presentation by Novapet, a new entry to the Latin America PET market; they recently firmed up their plan to set up a new resin manufacturing plant in Venezuela. Major PET producer Eastman and leading consulting firm, CMAI will examine trends and direction of PET market and its feedstocks. Also presenting will be leading preform and bottle manufacturers San Miguel Industrial, Simko, discussing business outlook of promising markets like Peru, Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina.

Besides PET market review, technological advancements in preform and bottle will be another main focus of the conference. International packaging leader Amcor will share their customer centric approach to new product development, whilst leading cosmetic and skincare company Natura and major brand owner Bonafont (Danone) will reveal how PET plays a role in their packaging mix. Latest technologies in preform system, mold, closure, additive, barrier and PET recycling will also be highlighted.

With PET manufacturing sector still in the cycle of oversupplied and under pressure, PET producers have to strive to optimize their cost position in order to survive in the industry which is characterized by high growth but tight margin. The 5th Latin America PET (LAPET) conference offers authoritative views and analysis on the burgeoning market and PET players' initiatives. For more information on the full program agenda visit www.cmtevents.com.

CMT into our 24th year is a global conference organizer based in Singapore. CMT has been producing international conferences for Polyester Intermediates & PET markets since 1996. CMT is recognized for providing market specific information for the PET industry to maximize opportunities in emerging regions. CMT PET conferences are held in Asia/China, Middle East, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe.

Press Contact:
Jaime Ng
Event Executive
Tel: +65-63469115
Fax: +65-63455928

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:34 AM | Comments (0)

MatrikonOPC Server for Allen-Bradley PLC's Now Offers Superior PLC Connectivity Supporting Ethernet IP and ControlLogix Devices

MatrikonOPC™ announces the release of the new MatrikonOPC Server for Allen-Bradley PLC's. This OPC Server provides superior connectivity to all Allen-Bradley Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Ethernet/IP and ControlLogix devices and routing; including the Allen-Bradley Data Highway Plus (DH+), Allen-Bradley DF1 (DF1), Allen-Bradley Data Highway 485 (DH485) and Ethernet/IP. The server connects to devices via serial connections, single port Allen-Bradley 1784- PKTX PCI cards and Ethernet connections representing true "universal connectivity" for connecting PLCs.

Edmonton, AB (PRWEB) September 16, 2007 -- MatrikonOPC™ announces the release of the new MatrikonOPC Server for Allen-Bradley PLC's. This OPC Server provides superior connectivity to all Allen-Bradley Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), Ethernet/IP and ControlLogix devices and routing; including the Allen-Bradley Data Highway Plus (DH+), Allen-Bradley DF1 (DF1), Allen-Bradley Data Highway 485 (DH485) and Ethernet/IP. The server connects to devices via serial connections, single port Allen-Bradley 1784- PKTX PCI cards and Ethernet connections representing true "universal connectivity" for connecting PLCs.

The MatrikonOPC Server for Allen Bradley PLCs includes time saving features not found in other drivers like:

Automatic discovery of devices over serial and PKTX cards
Automatic configuration of devices
Competitive system expansion
Loading of device configuration files like .l5k, .pc5, and .slc,
Serial connection types are automatically configured
Tags are automatically generated for each device.
Supports Device-Level Redundancy through fail-over channels

The Allen-Bradley OPC Server is flexible, easy to install and configure. Users continue to enjoy the reliability of proven MatrikonOPC technology coupled with the total service of MatrikonOPC's software support.

To learn more about the MatrikonOPC Server for Allen-Bradley PLC's, or to explore the free download, please navigate to: http://www.matrikonopc.com/opc-drivers/2272/index.aspx

About MatrikonOPC (a division of Matrikon Inc. TSX: MTK)

With a collection of more than 500 OPC products and over 100,000 installations worldwide, MatrikonOPC is the world's largest OPC company. MatrikonOPC is a charter member of the OPC Foundation, and has demonstrated a commitment to developing OPC as the industrial connectivity standard.

MatrikonOPC's international customer base includes a wide range of companies from process to discrete manufacturers in industrial, commercial and military applications. With offices in major cities throughout North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East and a global client base including industry leaders in a wide range of process industries, Matrikon's reach is global. www.MatrikonOPC.com.

Matrikon, MatrikonOPC and Tunneller are trademarks or registered trademarks of Matrikon Inc.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:33 AM | Comments (0)

EntryPoint's Offshore Global Development Center to Support the Deployment of Workbrain at one of the Largest US Retailers

EntryPoint's Offshore Global Development Center to augment EntryPoint's onsite US consultants with offshore Workbrain development and testing services.

Toronto, ON (PRWEB) September 15, 2007 -- EntryPoint Global, a leading Workforce Management consulting firm, is pleased to announce that its Offshore Global Development Center (GDC) has been selected to support the deployment and rollout of Workbrain/Infor, an enterprise Workforce Management (WFM) solution, at one the largest US-based retailers. EntryPoint's Global Development Center will augment and support EntryPoint's current team of seasoned consultants working at the client with Workbrain/Infor development and testing services performed offshore.

EntryPoint's Offshore Global Development Center is a centralized development capability for Workforce Management development, support and maintenance services located in a state-of-the-art development center in Shanghai, China. The level of expertise in the Center is world-class and provides EntryPoint's clients with high-quality, cost-effective offshore Workforce Management development & testing services. EntryPoint's global delivery model offers Global 2000 firms' onsite Workbrain/Infor consulting and advisory services, while using experienced, proven, and talented offshore resources trained in Workbrain for customization, support and maintenance activities.

"Our global WFM delivery model offers unparalleled value to organizations implementing Workbrain. EntryPoint's clients get the best of both worlds -- some of the most experienced onsite Workbrain consultants available in the industry today, while utilizing our offshore team to help lower overall project costs and reduce implementation times. Why should clients be paying top-dollar for onsite consulting when a lot of the work can and should be performed offshore?" says René Roth, Director of Strategy at EntryPoint Global.

He continued, "Our WFM Global Development Center offers clients offshore development services dedicated exclusively to the delivery of Workforce Management solutions. It's just another example of the continuing innovation coming out of EntryPoint Global and another example of what drives us -- helping leading organizations maximize the value of their WFM initiatives."

To find out more about how organizations can reduce overall Workbrain/Infor deployment costs using dual-shore onsite and offshore Workbrain consulting services, please see: www.entrypointglobal.com .

Contact
Arshad Merali
EntryPoint Global
+1.416.252.1000
amerali @ entrypoint-global.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 05:32 AM | Comments (0)

September 14, 2007

EARBid™ to Conduct Online Auction of Semiconductor Manufacturing, Inspection, and Test Equipment

This auction is a premium offering of wafer processing, coating, sputtering and CVD; wet processing; slicing, OD and ID saws; wafer probes and bonders; inspection and test equipment and more. Featured assets include an Applied Materials Mark II PLIS CVD ILD System, a Perkin Elmer 300HT Micralign Mask Aligner, a MRL 4-Stack Diffusion Furnace, a Samco PD10M Diamond Light Carbon Coater, a Steag CVD System, PR Hoffman 4800 Lappers/Polishers, a Peter Wolters ALO Double Side Polisher, and a TM Vacuum Wafer Annealing Oven.

Palatine, IL (PRWEB) September 14, 2007 -- EARBid (www.earbid.com) today announced it will conduct an online auction of semiconductor manufacturing, inspection, test and related equipment on the EARBid website.

This auction is a premium offering of wafer processing, coating, sputtering and CVD; wet processing; slicing, OD and ID saws; wafer probes and bonders; inspection and test equipment and more. Featured assets include an Applied Materials Mark II PLIS CVD ILD System, a Perkin Elmer 300HT Micralign Mask Aligner, a MRL 4-Stack Diffusion Furnace, a Samco PD10M Diamond Light Carbon Coater, a Steag CVD System, PR Hoffman 4800 Lappers/Polishers, a Peter Wolters ALO Double Side Polisher and a TM Vacuum Wafer Annealing Oven.

Online bidding begins September 20 and ends September 27, 2007. Assets are in multiple U.S. locations and are available for virtual preview at www.earbid.com. All auction transactions will be conducted conveniently online. Bidders can participate worldwide, 24 x 7, using a state-of-the-art auction system. Interested bidders should check earbid's website often for updated auction details as equipment is being added frequently.

EARBid is accepting consignments into their upcoming semiconductor auction events. Sellers can find more information about EARBid's auction program and seller support services by visiting earbid's website.

About Equipment Acquisition Resources
Equipment Acquisition Resources, Inc. is one of the world's largest suppliers of lappers, polishers, slicers, grinders and dicing saws for crystalline materials. In addition, E.A.R. offers process development and product services and support, and through EARBid, conducts online auctions of semiconductor equipment. For more information, visit our website.

Contact Information:
J. Bruce Costello
Director Auction Services
EARBid Online Auctions
A Division of Equipment Acquisition Resources, Inc.
888-327-2430
888-EARBID-0

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

Can Fat America Consume Fitness and Exercise?

New workout pill in development is designed to do what diet pills don't: assist weight loss through exercise.

Saint Joseph, MO (PRWEB) September 14, 2007 -- Most of us wish we were a few pounds lighter, or able to climb a flight of stairs without needing a respirator once we reach the top. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) states that 3 of 4 Americans do not exercise consistently and as many as 7 out of 10 are overweight.

According to the Director of Product Development at Certigo Nutraceuticals, Dan O'Connor, "Many overweight and sedentary people have a desire to get fit and lose weight evidenced by the over-consumption of fad diets and weight loss pills in recent years. However, permanent weight loss and real fitness will only come through consistent exercise; and diet pills and exercise are quite incompatible."

With this in mind, Certigo Nutraceuticals has been developing a workout pill that, unlike diet pills, addresses problems such as a lack of motivation, energy and endurance that hinder those who are sedentary or overweight from getting fit and permanently losing weight.

Mr. O'Connor puts it this way, "Workout pills have the same ease of use as diet pills. However, instead of giving you cramping and diarrhea, they stimulate motivation to exercise, increase energy levels, and alleviate muscle fatigue helping you reach the exercise intensity needed to produce real fitness results and long-term weight loss."

Consistent exercise is the key to permanent weight loss and workout pills may be an effective tool in helping anyone reach their exercise and fitness goals. Best of all, exercising produces no negative side effects other than temporary soreness and the minor inconvenience of repeating one's self many times when asked "Have you been working out?"

For additional information on the news that is the subject of this release, contact Joe Freudenthal or visit www.certigo.us.

About Certigo Nutraceuticals:
Certigo Nutraceuticals is a US-based nutraceuticals company founded by health care and fitness professionals. Its manufacturing facility registered with the FDA is one of the first to receive the National Nutritional Food Association's (NNFA) Good Manufacturing Process (GMP) Seal of Approval.

Contact:
Joe Freudenthal, director of operations
Certigo Nutraceuticals
816-396-5556
http://www.certigo.us

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

What Does It Take to Develop a Leadership Position in the China Market?

Learn how Analog Devices used strategic technology market development practices to establish itself as a market leader in the Chinese energy-metering solutions market during a live, online interview on September 28, 2007. Chris Halliwell, former managing partner at Regis McKenna and director of the Technology Marketing Center, will interview Analog Devices executive Patrick O'Doherty at 10 a.m. PDT. The online interview include a question and answer segment and requires advance registration.

Pasadena, CA (PRWEB) September 14, 2007 -- If you are thinking about bringing your technology to market in China you'll want to attend a free, live online interview with an executive from Analog Devices at 10 a.m. PDT on September 25. Anyone with a computer and Internet connection can participate and submit questions.

Chris Halliwell, director of the California Institute of Technology Industrial Relations Center's new online community, the Technology Marketing Center (TMC), will interview Patrick O'Doherty, a product-line executive with Analog Devices precision signal processing group. O'Doherty will discuss how his team used proven strategic technology market development principles to establish a dominant position in the market for energy-metering solutions among manufacturers in China.

"TMC resources are designed to reinforce concepts presented in the Industrial Relations Center course on strategic marketing of technology products," said Halliwell. "Analog Devices uses key course concepts, such as 'whole product' to deliver a complete solution that addresses specific issues in China, including technical support in a market that is moving from electromechanical technology to full digital implementation."

The discussion with O'Doherty is one in a series called Executive Interviews, which are conducted on the last Tuesday of each month by TMC. The Technology Marketing Center is a rich content destination on the Web, providing interview audio files, discussion forums and case studies to high-tech marketing professionals and their colleagues in sales, engineering and management.

Caltech is one of the most highly regarded institutions of research and education in science and engineering in the world. The Caltech Industrial Relations Center provides educational programs to address the business needs of technology-based companies.

Chris Halliwell is also the instructor for the Caltech Industrial Relations Center's course on strategic marketing of technology products which has served more than 3,000 executive participants worldwide. Halliwell, an independent consultant, helps industrial companies develop cross-functional processes for product and market strategy development.

Analog Devices is headquartered in Norwood, Massachusetts, and has design and manufacturing facilities throughout the world. It provides data conversion and signal-conditioning technology, and serves more than 60,000 customers, representing virtually all types of electronic equipment. For more than 40 years, it has been a manufacturer of high-performance integrated circuits used in analog and digital signal-processing applications.

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

National Truck Equipment Manufacturer Realizes Six Month Return-On-Investment with PlanetTogether Advanced Planning and Scheduling Solution

PlanetTogether, LLC provides advanced planning and scheduling solutions that maximize its customers' return on investment, with the successful deployment of PlanetTogether APS.net at Knapheide Truck Equipment Company of Flint, Michigan.

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) September 14, 2007 -- PlanetTogether, LLC today announced another example of how it provides advanced planning and scheduling solutions that maximize its customers' return on investment, with the successful deployment of PlanetTogether APS.net at Knapheide Truck Equipment Company of Flint, Michigan. Knapheide Flint turns General Motors, Ford, and Dodge truck chassis into the working utility trucks used by municipalities and contractors across Michigan and throughout the country.

Knapheide Flint builds more than 5,000 trucks each year, and its old method of scheduling projects using a large magnetic board had become too burdensome. The manual scheduling process was labor intensive to maintain, requiring two fulltime people, plus, it had become the bottleneck in the company's production cycle.

"Knapheide Flint was experiencing symptoms common to many busy manufacturers  --  its ability to schedule projects, not its capacity, had become the hold up," said Jim Cerra, president and co-founder of PlanetTogether, LLC.

An Internet search led Dick Marx, materials manager at Knapheide Flint, to PlanetTogether APS.net, a Microsoft .Net based, real-time Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) software for manufacturers. "The fact that it was a .Net-based product means we are able to easily integrate it with our manufacturing software," he said. "We import job data and inventory availability to APS.net, and export out the schedule dates to our ERP software."

Knapheide Flint is now able to provide its customers with realistic estimates of when a project will be complete. By scheduling individual operations, such as paint and equipment installation, the company is able to quickly identify where bottlenecks are occurring, and work to address them. The familiar drag-and-drop interface of APS.net makes it easy for staff to use the scheduling tool. Visual feedback, such as late jobs appearing in red, increases its usability.

"The fact that APS.net is easy to learn, easy to use, and integrates with a company's ERP software typically results in a rapid return on investment for our customers, as it did for Knapheide Flint," said Cerra.

"Scheduling used to require two full-time people -- now it takes about 15 minutes," said Marx. "APS.net paid for itself in six months."

About PlanetTogether LLC:
PlanetTogether is 100 percent focused on providing best-of-breed Advanced Planning & Scheduling (APS) software to discrete and process manufacturing companies. The result of 14 years of applied experience in production scheduling, APS.net is an easy-to-use tool that handles complex finite scheduling taking equipment, labor, and material constraints into account. It provides accurate scheduled ship dates, what-if analysis, and increased capacity visibility. Using the latest Microsoft .NET framework, APS.net can be easily integrated into existing business processes. Prebuilt integrations are available to the following ERP systems: Sage MAS 500, 200, and 90 ERP, Microsoft Dynamics NV, GP, AX, SAP Business One, and Oracle/JDE. Learn more at www.planettogether.com or by calling (858) 638-7212.

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

National Press Conference in Honduras Highlights Growing Trend Towards Artificial Turf

Artificial turf is growing in demand throughout the world for sport and landscape uses. A press conference in Honduras was held to review industry trends with presentations given by top representatives of CONCACAF, FENAFUTH and ACT Global Sports. ACT Global Sports was invited to present technical, company and industry information to the audience concerning synthetic sports turf.

Austin, TX (PRWEB) September 14, 2007 -- A press conference and reception was recently hosted by COSEM in Tegucigalpa, Honduras to review the growing role of artificial turf in soccer. Distinguished speakers included Mr. Rafael Leonardo Callejas, former President of Honduras and current President of FENAFUTH, the official football (soccer) federation of Honduras. Mr. Alfredo Hawit, Vice President of CONCACAF also discussed the trends with artificial turf in soccer.

The growing popularity of soccer combined with difficult climactic conditions and limited land in some areas, has created a shortage of good natural grass pitches in Honduras and throughout the world. The current generation of artificial turf allows for increased playing hours while providing many of the benefits of natural grass such as player safety, comfort and game conditions.

Manufacturers that have proven through independent lab and field testing that its synthetic turf systems perform similar to natural grass are eligible to become a licensee of the FIFA Quality Concept for Football Turf. One such company that has achieved this is ACT Global Sports.

ACT Global Sports was featured and received a warm reception at the press conference as its Xtreme Turf systems were launched into the Honduran sports market. A presentation was given by Mr. John Baize, Director of ACT Global Sports and Mr. Hector Brenes of Costa Rica, ACT Global Regional Manager.

Mr. Baize mentions, "The passion of soccer throughout Honduras and Latin America combined with limited sports facilities make artificial turf an excellent alternative. We understand the economies of the local market and have developed a special program with COSEM to provide clients with the best Xtreme Turf system that fits within their budget. We are excited with our exclusive partnership with Mr. Jorge Herrera and Mr. Oscar Lainez of COSEM to support soccer development in Honduras."

For additional information concerning ACT Global Sports or its Xtreme Turf systems, please visit www.ACTGlobalSports.com.

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

VueMetrix Inc. Appoints Laser Lines Ltd. As Its Exclusive Distributor for the United Kingdom Laser Lines will drive sales growth of laser diode controllers for industrial and medical applications

VueMetrix Inc. today announced that it has named Laser Lines Ltd. as the sole distributor for its line of laser diode controllers in the United Kingdom. Laser Lines is the premier distributor for a wide range of innovative products used in laser-based applications in both medical and industrial markets.

Sunnyvale, Calif., (PRWEB) September 14, 2007 -- VueMetrix Inc. today announced that it has named Laser Lines Ltd. as the sole distributor for its line of laser diode controllers in the United Kingdom. Laser Lines is the premier distributor for a wide range of innovative products used in laser-based applications in both medical and industrial markets.

"We are extremely pleased to add VueMetrix' product line to our portfolio," said Mr. Steve Knight, Director at Laser Lines. Knight, who will serve as the local contact for product information, sales and service continued, "The Vue Series of laser diode controllers is a natural fit for us and will complement other products that we currently offer to our customers in the UK laser market."

"The growing market for laser diodes, especially for medical applications, in the UK represents a key growth opportunity for us," said Eric Smoker, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, VueMetrix. "We look forward to working with Laser Lines to expand our presence there," he said.

DiodeGuard and the Vue-MV-21 are the latest additions to the VueMetrix broad product portfolio of laser diode control systems, subsystems and software. VueMetrix products address the needs of a variety of industrial, commercial and research markets and include laser diode-pumped solid state laser controllers with multiple TEC drivers; single- and multi-channel laser diode, high current laser diode and TEC controllers; high compliance voltage controllers for laser diode bars and stacks.

Laser Lines will represent VueMetrix at the Photonex07 Exhibition, October 17-18, 2007, at the Stoneleigh Park Exhibition Center in Coventry, UK. You are invited to stop by Laser Lines stand #B02 during the show to learn more about laser diode control products from VueMetrix.

About Laser Lines
Laser Lines was originally founded in 1975 and remains one of the leading suppliers of lasers and accessories, positioning equipment, rapid prototype machines and vacuum casting systems. Our experienced Support Team offer training, installation, maintenance and repair services for all our products. We also have a sub-contract facility for laser material processing, rapid prototyping and vacuum casting with rapid turn-around capability.

For product information and sales about VueMetrix products in the United Kingdom, please contact:

Mr. Steve Knight
Laser Lines (Industrial & Medical) Ltd
Beaumont Close
Banbury, Oxon OX16 1TH
United Kingdom

Tel: 01144 1295 672529
Cell: 01144 7747 021172
Fax: 44 129 5672550
E-mail: stevek @ laserlines.co.uk
Web site: www.laserlines.co.uk

About VueMetrix Inc.

VueMetrix Inc. is a leading supplier of systems for the control of laser diodes. Our highly-integrated laser diode controllers are compact, self-contained and cost-effective, yet versatile enough to satisfy the most demanding requirements. Available as stand alone or embedded controllers, the VueMetrix portfolio of flexible laser diode control electronics offer all the functionality of a research system in an OEM form factor that is ready for design-in to commercial products. We help our customers accelerate the development and introduction of laser diode-based systems by setting the industry standard for flexibility, cost effectiveness and ease of integration.

More information on VueMetrix is available at www.vuemetrix.com,
by sending an e-mail inquiry to info @ vuemetrix.com, or by calling
+1 408-734-9974.

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

Nano Valley Consortium Members Work With The Army to Address Military & Commercial Needs

Nano Valley Consortium members include small and large companies, academics, and government agencies who work together to commercialize nano research for military and commercial applications. Collaborating on project teams spreads the resources, risks, and costs and access to large military markets. The Consortium Kick-Off Meeting is October 18th & 19th in Swainsboro, GA.for new and prospective members.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) September 14, 2007 -- The Nano Valley Consortium members represent large and small companies, academics, and government agencies and organizations that work together to identify, develop, manage, and implement nanotechnology projects that benefit both military and commercial markets. Its primary "customer" is ARDEC - the lead Research, Development, and Engineering Center (RDEC) for the Army and it provides the Consortium's interface to the Army.

The Consortium is unique in that it is the only organization of its type focused solely on nanotechnology needs for military and commercial markets. It offers tremendous opportunities for smaller firms to not only collaborate with larger firms, but also to get access to government opportunities. A Consortium is an entity recognized by the Department of Defense and provides the opportunity for the Department to share in commercialization resource needs, costs, and risks with Consortium members. For more information about the Consortium, and becoming a member, go to www.NanoVC.org

The National Nanotechnology Manufacturing Center announces the Kick-Off Meeting of its Nano Valley Consortium on October 18th at Flat Creek Lodge in Swainsboro, GA.. It will be a full day meeting and followed by the Center's Fall Symposium on the 19th. Both members and non-members are invited allowing prospective members to learn more about the Consortium. Registration is available online at www.NationalNano.org

The Consortium is not intended as a social network, but rather as a project-focused group with specific objectives and measured outcomes. Membership offers the opportunity to work with others for early access to research and/or early transitioning of technology resulting in rapid market entry, leveraged research investment, greater access to facilities and equipment, and broader testing and evaluation capabilities.

The National Nanotechnology Manufacturing Center is a not-for-profit organization committed to the efficient commercialization of nanotechnology through a cost-effective nanomanufacturing infrastructure and well-defined standards and workplace safety procedures. To learn more about Fab or Fabless Manufacturing, please visit www.NationalNano.org

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

Velotex™ Series of Direct-to-Textile and Dye Sublimation Inkjet Printers Introduced by US Sublimation

US Sublimation introduces the Velotex™ series of affordable wide format direct-to-textile inkjet printers for direct fabric printing with one-step curing using dye sublimation or aqueous textile pigment inks. Velotex™ prints and sublimates without the need for a heat press and allows for production speeds of up to 581 square feet per hour of printed fabric at 540-by-720 dpi, making it the fastest high quality direct-to-textile printer in its class.

Fort Lauderdale, FL (PRWEB) September 13, 2007 -- PrintVillage, Inc. and its digital dye sublimation division, US Sublimation, introduce the Velotex™ direct to textile and sublimation system for digital printing on textiles. With the latest advances in inkjet print head technology and a patented system of synchronized stabilization rolls, this ultra-fast textile inkjet printer allows users to print water-based dye sublimation or textile pigments directly on fabric and cure the inks in one step with an in-line sublimation/curing unit. The Velotex™ DS 6400 will be introduced at the IFAI Expo October 3-5, 2007, in Las Vegas and SGIA October 24-27 in Orlando.

"Dye sublimation equipment and consumables are an important part of our business. Production speed, trouble free manufacturing processes and innovative applications are the key to competing in today's textile industry," says Michael Choo, CEO of PrintVillage, Inc. "I instructed our distribution division to search for cost effective and innovative products that reduce waste, improve productivity and give customers a competitive edge against foreign competition for the largest growing segments of the industry, which are textiles, tradeshow, flags and banner markets. The Velotex™ direct to textile system has exceeded my expectations."

Velotex™ is a breakthrough in inkjet textile technology, thanks to its patented system of synchronized cylinders for controlled media feeding and a unique built-in heat fixation module that, based on the ink used, either sublimates or cures the color on the fabric as it exits the printer unit. Both treated and untreated fabrics can be printed directly using a new generation of print heads that allow for production speeds of 581 square feet per hour in four color modes at a sharp 540-by-720 dpi resolution.

Velotex™ will be available in DS and DP versions. The DS version will use US Sublimation's LFP dye sublimation inks for polyester and PES-type materials that are typically used for the production of flags, banners, trade show displays and custom short run fabrics, among other things. The DP version will use aqueous textile pigments, developed in collaboration with Sensient Technologies, which are suitable for direct printing on cotton and linen, but can be used on virtually any material, including viscose, silk and poly blends. The DP version is ideal for sampling and short run or custom textile productions.

US Sublimation's Velotex™ uses water-based inks that, unlike solvent or eco-solvent-based equivalents, are harmless to humans and the environment. The elimination of paper from the process further reduces the impact on the environment, making Velotex a viable and economic green alternative to solvent and UV printing.

The new Velotex™ printer allows for continuous unattended printing of textiles, eliminating the need for transfer and blotting papers or the need for separate post treatment of the fabric with a heat press or steamer. For dye sublimation manufacturers, this means a reduction in defects such as ghosting and various "waves" or "lines" caused by out-gassing of glycol or fabric shrinkage.

Both the Dye Sublimation LFP and Pigment DTX ink sets are manufactured to comply with Oeko-tex 100 standards for human ecological safety of textiles and have been tested for color fastness based on ISO 105 standards.

Dye sublimation is a process by which typically an image is printed on transfer paper using sublimation inks, which are then infused to poly fabrics or a polymer coated material via heat and pressure. Common products manufactured using this process are custom sport uniforms, flags, casino gaming tables, banners, snowboards, tradeshow booth graphics and custom designed ceramic and glass tiles.

The Velotex™ DS 6400 is expected to retail around $89,000. For more information about US Sublimation or Velotex™, visit http://www.ussublimation.com

About US Sublimation
US Sublimation is a national brand of dye sublimation printing supplies designed for industrial manufacturing environments. Quality inks, specialty papers and state of the art equipment with a full team of technical support and production specialists assure the efficient application of dye sublimation and textile printing technologies that are environmentally friendly, of superior quality and cost effective.

About PrintVillage
PrintVillage maintains status as one of the top giclee' fine art reproduction facilities in the U.S. With interests in all areas of digital printing and imaging technologies, PrintVillage remains on the cutting edge of research and development through its subsidiary, US Sublimation. PrintVillage distributes LFP Digital Dye Sublimation inks, JetTran™ transfer papers, Mimaki printers and Monti Antonio Heat Presses. PrintVillage also distributes professional ink and printing solutions for photographic and fine art print professionals.

Michael Labella, Product Manager
PrintVillage, Inc.
954-727-2801
http://www.ussublimation.com

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

Introducing Brenthaven Eclipse Sleeve Series

Brenthaven releases the Eclipse Sleeve Series custom fit for your MacBook 13.3' and MacBook Pro 15.4' or 17'.

Bellingham, WA (PRWEB) September 13, 2007 -- Brenthaven (www.brenthaven.com), manufacturer of award winning laptop cases, introduces the Eclipse Sleeve Series for MacBook and MacBook Pro. The Eclipse Sleeve Series is the first sleeve to offer excellent protection in a slim design.

Scott Armstrong, CEO of Brenthaven says, "We are excited to offer this new line of protective and durable sleeves. This is the perfect way to shield your laptop on its own or inside another bag."

The Eclipse Sleeves I, II and III are custom fit for the MacBook 13.3' and MacBook Pro 15.4' or 17' and are available in multiple colors including black, pink and green. Each case features a lightweight Dura-Tech material with surrounding Ballistic Nylon on the edges.

Eclipse Sleeve Series features a 4-side, high-density foam protection system and a plush faux-suede interior. The Eclipse Sleeve Series also features an ergonomic retractable handle, back slip pocket for newspapers, magazines and files, as well as the Brenthaven legendary lifetime guarantee.

Availability and Pricing
The Eclipse Sleeves come in three sizes and three colors. Eclipse Sleeve I is custom fit for the MacBook 13.3' ($39.95), Eclipse II is custom fit for the MacBook Pro 15.4' ($39.95), and the Eclipse III is custom fit for the MacBook Pro 17' ($44.95). The Eclipse Sleeves will be available for purchase starting Sept. 2007 at www.brenthaven.com and most Apple locations.

About Brenthaven
Based in Bellingham, WA, Brenthaven manufactures a complete line of computer cases that feature award winning computer protection systems. All Brenthaven cases offer superior quality, comfort, and protection proudly guaranteed for life. For more information on any Brenthaven product visit www.brenthaven.com, call Customer Service at (800) 803-7225 or email info(@)brenthaven.com.

For more information and product photos contact Linda Nguyen at 206.324.6922 or lindan(@)brenthaven.com

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

Auto Light Designer Eagle Eyes, Ranked one of 10 Highest Potential Companies in Taiwan

With twenty-five years experience, Eagle Eyes's goal is not only to provide high quality auto lights, but meet customers preferences in auto light design. It is highly ranked by China Credit Information Service as one of Taiwan's most outstanding highest potential enterprises this year.

(PRWEB) September 13, 2007 -- According to a leading market report for 2007 published by China Credit Information Service Company (CCIS) in Taiwan, Congratulations are in order to Eagle Eyes for being ranked in Top10 Taiwanese Highest Potential Enterprises. Mr. Lee said, "Providing the best quality products and state of art design is our competitive edge in the facing counterfeit auto parts market. It also gives us more credibility in front of customers."

Having worked with the second largest nationwide provider of aftermarket collision replacement products – the LKQ Corporation -- Eagle Eyes has been well known as a outstanding auto light designer of ODM manufacturing and aftermarket products supply worldwide.

Eagle Eyes started on auto head lamp production and exported its first lamps to Japan in 1979. It expanded business to the United States after obtaining their first U.S.A DOT certificate in 1992. Eagle Eye has marketed in over fifty countries in America, Middle East, and Southeast Asia through overseas agents and distributors. Its products, which all satisfy worldwide ODM applicants of famous auto companies include Benz Head Lamp, Sedan Head Lamp, Peugeot Rear Lamps, Lexus Head Lamps and Volkswagen Led Rear Lamp.

"To offer the most integrated and prompt service to our customers, we provide from mold design, plastic injection process, assembly, quality inspection, to delivering," Eagle Eyes Sales Manager Chas Lee said.

In order to carry out mass production rapidly, Eagle Eyes factories were enlarged in Taiwan and achieved the ISO 9001:2000 Quality certification. These factories are well-equipped with advanced CNC-machines, plastic injection machine plants, vacuum chrome facilities, hot plate test room, 4-D robot glue machine, photometric machines on assembly line and multiple shot injections. All products have passed British V.C.A.E-MARK, German TUV RHEINLAND E-MARK, CAPA product certificates.

Effectively to enhance night visibility and safety, Eagle Eyes's HID lighting delivers high light output over 3200 lumen and runs more than 2,500 hours, its range of color temperature from 3,000k to 12,000K depends on customers' requests.

As emerging market trend in LED auto lamps, Eagle Eyes has formed an LED research department to concentrate on technology development. It effectively not only strengthens LED light durability, safety and luminosity, but improves cooling systems.

To provide the best auto lights, Eagle Eyes has also equipped with a photometric laboratory for quality inspections, such as distributing luminosity measurement system tests with a rotary mirror, luminous flux of vehicle lamp test, and a reflectivity test. Moreover, its environment test enhances fogging, water, dust and salt spray protection to ensure products are functioning well under changeable environments.

Compared to auto OEM manufacturers, Eagle Eyes focuses more on lighting design to represent customers' own style and tastes of fashion. Eagle Eyes also serves as a manufacturer of performance and tuning parts. It aims to bring customers great pleasure by letting them drive with more creativity. For example, Eagle Eyes can change the auto light design of the Mitsubishi Lancer series to the Lexus IS 2000 series, in accordance with relevant regulations. It effectively gives an automobile an image transformation. In addition, it serves automobile club better, it can also make its unique identification on automobiles by letting them adapt to different light designs.

Awards
German RW-TUV QS 9000 international quality certificate.
British V.C.A. E-MARK factory and product certificate.
U.S.A. DOT certificate.
German TUV RHEINLAND E-MARK factory and product certificate
U.S.A. Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA).

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:12 PM | Comments (0)

Yang Chen Introduces New Cage Mill

Yang Chen's new cage mill one of many products from this well-know brand.

(PRWEB) September 13, 2007 -- To satisfy customers' needs Yang Chen continues to innovate newer Technology to meet latest market demands and never stops introducing new functions or innovating new skills. This year the company announced a new product - a Cage Mill, which obtained representation within the German and American Technology Alignment.

A well-known brand, YC reached approximately 60% of the market share in Vietnam, Romania and Bulgaria. Over 20 years of experience, Yang Chen has developed sharp market senses and expertise to supervise Steel Tube & Pie Making Machines Turnkey Projects for both domestic and international markets.
After more than two decades experience in professional manufacturer in a wide range of steel tube and pie making machines. Yang Chen Steel Machinery Corp. has clung to its principle of building its corporate foundation upon talent, and been trying to catch up to international standards. Today it is one of the largest turn key supervisors for steel tube/pie making machines, and promotes all products under its well know brand, YC, to Europe.

In an effort to meet the growing market demands, Yang Chen has been striving to maximize its production capacity, enhance the quality and reliability of its products while staying technologically innovative. According to Sales Manager Jerry Chang, the industry is now facing two major challenges: "On the one hand, fierce competition within the sector has created a tough market environment. On the other hand, manufacturers are under huge pressure from rising material costs."

To overcome these challenges while retaining a competitive edge, Yang Chen counts on a number of strategies that it has developed over the years. While others might focus on the price tag; the secret to Yang Chen's success lies in its business know-how. On the other hand, the company's high quality production confounds copycats.

"We carry our own specialized products that set us apart from our competitors," Mr. Chang continued. "We pay attention to what the market needs and we build long relationships with our customers. Meanwhile, the major mission of our R&D team is seeking for innovative technology. And we believed quality is above everything, so that we insisted on a 'Taiwan-made machine'. We also have ability for any level of turn-key project."

Yang Chen's brand new Cage Mill is capable of grinding the steel tube/pie for a maximum size of 16 inches and caliber of 400 mm. In additionally, Yang Chen offers four standard models of Slitting Lines which can slit various kinds of metals, including cold or hot rolled carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper, galvanized and special alloys. YC's Slitting Lines can cut coils from 0.2mm up to 6mm; the different size of coils can also be made to customers' orders.

Yang Chen's other major products include Stainless Steel Tube Making Mill, which can make tube from 0.3mm to 8mm with an outside diameter (OD) from 6.5mm to 318mm; End Facing Machines, which can face round tube sizes from 9.5mm to 127mm; Tube Polishing Machine, which can polish square or rectangular tube size from 15mm x 15mm to 120mm x 120mm. To suit a wide range of market demands, Yang Chen offers all these series with several standard models and they are also available to customers' specifications.

Professional design matching requirements to meet customer needs

With the rapid development of new technologies, Yang Chen is always a superior choice to supervise turn key project.

"We have the benefit of over 20 years of technical expertise. We assure our customers' detailed specifications will be met as we assign individual production lines for each order," Mr Chang said proudly.

Contact Yang Chen for more information:

Sales Contact: Sales Manager Jerry Chang
Address: No. 19, Lane 70, Yungshe Rd., Hsing-Chung Village, Yung Chin Hsiang, Chung Hua, 512, Taiwan
Tel: 886-4-8224845
Fax: 886-4-8232882
E-mail: yc.steel@msa.hinet.net
Please visit our web site for more information

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:09 PM | Comments (0)

Dongfeng Launches Latest Electric Winch Series on Canton Fair

Dongfeng cordially invites you to visit its booth atthe 102nd China Import & Export Fair first phase at Hall 28 Booth No F27, which will held from October 15th to 20th in Canton China. Dongfeng Power Tool Factory will promote its latest electric winch series on the 102nd China Import & Export Fair first phase at Hall 28 Booth No F27, which will held from October 15th to 20th in Canton China. Dongfeng is the only manufacturer specializing in the auto-parts industry to have been a leader for electric winch within just three years.

(PRWEB) September 13, 2007 -- Dongfeng cordially invites you to visit its booth at the 102nd China Import & Export Fair first phase at Hall 28 Booth No F27, which will held from October 15th to 20th in Canton China. Dongfeng Power Tool Factory will promote its latest electric winch series at the 102nd China Import & Export Fair first phase at Hall 28 Booth No F27, which will held from October 15th to 20th in Canton, China. Dongfeng is the only manufacturer specializing in the auto-parts industry to have been a leader in electric winch production within just three years.

Dongfeng Power Tool Factory is rather young in the auto-parts industry. It began as a small-scale factory just three years ago in 2004 for the manufacture of ATV winch. Today, it is one of the best qualified manufacturers for 'China-Made' electric winch and Dongfeng cordially invites you to visit its booth at:

102nd China Import & Export Fair (Canton Fair)
Phase 1: October 15th - 20th, 2007
Hall No: 28
Booth No: F27

With three years dedication to the winch industry Dongfeng is now the recognized leader in the design and manufacturing electric winch and hand winch for off-road cars. It enforces Total Quality Management (TQM) and has set up a standard processing program meeting the ISO9001 norms, FCC and CE Mark. Moreover, Dongfeng has marked up 20% of total exporting market share for 'China-Made' electric winch. The company has already established marketing channels in America, Canada, Australia, Britain, Germany and France; besides, Dongfeng authorized its general agents individually in Germany and the Czech Republic. Now, it engages in developing the markets of Eastern Europe and Middle East.

To face the entire disadvantageous macroeconomic environment, such as increasing raw material prices, labor costs and unstable exchange rate as well as an increasing number of competitors, Dongfeng has a unique solution. The General Manager Mr Zhou Shujie believes that enforcing 'Customers-Focus Management' is the best way toward success. So how to improve products and servicesfor competitiveness as well as lowering costs are the front burner for Dongfeng.

Firstly, Dongfeng adopted the 'Toyota Production System' or the 'Just In Time Production System' to its manufacturing management. It is a system to lead the company one step closer toward its goals "Low Costs, High Quality, and Fast Turnover". In the meantime, Mr Zhou encouraged staff self-management. "I told them to try improving themselves with skills, knowledge and then create new ideas," Zhou continued. "Although Dongfeng is young in this field we are not small. We've got an open mind to accept all new ideas or technology and we are always ready to make a change."

Secondly, Dongfeng promotes its services and products through a wide range of channels, such as Internet, magazines and fairs, to reach potential customers and increase brand images as well as expand its markets. In the meanwhile it has already built up a completed regional and national sales network throughout Greater China as well as abroad. With this network, the company serves customers immediate needs, such as strong skillful supported and free winch accessories provided.

Product Focus:
This year on the Canton Fair we will display our newly Heavy Duty Electric Winch Series. With these new winch series Dongfeng's strong R&D team adopted the following functions to ensure durable life and safe environment:

waterproof design for protecting the gearbox and motor
the newest relay with overload protection to prevent motor from being damaged when overloaded.
cold pressed technology for gearbox
special heatproof fluid for gearbox and skid
Undoubtedly, Dongfeng Heavy Duty Electric Winch Series would be the most attractive auto parts for off-road cars and all special vehicles.

Achievements of our strong R&D Team

1. We understand 'weight' of winch is a major key effecting user operations. So we planned to develop a better winch which would be smaller and lighter and constructed of aerospace material.
2. We would continually develop electric winches with multifunction features to satisfy different industrial needs.
3. We are aiming for quality. We expect one day when people mention Dongfeng it won't be just made in China, it will be known for innovation in China, designed in China and becoming a well known international brand.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:08 PM | Comments (0)

Pinpoint 2D Microgage Laser Alignment System Improves Manufacturing Efficiency

Pinpoint Laser Systems® is introducing the 2D Microgage Laser alignment tool for precision measuring, machine alignment, calibration, and other demanding industrial applications. Roll and web lines, CNC cutting and milling equipment, lathes, stamping presses, injection molding machines, extrusion systems, and other production equipment are easily checked and aligned for improved operating efficiency and reduced downtime with this new Microgage.

Newburyport, Massachusetts (PRWEB) September 13, 2007 -- Pinpoint Laser Systems® is introducing the 2D Microgage Laser alignment tool for precision measuring, machine alignment, calibration, and other demanding industrial applications. Roll and web lines, CNC cutting and milling equipment, lathes, stamping presses, injection molding machines, extrusion systems, and other production equipment are easily checked and aligned for improved operating efficiency and reduced downtime with this new Microgage. The new Microgage 2D is compact and easy to set-up and use right on the factory floor.

The 2D Microgage combines a compact laser transmitter with a receiver and digital display. As the laser moves across the receiver in a vertical or horizontal direction the display provides a reading of the motion, accurate to 0.0001 inch. This new Microgage will operate over a distance of 100 feet with a bright red beam that is quickly adaptable to many industrial applications. Several simple accessories allow for alignment of straightness, runout, parallelism, squareness, bore alignment, shaft alignment, flatness measuring, and much more.

The 2-Axis Laser Microgage operates on batteries for added convenience and all components are machined of solid aluminum with a hard anodized coating for wear resistance. A sealed, push button keypad and large LCD display make the Microgage 2D easy and convenient to use in demanding industrial environments. A serial and USB interface connect to a laptop or PC and link to popular spreadsheets for plotting and analyzing data for maintenance records, customer compliance, and other uses. This Microgage system includes a compact carrying case to store the components and is easily carried right out onto the manufacturing floor.

Since 1992 Pinpoint has offered a broad line of easy-to-use products that incorporate lasers, optics, electronics, and solidly built mechanical features. Customers in industries as diverse as semiconductor equipment manufacturers to pet food manufacturers use the tool for both routine and complex measuring and alignment tasks deliver measuring resolution of 0.0001 inch and work over ranges of 100 feet. Pinpoint's measuring equipment is actively used in the aerospace industry, machine shops, paper and textile mills, shipbuilding facilities, extrusion plants, and electronic assembly facilities, to name a few. Pinpoint has worked closely with many manufacturers to develop specialized alignment systems for robotic applications, medical scanning devices, and numerous other applications.

For more information on this product or other news items, please contact Pinpoint Laser Systems, Inc. at 1-800-757-5383, or visit our website: www.pinlaser.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:08 PM | Comments (0)

Glacier Computer Earns Spot on Inc. 5,000 List of the Fastest-Growing Private Companies in the Country

Manufacturer of rugged tablet computers ranks no. 3,565 with three-year sales growth of 81.7%.

New Milford, CT (PRWEB) September 13, 2007 -- Inc. ranked Glacier Computer (rugged tablet computers, has experienced 81.7% growth over the past three years.

Rugged Tablet Computers for Harsh Environments

Glacier Computer offers rugged computers that are ideal for harsh environments, such as industrial computers, forklift computers, warehouse computers, as well as police car computers and other vehicle computers. Additionally, Glacier offers a large selection of rugged computers to most effectively meet each specific customer's needs, including mobile computers, waterproof computers, wireless mobile computers, rugged tablet computers and wall mount computers.

Vehicle Computers and Waterproof Computers Round Out Glacier's Product Offering

"We are extremely excited and proud to have been ranked on this prestigious list," stated John Geary, Vice President of Sales for Glacier. "Everyone at Glacier has put forth tremendous effort and worked hard to increase our sales growth while maintaining our commitment to offer the highest quality rugged computers for our customers."

The Inc. 5,000, an extension of Inc. magazine's annual Inc. 500 list, catches many businesses that are too big to grow at the pace required to make the Inc. 500, as well as a host of smaller firms. Taken as a whole, these companies represent the backbone of the U.S. economy.

About Inc.com:
Inc.com, the Daily Resource for Entrepreneurs, delivers advice, tools, breaking news, and rich multi-media to help business owners and CEOs start, run, and grow their businesses more successfully. Information and advice covering virtually every business and management task, including marketing, sales, finding capital, managing people can be found at http://www.inc.com

About Glacier (www.glaciercomputer.com):
Glacier Computer designs and develops versatile, rugged industrial computer systems for harsh environments in a variety of markets, including LTL crossdock, distribution, warehousing, manufacturing and more. With its in-depth knowledge and experience in the industrial computing arena, Glacier takes pride in its ability to provide quality products and exceptional customer service to meet customers' needs. Glacier was honored to be ranked number 75 on the Entrepreneur Magazine Fastest Growing Company list in 2005. Glacier has been named as the rugged computer standard at numerous Fortune 500 internationally based companies and is relied upon for 24/7 mission critical operation in a multitude of industries and applications. Any further questions regarding Glacier Computer can be addressed by John Geary, Vice President of Sales at 603-882-1560 x 212

For more information about Glacier Computer, please contact 603-882-1560 or visit www.glaciercomputer.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:07 PM | Comments (0)

New Vehicle Launch Requires Custom Packaging

Freightliner optimizes logistics, quality control and cost containment with custom shipping racks on a new vehicle launch.

(PRWEB) September 13, 2007 -- When Freightliner LLC, the largest heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America, prepared to launch its new class 8 model vehicles called Cascadia, a major focus was optimizing the efficiency and quality of its supply chain. Due to the many irregular sized and shaped components required by the new vehicle launch, Freightliner opted for custom packaging over expendable packaging such as cardboard, wood crates or pallets, which offer less protection, require more space, and have recurring purchase and disposal costs.

"Once the parts are manufactured, they need to be delivered in the same condition," says Royce Hermens, a packaging engineering group leader at Freightliner. "This is critical for logistics, quality control, and cost containment since vehicles can't be sold if they're waiting for replacement parts due to part damage caused by shipping."

As an OE manufacturer sometimes receiving less than truckload shipments, Freightliner was mindful of the increased wear that extra unloading and reloading would cause when consolidating product at transport terminals. With environmental concerns growing and some states prohibiting the disposal of wood pallets at landfills, the company wanted to limit its use of disposable packaging.

For a number of key components, Freightliner chose custom packaging offered by Steel King Industries, a leading manufacturer and provider of shipping racks, portable racks and portable racking. The shipping rack supplier helped Freightliner to streamline logistics for the vehicle launch while enhancing quality control and cost containment.

Due to the size, shape and aesthetics of a day cab roof assembly, for instance, Freightliner would have shipped one per pallet if using expendable packaging; and it could not be stacked due to risk of denting, scratching and other damage.

Instead, "They built us custom shipping racks that accommodate eight parts each, and stack two high in trailers," says Hermens. "That's a 16-to-1 increase in shipping storage density with better protection. We and our suppliers can also stack five high in warehouses, which further improves storage density and makes it easier to store product indoors instead of out."

Because Freightliner pays for the cost of returning the shipping racks to its parts suppliers, the supplier of shipping racks developed a front wall assembly rack that "knocks down" to just one-third its shipping size for return shipping, via fold down corner posts. "The custom shipping racks cut our return shipping costs in third," says Hermens.

And the custom shipping racks, which contain protective padding only where needed, have been doing their part to improve quality control while eliminating the purchase and disposal costs of expendable packaging.

"The word from our warehouses and our suppliers is that product damage is not a problem with the custom shipping racks," says Hermens.

Hermens credits the supplier of custom packaging for flexibility in adjusting to changes in Freightliner's tight vehicle launch deadlines while consistently offering more than expected. "To expedite our vehicle launch when scheduling changes were needed, their shop steward sat in on one of our conference calls," says Hermens. "Other times, they collaborated with us to adjust dunnage position or rack closure to get it just right at no extra cost."

"Overall, we're aiming for ROI in less than a year on the custom shipping racks, and with Steel King that's what we're getting," concludes Hermens.

For more info on how custom shipping racks can optimize logistics, quality control, and cost containment, contact Donald Heemstra at Steel King, 2700 Chamber St., Stevens Point, WI 54481; call 800-826-0203; or visit the website www.steelking.com.

By Del Williams
Del Williams is a technical writer based in Torrance, California.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:07 PM | Comments (0)

Small Business Research Board Manufacturing eCommerce Study: Manufacturing Industry Among Leaders In Embracing Internet; Two-thirds Have Websites, 33% Project eCommerce Revenue to Increase Next 12 – 24 Months

Seventh of a series

NORTHFIELD, Ill. (BusinessWire EON) September 13, 2007 -- Small manufacturing companies are among the leaders in embracing the Internet, according to the latest Small Business Research Board (SBRB) study released here today.

The study co-sponsored by Business Today Magazine disclosed that 67% of the small manufacturing firms participating in the study have at least one website. Furthermore, the poll also indicated that manufacturers are optimistic about the future with 32.9% saying they expect their eCommerce revenue to grow over the next 12 to 24 months.

Of the industries studied, manufacturers led all business categories in their commitment to the Internet. Transportation companies as a segment followed, with 63% indicating they have websites. Small retailers were next with 62.5% saying they have websites.

Meanwhile, 97.1% of the manufacturing companies responding to the poll said they expect Internet driven revenues to remain the same or increase during the next 12 to 24 months. Of those, 32.9% are predicting an increase.

Of the manufacturing firms participating in the poll, 55.7% said they had at least one website and 11.1% said they had two or more websites.

Nationally, 42.7% of the respondents said they did not have a website while 47.3% said they had one website. Another 9.1% said they had between two and ten websites and .9% said they had more than ten websites. Additionally, 56.1% of the small businesses with websites said they sell products and services on a company-owned site.

More than 55% of the manufacturing firms with websites sell products or services on those sites.

Small retailers were the most optimistic about the next 12 to 24 months with 39.8% indicating they are projecting revenue increases.

Nationally, 96.7% said they expect Internet revenues to increase or stay the same during the next 12 to 24 months, with 29.2% predicting increases.

Owners and managers of more than 550 small businesses representing numerous industries responded to the nationwide SBRB / Business Today study.

The SBRB / Business Today report provides specific detail by size of business, by industry, by region (and in some instances by state) the various experiences each segment has had with the Internet and their commitment to offer products and services through eCommerce transactions.

The study, for instance, breaks out information by size of business and industry on the number of firms with websites, the number of websites they have, the percentage of their product line available on their sites and percentage of business revenue derived from eCommerce.

Overall, the study also found that:

Of those manufacturing companies with Internet sites, more than 57% said at least part of their product line is available on line. Of those, 15% said that 50% or more of their products on line.
Again, relating to manufacturing companies with Internet sites, more than 31.9% said up to 25% of their company’s total revenue was generated from Internet sales and 23.5% said that 26% to 100% of their overall revenue was generated from eCommerce initiatives.
The SBRB / Business Today Small Business eCommerce Study is believed to be among the most comprehensive efforts recently undertaken to understand eCommerce and the reality of its impact on small businesses. The resulting information thus provides both a snapshot on current attitudes and realizations among small business owners as well as establishes benchmarks.

Among the questions asked were:

How many websites does your company own?
On how many of these websites do you sell products / conduct transactions?
What percentage of your product line can be purchased on your Internet site?
How much of your sales were transacted on your Internet site(s) last year?
Over the next 12 to 24 months do you expect your Internet sales to increase, decrease or remain the same?
Poll participants also were asked to provide information on the percentage of products and services that could be purchased on their websites five years ago as well as the correlating percentage of sales that were derived. This data contributed to helping establish trends and historical benchmarks.

The study provides data for the all participants and also delineates data pertaining to only those businesses which have Internet sites.

Data is included for such industries as manufacturing, construction and contracting, retail, food and beverage, distribution and wholesaling, transportation and automotive.

Business Today Magazine is dedicated to serving the information needs of owners and managers of small businesses. The primary goals of the quarterly publication based in Buffalo Grove, Il. are to inform and educate its readers by providing timely, useful information that will help readers both contend with the daily demands of running their businesses as well as provide insight on achieving long term growth.

The Small Business Research Board ascertains and reports the opinions of small business owners and managers on a wide variety of topics related to their own businesses as well as national and international issues that may impact their operations. The SBRB conducts these studies for the benefit of small business owners and managers. The SBRB also provides opportunities for third parties to gain real time insight into the attitudes of small businesses nationwide through the independently conducted research.

The latest information about the Small Business Research Board can be found at www.biznus.net.

Small Business Research Board / Business Today
Selected Results of National eCommerce Study

-- August 2007

All US Manufacturing

Percentage of small businesses owning websites


none 42.7 32.9
1 47.3
55.7

2-plus 10.0 11.4





Of companies with Internet sites, number of sites selling products, services

none 43.9 44.7
1 44.8 46.8
2- plus 11.3 8.5



Internet revenue expectations next 12 to 24 months


increase 29.2 32.9
remain the same 67.5 64.2
decrease 3.3 2.9

Small Business Research Board / Business Today eCommerce Selected Results

(C) 2007 Small Business Research Board

NOTE TO EDITORS: This article is the seventh of a series on the study of small business, the Internet and eCommerce by the Small Business Research Board.

Additional releases will be issued about other industries, among them retailing, food and beverage, distribution and wholesaling, automotive and transportation.

For more information about this poll, copies of the complete study and the results of previous studies or other matters related to the Small Business Research Board, please contact Raymond D. Minkus, (847) 441-4192.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:05 PM | Comments (0)

Webcom, Inc. Makes MMAC Future 50 List for 3rd Year in a Row

Webcom, Inc. selected as a Metro Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) 'Future 50' Award Winner for the third consecutive year in a row. The list recognizes companies that have shown significant revenue and employment growth over a three-year period of time. As a result of receiving this honor three years in a row, Webcom qualifies for the prestigious Master Mettle Award.

Milwaukee, WI (PRWEB) September 13, 2007 -- Webcom, Inc., the leader in simplified quote-to-order enablement for the selling of complex products and services, is proud to announce their selection as a Metro Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) 'Future 50' Award Winner for the third consecutive year in a row. The list recognizes companies that have shown significant revenue and employment growth over a three-year period of time. As a result of receiving this honor three years in a row, Webcom qualifies for the prestigious Master Mettle Award.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel recently announced the 2007 Future 50 winners. The award is presented by the MMAC and its Council of Small Business Executives (COSBE) to fifty privately-owned companies in the seven county region that have shown significant growth in revenue and employment over the past three years. Companies are eligible for Future 50 selection for up to three years.

"We are proud to once again be recognized among Milwaukee's fastest growing companies. Our growth and 100% client success rate is a testament to the dedication and drive of the Webcom team," said Aleks Ivanovic, CEO and founder of Webcom. "We also thank our clients, who rely on us to support their mission critical business processes," Ivanovic added.

Combined, the 2007 Future 50 had a total employment of 2,581 jobs and $671 million in revenue. Of this year's winners, 30 were founded in the past 10 years; 17 were founded between 1986 and 1996; and 18 were founded prior to 1986. The firms on the list are a diverse representation of industries throughout the seven-county region.

The MMAC launched the Future 50 Program in 1980 as a way to recognize the outstanding achievements of local, fast-growing companies. The program promotes young companies in Milwaukee, and is recognized as an important asset to the city's economic growth.

Check out the full list of winners online at Future 50 Winners.

For more information on the Future 50 program visit the MMAC website.

About Webcom, Inc.
Webcom, Inc. provides software solutions that simplify the quote-to-order process for the selling of complex products and services. Requiring only a browser, WebSource CPQ allows customers to configure, price, quote and propose their offerings across multiple sales and distribution channels, anytime, anywhere. WebSource CPQ not only handles the traditional bill of material, routing and diagram generation tasks frequently associated with product configurators, but also addresses the guided selling, proposal generation and multi-level channel management tasks associated with sales configurators. The solution helps drive increased revenues and margins, increased customer satisfaction, reduced costs and improved productivity. Companies utilizing Webcom's products and services include Rockwell Automation, Danfoss, Corning Cable Systems, Network Appliance, Grayhill and GE Industrial Systems. Founded in 1997, Webcom is a privately held corporation headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with offices in the USA and Europe. For more information, visit Webcom at http://www.webcominc.com or call 414-273-4442 (toll free 877-508-6323).

Media Contact:
Webcom, Inc.
Chris Lesar
(414) 273-4442

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:05 PM | Comments (0)

WSI Internet Consulting and Education Uses Leading Edge Technology to Enter Alpharetta's Tile and Stone Website Design Field

Richard Williams, WSI Internet Consultant, announces today the company's launch of its Tile and Stone website development project, http://www.traditionsintile.com.

Decatur, GA (PRWEB) September 13, 2007 -- Richard Williams, Internet Consultant with WSI (We Simplify the Internet), announces today the company's launch of its Tile and Stone website development project, http://www.traditionsintile.com The new site is part of an integrated communications plan for corporate client, Traditions in Tile and Stone, a leader in design for tile and stone products. The site has been built using WSI Business Edge, a leading edge product built upon Modular Development Technology (MDT™) that ensures the highest quality of Web development.

WSI Business Edge is a fifth generation Internet business solution that will increase profits, reduce costs, improve operational efficiencies and produce ongoing return on investment (ROI) for Traditions in Tile and Stone. WSI Business Edge enables Traditions in Tile and Stone, to efficiently manage their Web presence in real-time. The solution has easy to interpret website traffic and analysis reports that help Traditions in Tile and Stone, track their online business ROI, 24x7.

WSI Business Edge also includes powerful business functions like online shopping, email marketing, RSS feeds, forums, document manager, Google Maps and can easily scale affordably as Traditions in Tile and Stone business grows and evolves.

Richard Williams and Traditions in Tile and Stone could not be more pleased with the results of their efforts. A website's visibility on the Internet can be the pivotal difference between a successful and targeted Web presence and being overlooked by search engines. Richard Williams, as a WSI Consultant, worked with Traditions in Tile and Stone to create a website that works for the company. Traditions in Tile and Stone's site features a fresh new look and feel with Photo Galleries showcasing their high quality products and installations. "WSI gave us the means to create a designer look with no hassle. Their program allows instant updates and easy changes to any part of the site. Richard came out to explain all the features and give a 'hands on' training session. He was available every step of the way for any questions or issues we ran into."

Richard Williams has been in the IT Industry for 17 years and has implemented complex solutions for both Fortune 500 companies and small businesses alike. With a strong focus on delivering solutions that Increase Revenues, Decrease Costs and Streamlining Operations.
Traditions in Tile and Stone, www.traditionsintile.com, has been in business since 1936 and is still a family owned company. They are a direct importer of ceramic, porcelain and natural stone from all over the world. Traditions in Tile and Stone is also associated with several well known American manufacturers and represents companies such as American Olean, Florida Tile and Stonepeak Ceramics. Their designer showrooms offer customers the opportunity to work with trained professionals on any project from remodeling a kitchen or bathroom to designing a house from the ground up.

About WSI:
Through its network of over 1500 offices in 87 countries, WSI delivers thousands of e-Business solutions to small and medium sized businesses annually. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, WSI provides affordable Internet related services and technologies that deliver maximum return on investment for businesses. As the world leader in providing profitable Internet solutions to SMEs, making information accessible for all via the Internet is an essential component of our offering.
WSI is committed to assisting customers to ensure their websites are accessible for people with disabilities by providing education, guidance, tools and techniques that comply with the worldwide W3C standards.

For more information on Richard Williams and WSI's offerings, please contact Richard Williams at richard@wsiconsultingsolutions.com or by phone at (404) 513-6877, website www.wsiconsultingsolutions.com.

Contact:
Richard Williams
WSI
Phone: (404) 551-2868
Cell: (404) 513-6877
www.wsiconsultingsolutions.com

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

Will This Freight Broker Training Company Survive After Falling Apart?

Finally, new training options for those currently in freight brokering as well as other individuals seeking topic-specific information.

El Paso, Texas (PRWEB) September 13, 2007 -- John Thomas, President and owner of Atex Freight Broker Training, Inc. has no doubt about his company's survival.

Recently, John has introduced several training modules and is offering these as "parts" of his more comprehensive training. John intends to have an entire "toolbox" of different "parts" that focus on specific aspects of freight brokering and the industry.

John states that, "I've been getting more and more calls from individuals who really need in-depth training in some areas of freight brokering but not the entire scope. Many of these individuals are currently operating as freight brokers but have not received the necessary preparation that they need for one reason or another."

John goes on to state that "some of these 'parts' or modules are just one hour in duration; some are up to three hours. The benefit to the client is that they get the specific information they are seeking and they are paying less than the comprehensive training that includes about 36 topics in all. These 'parts' are conducted over the telephone and Internet just like the comprehensive training."

John will continue developing more modules for the toolbox based upon client surveys and he plans to have a total of ten modules by the end of this year. John also will be creating numerous other "tools" for his "toolbox" to assist freight brokers such as:

manual accounting systems for those who don't want to invest the time and effort into learning computerized accounting systems and such as,
database templates that are ready for collecting customer and trucking firm information.

Atex Freight Broker Training, Inc. is in its fourth year of training and conducts all training over the telephone and internet. To learn more about these training modules as well as the entire scope of freight broker training, please visit: http://www.atexfreightbrokertraining.com/purchasemodules.shtml

For other information, please contact John at either 1-915-313-3803, or you may visit his blog at www.freightbrokeringblog.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:02 PM | Comments (0)

Professional Pricing Society Expands Strategic Pricing Community by Adding Eight New Sponsors

The strategic pricing solutions market continues its expansion as eight pricing solution providers become become sponsors of the Professional Pricing Society - the world's largest organization of professional pricers. For over 20 years, the Professional pricing Society has developed an active pricing community with members representing Global 2000 enterprises..

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) September 13, 2007 -- The Professional Pricing Society (PPS) announces eight new corporate sponsors to its growing roster of technology and consulting companies supporting the practice of strategic pricing. The eight new companies -- Maxager Technologies, Servigistics, Mimiran, William Richard Associates, Oliver Wyman, Pricedex Software, Digonex Technologies, and Global Link Solutions - join 17 existing sponsors including Microsoft, SAP, Deloitte, Accenture, and Simon-Kucher and Partners.

"Our sponsors are critical to the strategic pricing community we continue to build," explained Eric Mitchell, President of the Professional Pricing Society. "The Professional Pricing Society is increasingly becoming the place where worldwide corporations turn to train their associates on the profit potential of scientific pricing."

All of the PPS sponsors will be attending or exhibiting the PPS Fall Conference in Orlando October 24-26. PPS conferences are held every Spring and Fall and attract the world's largest gathering of professional pricers.

To learn more about the Professional Pricing Society, its sponsors, conferences, publications, professional certification, and educational programs, visit the PPS website at: www.pricingsociety.com.

About the Professional Pricing Society:
Founded in 1984, the Professional Pricing Society serves thousands of members, representing leading industries all over the world. The Society's mission is to nurture a growing community of professionals committed to disseminating pricing expertise throughout the business world. PPS produces three annual conferences in Europe and North America and offers certification with its Certified Pricing Professional (CPP) program. Publications distributed to members include an eight-page monthly newsletter and a 36-page quarterly journal. Further, the PPS website (www.pricingsociety.com) is a central resource for state-of-the-art pricing knowledge and hosts a job site where professionals can post or review new opportunities in the industry.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:02 PM | Comments (0)

Schneider-Kreuznach's New High-Definition MacroVaron Lens Increases Resolution Capabilities of Advanced Inspection Systems

Features Schneider-Kreuznach's new Continuous Aberration Suppression (CAS) technology to improve the efficiency and flexibility of machine vision systems.

Bad Kreuznach, Germany (PRWEB) September 13, 2007 -- The Schneider Group, a worldwide market leader in high-quality lenses for industrial applications, has introduced the MacroVaron 85mm f4.5 lens featuring Schneider-Kreuznach's new Continuous Aberration Suppression (CAS) technology.

The new MacroVaron lens (MRV 4.5/85 CAS 0.5X-2.0X) enables system integrators and equipment manufacturers to significantly improve the reliability and flexibility of quality assurance processes in production inspection systems. Schneider-Kreuznach's unique CAS technology within the lens enables the use of ultra-high-resolution down to 2.5 microns over an extremely large magnification range from 0.5X to 2.0X, with uniform performance over the entire range.

A 62mm image circle, low distortion and excellent chromatic correction make the MacroVaron lens ideal for high-resolution line scan applications up to 12k (and down to 5 micron-pixel sizes), such as those used in flat panel display (FPD) and printed circuit board (PCB) inspection systems.

The relative illumination of the lens is virtually constant over the entire image height, enabling the use of the full size of the sensor. This uniformity of light eliminates the need for electronic compensation, thus minimizing the noise of the camera signal. The 85mm focal length of the MacroVaron lens reduces the required working distance, which decreases the space needed for the camera-lens assembly.

"The powerful diffraction-limiting capabilities of the MacroVaron lens represents a major breakthrough for system integrators and equipment manufacturers seeking to improve the performance and efficiency of their machine vision systems," explained Dirk Muschert, Director of Marketing of Jos. Schneider Optische Werke GmbH. "Much like the recent groundbreaking introduction of our 12k Makro-Symmar line scan lenses, the MacroVaron lens with CAS technology represents Schneider-Kreuznach's commitment to expanding the boundaries of modern technology trends in the industry."

Like all Schneider-Kreuznach industrial macro lenses, the new MacroVaron lens features Schneider-Kreuznach's unique iris locking mechanism and robust design, to ensure extremely reliable and precise measurements in even the harshest high-vibration manufacturing environments.

For further technical and contact information, please visit www.schneiderindustrialoptics.com.

About Schneider:
The Schneider-Group, founded in 1913 in Bad Kreuznach, Germany, is a worldwide market leader in high-quality lenses for industrial applications, photographic lenses, optical filters, cinema projection lenses and optical accessories. In total, Schneider has manufactured more than 15 million lenses and has created thousands of optical designs. The Schneider-Group has 550 employees worldwide.

INDUSTRIAL OPTICS Business Unit
Jos. Schneider Optische Werke GmbH designs, develops, manufactures and markets optical and opto-mechanical components and subassemblies for machine vision and other image processing applications. By providing high-quality optical solutions, Schneider helps system integrators and equipment manufacturers to enhance their vision systems.

Headquarters:
Jos. Schneider Optische Werke GmbH
Ringstraße 132
55543 Bad Kreuznach
Germany
Phone: +49 671601-389
Fax: +49 671601-108
www.schneiderkreuznach.com
industrie(at)schneiderkreuznach.com

North America:
Schneider Optics Inc.
285 Oser Avenue
Hauppauge, NY 11788 USA
Phone: +1 631 761-5000 / +1 818 255-9350
Fax: +1 631 761-5090
www.schneideroptics.com
industrial(at)schneideroptics.com

MacroVaron is a trademark owned by Schneider-Kreuznach

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

John Allan, CEO, DHL Logistics to Join CEOs of CEVA Logistics, Wincanton, K&N and 14 Other 3PL CEOs to Debate Future of 3PL Industry

John Allan, CEO, DHL Logistics is set to debate the future of the European 3PL Industry with John Pattullo, CEO, CEVA Logistics; Graeme McFaull, CEO, Wincanton; Stewart Oades, CEO, Christian Salvesen - plus regional and global CEOs from Kuehne & Nagel, NYK Logistics, Thiel, Fiege, Agility, Ewals, Ryder, Penske Logistics, FCC Logistica, AutoLogic, Menlo and Schneider Logistics at the eyefortransport 5th European 3PL Summit in Brussels (http://www.eyefortransport.com/eu3pl)

Brussels, Belgium (PRWEB) September 13, 2007 -- John Allan, CEO, DHL Logistics is set to debate the future of the European 3PL Industry with John Pattullo, CEO, CEVA Logistics; Graeme McFaull, CEO, Wincanton; Stewart Oades, CEO, Christian Salvesen - plus regional and global CEOs from Kuehne & Nagel, NYK Logistics, Thiel, Fiege, Agility, Ewals, Ryder, Penske Logistics, FCC Logistica, AutoLogic, Menlo and Schneider Logistics at the eyefortransport 5th European 3PL Summit in Brussels (http://www.eyefortransport.com/eu3pl).

"With the European 3PL Industry now worth over €100 billion it is vital for every company who either offers 3PL services - or outsources to 3PLs - to be involved in the discussions and networking that will take place in Brussels at the European 3PL Summit on November 5-6, 2007" says Chris Saynor, CEO, eyefortransport. "This is going to be a truly unique occasion for the 3PL sector" concludes Chris Saynor. Topics for discussion at the Summit include how to:

- Become a 'green' 3PL and reap the rewards
- Upgrade your customer relationship to a real partnership
- Expand your services regionally -- the where, when and how
- Provide the technology capabilities that will give you a real ROI from your customers
- Exploit the opportunities from consolidation in the 3PL industry

The 3PL Summit is bringing together an unprecedented number of 3PL CEOs to share their experiences. Twelve 3PL customers from multinational shippers including Nike, Unilever, PepsiCo, Diageo, Toshiba, Total Petrochemicals... will also be joining the speaker programme to offer their unique insight into the 3PL Industry. To see the complete speaker line-up of more than 30 executives visit http://www.eyefortransport.com/eu3pl

There are only 250 places available at the 3PL Summit, so interested participants are being strongly advised to register early to reserve their place - also registrations before September 14th are entitled to an early bird discount -- full details can be found on the website.

The 3PL Summit is now firmly established at the only meeting-place for companies that contract to 3PLs and for 3PL Providers, and this year we are proud to announce that the 'Best 3PL Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner' will be also be taking place during the event.

For further information on the 3PL Summit or the awards ceremony please contact:

Chris Saynor
CEO, eyefortransport
+44 20 7375 7529
csaynor @ eyefortransport.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 10:00 PM | Comments (0)

Electrophysics Launches New High Performance Infrared Cameras Ideal for Automotive Design, Test and Manufacturing

Electrophysics has launched a new high performance infrared camera, the Titanium 560 MWIR, ideal for the diversity of applications in automotive design, test and manufacturing

Fairfield, NJ (PRWEB) September 13, 2007 -- Electrophysics has launched a new high performance infrared camera, the Titanium 560 MWIR, ideal for the diversity of applications in automotive design, test and manufacturing. Infrared imaging plays a vital role in the automotive industry not only as an R&D instrument but also as a test and predictive maintenance tool. In consideration of the large number of electronic and electromechanical components that are used in the production of each automobile, the automotive industry is a microcosm of the diversity of thermal imaging applications apparent today. And, with the trend toward improved reliability, it's understandable that infrared imaging plays such an important role in worldwide production of automobiles.

With the introduction of the Titanium 560 MWIR Camera, state-of-the-art thermal imaging performance can now be achieved in a camera platform that has the flexibility of both an open optical interface as well as the power of a high speed image acquisition interface. As such, the camera is ideal in a wide variety of applications -- from infrared microscopy and electronics inspection, to high-speed infrared imaging. Online videos of many of these automotive applications are demonstrated here.

At the heart of the Titanium 560 cameras is a state-of-the-art 640x512 large format Indium Antinomide (InSb) focal plane array. This InSb sensor delivers excellent sensitivity (20mK NETD typical) and resolution. In addition, because of its 15µm pixel pitch, the 560 camera exhibits magnification that is 40% higher than traditional 25µm pitch systems when compared with the same focal length objective lenses resulting in an IFOV that is 40% smaller. Also, because of the small pixel pitch, a camera can be configured with smaller, less expensive optics, yet perform better, extremely valuable for those applications that require very long focal length lenses, such as tracking. For infrared microscopy applications, the smaller pixel pitch can yield a 5µm image spot size (when using the available 3X microscope lens).

The Titanium 560 Camera is a member of the entirely new Titanium family of cameras that include both mid-format and large format systems incorporating SW, MW and LWIR sensor technology. The Titanium IR systems are available with a broad range of detectors, including InSb, MCT (Mercury Cadmium Telluride) and QWIP (Quantum-Well Infrared Photodetector) FPAs. These cameras achieve outstanding sensitivity even at the highest frame rates in both the MWIR and LWIR bands. All cameras feature the same highly configurable platform as the 560 with the same universal optical interface and high speed image acquisition interface. The Titanium family offers the perfect solution for cameras that reliably deliver the highest sensitivity, accuracy, spatial resolution and speed in a highly configurable platform and at an affordable price.

Headquartered in Fairfield, New Jersey, Electrophysics develops advanced near infrared, night vision and thermal imaging systems for use in a host of imaging applications. Since 1969, Electrophysics has maintained its focus on delivering products that reflect the company's exceptional engineering capabilities to meet specific real world demands while keeping pace with rapidly evolving imaging technologies. The Company has realized exceptional growth as a result of its customer-centric philosophy and remains firmly committed to continual innovation in its products in order to enhance the experience of end-users. Electrophysics is vertically integrated with expertise in complex signal processing, optics, embedded software, PC software applications development and hardware design.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 09:57 PM | Comments (0)

September 12, 2007

Houston Research Company Releases Customer Satisfaction Survey Among Oilfield Equipment & Materials Suppliers

Major companies rank among the top and bottom performers.

Houston, Texas (PRWEB) September 12, 2007 -- Houston-based EnergyPoint Research, Inc. recently released the results of its 2007 EPR Customer Satisfaction Survey for providers of oil and gas drilling/wellsite equipment & materials. The independent bi-annual survey reflects evaluations from more than 630 oilfield customers offering equipment and materials to the oil and gas industry worldwide.

Derrick Equipment, manufacturer of solids and waste control equipment for oil and gas drilling activities, ranked number one overall in total customer satisfaction with high marks for product performance. Smith International, a provider of drilling-related products and services, ranked second overall and first in the category of drill bits. Rounding out the top five in the survey's overall rankings are: Davis-Lynch, a manufacturer of downhole cementing equipment based in Pearland, Texas and the top-rated supplier in EnergyPoint Research's 2005 survey; Sumitomo Pipe and Tube of Tokyo, Japan, and Vallourec & Mannesmann of Boulogne, France, both manufacturers of tubular goods.

"High levels of customer satisfaction do not materialize out of thin air. They require a full-time commitment and a willingness to invest in the resources and processes that ensure customers consistently have positive experiences," said Doug Sheridan, founder of EnergyPoint Research. "The ability of this year's top-rated suppliers to register these high scores, particularly as bottlenecks and performance issues have hampered the entire industry over the last 12 to 18 months, says a lot about their determination to meet the needs of customers regardless of industry conditions."

According to Sheridan, the survey's findings are particularly relevant in light of the current oil patch environment. Quality issues and production and delivery delays have been prevalent and service has deteriorated at a time when access to equipment and materials has been a top concern, says Sheridan. "Customer frustrations have been on the rise with delivery commitments ranking as one of the top concerns the industry must address."

This increased interest in supplier performance has manifested itself in increased participation in EnergyPoint's survey. "The number of evaluators in this year's poll grew almost threefold from two years ago, the last time we conducted the survey," says Sheridan.

Suppliers rating toward the bottom of the list include National Oilwell Varco, Oil States International, Vetco Gray and FMC Energy Systems.

The independent survey, conducted from January through July 2007, is based on 2,319 evaluations by 636 respondents representing 176 exploration and production companies, drilling contractors, and upstream consultants worldwide. A total of 32 oilfield equipment and materials providers received the minimum number of evaluations to be rated in the survey. Suppliers were evaluated in the areas of total satisfaction, pricing, performance and reliability, engineering and design, availability and delivery, personnel, post-sale support and corporate capabilities.

About EnergyPoint Research, Inc.
EnergyPoint Research provides independent research regarding the oil and gas industry's satisfaction with the products and services it purchases and utilizes. Founded in 2003, the company offers oil and gas industry professionals and their employers opportunities to provide confidential feedback in important areas to oilfield product and service providers through objective and independent evaluation processes. For more information regarding EnergyPoint Research, visit its website at www.energypointresearch.com.

For More Information, Contact:
Doug Sheridan
EnergyPoint Research, Inc.
713-529-9450

Story Sources Available:
- Mitch Derrick, President, Derrick Equipment
- Mike Pearce, President, Smith Technologies (A Division of Smith International)
- Frank Cole, VP of Operations, Davis-Lynch
- Doug Sheridan, Managing Director, EnergyPoint Research

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:15 AM | Comments (0)

New Diary Software Enables Road Warriors To Keep In Touch Via Smartphone

A new software product released by Practice Net, a company with over 40 years experience in developing computer software, means SME's can now access their office diary by Smartphone and without the need for MS Exchange.

(PRWEB) September 12, 2007 -- A new software Diary (http://www.freedomfrompaper.com/10secdiary.htm) is helping business owners to maintain active control of their business, even if they or their people are away from the office. Now a remote user can make appointments for themselves and others wherever they are in the world.

Business owners will readily identify with these issues …

Trying to manage a business with a paper diary, or worse with several paper diaries
Using a software diary that only one person can access
Multiple copies of the diary on individual PC's
Downloading the office diary onto a Laptop and then finding that your copy is out of date before you leave the office
The expense of the Blackberry and Microsoft Exchange solution for auto synchronization of diaries
The need for an easy to use Business Diary that anyone can use
Secure access so only authorised users may do so
Dale Rogers, CEO of Practice Net reveals that an audio/visual demo of the new software diary (http://www.freedomfrompaper.com/10secdiary.htm) provokes the viewer to consider how the Diary could meet the needs of the business and be more proactive.

Every business is different of course, reports Rogers, so the new software diary had to be flexible enough for the majority of businesses. Business types already using it include Professional practices, Service Industries and SME's in general.

Benefits that users report include:

Make appointments on behalf of others. For one or more people or a group.
Send email invites to a meeting to confirm availability
Set Alarms & Reminders to avoid being late for a meeting or forgetting altogether
Set up Repeat Events such as maintenance schedules or regular management meetings
Make private entries, for your eyes only
Make customer memo entries that automatically pop up whenever the customer's folder is viewed. Typically useful if the account is on stop.
A Two-way view so customer related entries can be viewed from the Diary or the customer's folder.
An easy to use method of reporting that doesn't need a programmer and doesn't cost extra
The ability to access the Diary from anywhere in the world that has an Internet connection
"The rationale behind the new software product, the Rapport Diary is its name, was to offer small & medium businesses a Diary that didn't need investment in new hardware such as Microsoft Exchange and Blackberry devices. And that met their varied needs including remote access," Rogers said.

About Practice Net Ltd

Practice Net is a software house located in Cardiff, Wales. It has developed and implemented computer systems for over 40 years. Dale Rogers is the managing director and has extensive experience of database software and document management systems. The Rapport Diary is the latest in the range of Paperless Office products from Practice Net.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:14 AM | Comments (0)

Model N Announces Fall Life Science and High Tech Customer Advisory Board Meetings

Semi-annual meetings provide opportunity for customers, partners, and model n management to discuss emerging industry trends, plan a common revenue management vision, and collaborate on product direction.

Redwood Shores, CA (PRWEB) September 12, 2007 -- Model N, Inc., the leader in Revenue Management solutions, today announced its semi-annual Life Science and High Tech Customer Advisory Board (CAB) meetings.

This September, Model N executives will gather with customers and partners from both the life science and high tech industries to help develop and nurture an ongoing strategic partnership. As part of Model N's industry-focused strategy, the CAB meetings create a discourse with customers and partners on their requirements, successes, and best practices using Revenue Management solutions, the product roadmap, and go-to-market strategies for new initiatives.

As a major component of Model N's customer engagement plan, which includes Lighthouse programs for early adopters and Preferred Design Partner programs, the CAB meetings provide Model N with important direction on product development and enhancements by facilitating a collaborative forum with customers and partners. They also help develop a sense of community by enabling discussions on best practices for eliminating revenue leakage and avoiding regulatory exposure with Model N solutions, as well as exploring new opportunities for Revenue Management innovation. Both meeting agendas will include a progress review from the most recent CAB events in March of 2007, which were attended by High Tech customers Cypress Semiconductor Corp. (NASDAQ: CY); Intersil Corp. (NASDAQ: ISIL); ON Semiconductor, Inc. (NASDAQ: ONNN); and Microchip Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP) and Life Science customers Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE: BMY); Boston Scientific Corp. (NYSE: BSX); C.R. Bard, Inc. (NYSE: BCR); King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: KG); and Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, a Johnson & Johnson Company (NYSE: JNJ).

"The Model N Customer Advisory Board has proven to be a productive vehicle for getting important questions answered and delivering feedback on Model N solutions," stated Colum O'Neill, Director of Sales Processes and Toolsets at ON Semiconductor. "The effort Model N puts into preparing for CAB meetings and the opportunity given to customers to meaningfully contribute to product strategy discussions make participating in the Model N CAB program a very worthwhile endeavor."

"By uniting strategic thinkers and operational experts from Model N's customer base in an active community, the Customer Advisory Board enables our organization to consult with other early adopters of revenue management on best practices and project approaches, as well as take part in an ongoing discussion around continuing product excellence," said Ray Almeida, Director, Business Analytics at Boston Scientific Corp. "In turn, the Board affords Model N the opportunity to directly interact with customers and garner feedback that helps set the direction for future product development."

In addition to discussing product direction and best practices, the CAB meetings allow Model N management to examine important industry trends with customers. As life science and high tech organizations continue to face growing regulatory and competitive pressures, the meetings create a productive environment for exploring how Model N and customers can work together to address these challenges.

"The Customer Advisory Board is a critical component in creating a dialog around Revenue Management among our Life Science and High Tech customers, partners, government agencies, and Model N," said Zack Rinat, Model N Founder and CEO. "We will take this opportunity to work together in setting a bold common vision for Revenue Management, agreeing on multi-year strategy to achieve this vision, and prioritizing the product roadmap accordingly."

About Model N
Model N is the leader in Revenue Management solutions, offering an integrated suite of applications for analytics, pricing strategy and execution, contracts, compliance, rebates, fees, and chargebacks optimized for the industry practices of Life Science and High Tech companies. Enabling the creation of a seamless, end-to-end process from price setting through settlements payment, Model N's uniquely integrated approach eliminates revenue leakage and delivers the visibility and controls needed to avoid the risks of non-compliance to government reporting regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley and government pricing requirements. Customers include: Boston Scientific Corporation; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; Cypress Semiconductor Corporation; Intersil Corporation; Linear Technology Corporation; Medtronic, Inc.; Microchip Technology, Inc.; Micron Technology Inc.; Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, a Johnson & Johnson company; ON Semiconductor, Inc.; and Pfizer, Inc. Model N is located in Redwood Shores, California. For additional information, visit www.modeln.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:13 AM | Comments (0)

Solar Innovations, Announces the Completion of its Third Historic Greenhouse Design Project

Solar Innovations, a custom manufacturer of residential and commercial greenhouses, conservatories, sunrooms, folding glass walls and more, is proud to announce the completion of its third historic greenhouse design project.

Myerstown, PA (PRWEB) September 12, 2007 -- Solar Innovations, a custom manufacturer of residential and commercial greenhouses, conservatories, sunrooms, folding glass walls and more, is proud to announce the completion of its third historic greenhouse design project.

Three hallmark projects have been completed since the release of the restoration and historic greenhouse product line.

Most recently, Solar Innovations completed the Franklin & Marshall College greenhouse, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This grand structure was twenty-three feet wide, eighty-five feet long, and has a ridge height of twenty-one feet. The custom engineered Mansard Style roof, popular in the Victorian Age, contributed to the greenhouse's historical feel.

Solar Innovations' restoration bar design, weeping system, incorporated in the project, is unique. When compared to the alternatives, Solar Innovations system is capable of spanning a great distance without numerous center supports as required by competitors' systems. This system, with integrated aluminum portals, is self-supporting over distances and maintains the aesthetic appeal without interference.

This greenhouse structure incorporated many of the greenhouse accessories offered by Solar Innovations: environmental control system, fogging system, misting systems, grow lights, standard lighting, rolling benches, stationary benches and tiered benches.

Yale University of Connecticut also repaired one of their older campus greenhouses with Solar Innovations' historic greenhouse designs. Eighty-four feet long, thirty-four feet wide, with an eighteen foot ridge height, this free standing, double pitch masterpiece incorporated a gable end and partition walls.

An indescribable transformation, the Blithewold project, Rhode Island, included restoration of two structures. The larger structure, fifty feet long, twenty-four feet wide, with a fourteen foot ridge height, includes one gable end and a glass partition to maintain several growing environments within the structure.

Solar Innovations specializes in creating greenhouses with a historically accurate appearance that can be combined with modern innovation to create an exquisite structure. These designs provide a better seal between the glass and the aluminum which improves heating and cooling efficiency and stabilization of the internal environment. Incorporating a two tier horizontal purlin into a restoration design offers unsurpassed condensation control. Our restoration bar provides an aluminum frame with historical appeal and integrity.

The ability to combine insulated glazing with superior engineered, thermally broken extrusions sets Solar Innovations' historic designs apart in both appearance and performance.

These designs can be incorporated into the restoration of a current structure or a new construction project. Complete with historically accurate decorative accessories, Solar Innovations has created a unique combination of exceptional features for any greenhouse.

"Period specific greenhouse designs and decorative accessories provide a quaint look into the past while incorporating the conveniences of today." For more information on Solar Innovations' historic greenhouse designs, please contact Solar at 800-618-0669.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:12 AM | Comments (0)

Flatirons Solutions Develops DITA-based Technical Publishing Solution

Quick-Start Solution for XML Publishing Seamlessly Integrates with EMC Documentum and Leading XML Authoring Tools

Boulder, Colo. (PRWEB) September 12, 2007 -- Flatirons Solutions, a leader in XML publishing and content management solutions, announced the launch of their Technical Publishing Solution for EMC Documentum®, an XML-based content management platform. Designed in conjunction with EMC Documentum the solution leverages the Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) and DocBook standards, and seamlessly integrates with the Documentum Content Management System and leading XML authoring tools. Based on Flatirons Solutions' SourceOnceTM methodology and best practices for leveraging XML and content reuse, the solution offering includes a standardized project plan, standardized Content Architecture/Design document, and pre-built Documentum configurations and workflows for state-of-the-art DITA-based technical publishing. Whether just starting with DITA, or looking to enhance an existing DITA application, organizations can be operational within six weeks and realize immediate ROI in production costs, resources, and publishing cycles.

"Flatirons Solutions' extensive experience with Documentum has enabled us to provide world-class solutions involving content management, XML, collaboration and Documentum expertise," said Eric Severson, Chief Technology Officer of Flatirons Solutions. "The Technical Publishing Solution fills a gap in the marketplace for a comprehensive XML-based solution for publishers of technical content. By developing this XML solution specifically for the Documentum platform, our customers are able to reduce publication, content maintenance and review costs, and eliminate the need to design a costly, non-standard solution from scratch."

"Flatirons has been a significant player in the implementation of XML authoring/translation/publishing solutions for EMC organizations," said Paul Masalsky, Information Architect and Program Manager at EMC. "In addition to providing high quality professional services, Flatirons has gone beyond EMC's requirements and base expectations. As a long-standing client and partner, EMC looks forward to introducing the Technical Publishing Solution to our commercial and enterprise accounts with Flatirons."

EMC is marketing the Technical Publishing Solution as part of their overall Technical Publications Management offering, which also includes products from EMC and our partners, including implementation services by Flatirons Solutions.

Flatirons Solutions is an EMC Select Services Team (SST) partner, and ranked 9th on the Select Services Team for 2006. As a leader in Documentum's XML capabilities, Flatirons Solutions has implemented and developed XML-based solutions, published numerous papers and code samples, and actively participated in the Documentum community.

About Flatirons Solutions
Flatirons Solutions, an Inc. 500 company, is a professional services firm that provides consulting, systems integration, and systems & software engineering services to government agencies and Fortune 500 companies. A leading content management solutions provider specializing in XML-based publishing and business process automation, Flatirons has provided enterprise-wide solutions in industries such as aerospace, transportation, publishing, manufacturing, financial services, insurance, and health. Flatirons also engineers software-intensive, mission-critical systems for federal government and defense agencies. Established in 2001, Flatirons Solutions is a privately-held company headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, with offices in Washington D.C. and Ft Worth, TX.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:12 AM | Comments (0)

Car Dealers Propel FenderSplendor Paint Meters to a Milestone Record With More Than 3,300 FS 488 Paint Meters Sold in 18 Months

Car Dealers and Auto Auctions helped FenderSplendor, Inc shatter every known Paint Meter sales record in the last 18 months. FenderSplendor President Allen Willey said "missing paintwork on an appraisal or a trade in can easily result in a $1,000 loss and car dealers now have an affordable way to avoid this catastrophe."

Gulf Shores, AL (PRWEB) September 12, 2007 -- Just 18 months after the introduction of the FS 488 Paint Meter, FenderSplendor President Allen Willey announced that the FS 488 had hit a milestone of more than 3,300 sales. When asked about this amazing success, Allen said it all started 4 years ago when he decided to start discounting quality paint meters so that more car dealers could afford one. "Up until FenderSplendor got in the business manufacturers and their distributors sold a few gauges which were very expensive."

Being a former New Car Dealer, Willey recognized the need for an affordable paint meter and began looking for a way to sell to all the new and used car dealers, not just the 'high-line' dealers. After 2 years in the business, Willey released the FS 488 Paint Meter in March of 2006. Sold on eBay and on the website http://www.wholesalepaintmeters.com the FS 488 became the fastest selling Paint Gauge in history.

Willey said, "We spent over a year and close to $100,000 developing a Paint Meter just for new car and used car dealers." Sales of the FS 488 have proven that it is the meter of choice for informed car dealers and auto auctions. Willey added that the FS 488 Paint Thickness Gauge is smaller, lighter and easier to use than any of the previous gauges car dealers were using. "By offering the FS 488 on the Internet at http://www.wholesalepaintmeters.com we are able to hold our sales cost down and provide a great value for our dealers."

"The most exciting thing about our business is that we have not even scratched the surface." Willey added that FenderSplendor has added the all new FS 502 for Powder Coating and Metal Fabricators. Available at http://www.fs502.com the FS 502 is quickly becoming the Mil Gauge of choice for industrial use. Willey concluded by saying, "our recently expanded offices and warehouse in Gulf Shores, AL have given us the capacity to sell over 3,000 gauges in 2008. This is our third expansion in 4 years and I hope we out grow this one too."

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:10 AM | Comments (0)

London Calling: Emeco with Foster + Parters, Presenting 20-06, a New Collection of All-Aluminum Furniture at Tent London During 100% Design Week

Emeco, the Aluminum Chair Company, will introduce "20-06", an all-aluminum chair, stool and table project by Foster + Partners at Tent London, September 20- 23, at the historic Truman Brewery, Space A39. The "20-06" chair recalls Emeco's classic 10-06 Navy ® Chair - the all-aluminum icon first made for submarines in WWII - while expressing a refined structure and modern inference. Darren Wright and Lucy Collier of Wieden + Kennedy London said, "Bringing Emeco to Tent London is a great opportunity to showcase Emeco's latest product - the "20-06". Emeco was founded in 1944 to make all-aluminum chairs for the US Navy. In 2000, Philipped. Starck's Hudson chair for Emeco won the GOOD DESIGN Award and was inducted into the permanent design collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

London, UL (PRWEB) September 12, 2007 -- Emeco, the Aluminum Chair Company, will introduce "20-06", an all-aluminum chair, stool and table project by Foster + Partners at Tent London, September 20- 23, at the historic Truman Brewery, Space A39 (www.tentlondon.co.uk ).

The "20-06" chair recalls Emeco's classic 10-06 Navy ® Chair -- the all-aluminum icon first made for submarines in WWII - while expressing a refined structure and modern inference. Both "20-06" and the classic 10-06 have an estimated 150-year lifespan. "20-06" was selected by the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum for its 2006 Triennial.

Gregg Buchbinder, Emeco's Chariman, notes, "We have tripled Emeco's sales in the UK in the past two years though new distribution and products. We are working with Wieden + Kennedy London on a re-vamped website (www.emeco.net) that will launch in September to support our efforts. We're ready to have great time and make a big splash in London."

Darren Wright and Lucy Collier of Wieden + Kennedy London said, "Bringing Emeco to Tent London is a great opportunity to showcase Emeco's latest product - the '20-06.' It was designed by Sir Norman Foster to be both light and strong and we plan to have some fun testing this out. Anyone who saw our test films for the 10-06 Navy will know what we mean (www.youtube.com)."

The sleek new chairs, stools and tables feature an ultra-slim, all-aluminum frame, tempered for strength and hand made at the historic Hanover Pennsylvania factory using Emeco's proprietary "77 Step Process." The ergonomically shaped aluminum seat and back are hand welded, resulting in a minimal, seamless appearance. "20-06" is super-strong, yet uses 15% less aluminum than the original Navy ® Chair. Of that metal, 80% is recycled aluminum, qualifying as an environmentally sound product. The lightweight chairs will stack 10-15 high and retail for GBP £289 -- the same as the 10-06 Navy ® Chair. "20-06" is guaranteed for life.

Lord Norman Foster said, "I appreciate the anonymous character of the new collection -- it meshes seamlessly with our vision for interior space. '20-06' is the result of a genuine collaboration between the Foster Studio and the Emeco Team and will contribute to Emeco's remarkable history."

Gregg Buchbinder added, "Norman Foster and his group have fused modernist form with established craft. The Foster Studio combined advanced technology, inventive geometry, attention to detail, and sensitivity to ecological considerations with Emeco's unique manufacturing process to make a wholly new design. A Foster building and an Emeco chair are both modern in character, yet demonstrate a great respect for the past."

"Norman Foster is the Mozart of Modernism," wrote Paul Goldberger. Lord Foster became the 21st Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate in 1999 and was awarded the Praemium Imperiale Award for Architecture in 2002. He has been awarded the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal for Architecture (1994), the Royal Gold Medal for Architecture (1983), and the Gold Medal of the French Academy of Architecture (1991). In 1990, he was granted a Knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours, appointed by the Queen to the Order of Merit in 1997 and in 1999 was honoured with a Life Peerage in the Queen's Birthday Honors List, as Lord Foster of Thames Bank.

Emeco was founded in 1944 to make all-aluminum chairs for the US Navy. Mr. Buchbinder purchased the company in 1998 and began a friendship and association with the renowned French architect, Philippe Starck, creating a series of products that united Emeco's historic manufacturing capabilities with Mr. Starck's classic designs for a new century.

In 2000, Mr. Starck's Hudson chair for Emeco won the GOOD DESIGN Award and was inducted into the permanent design collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In 2004, Emeco collaborated with the American architect Frank Gehry on Superlight, a chair that utilizes aluminum's ability to be both strong and flexible. Mr. Gehry's chair won another GOOD DESIGN award in 2004 and was included in collections at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Pinakothek der Modern in Munich. Most recently, Emeco worked with BMW DesignworksUSA to re-interpret a long-lost Emeco chair from 1951 for the contemporary market.

Emeco has made over 1,000,000 Navy chairs since 1944, and now sells its all-aluminum furniture in 50 countries.

See the entire Emeco collection at Brands Ltd., 99 St. John St. Clerkenwell London EC1M 4AS. +44 (0)20 7017 1670.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 06:10 AM | Comments (0)

OPD Solutions Opens New Office in Tokyo, Japan

OPD Solutions, Inc., a leading international consulting group specializing in end-to-end supply chain management, today announced the opening of a new regional office in Tokyo, Japan.

Houston, TX (PRWEB) September 12, 2007 -- OPD Solutions, Inc., a leading international consulting group specializing in end-to-end supply chain management, today announced the opening of a new regional office in Tokyo, Japan.

"OPD Solutions has been working with a rapidly expanding number of clients throughout Asia over the last 10 years," said Mike Morrissette, President of OPD Solutions. "The location of this new office will allow us to better serve the needs of our clients in Japan, as well as in other parts of Asia." With the global nature of the high-tech industry, operations and manufacturing and other Supply Chain operations will continue to expand in this area. The opening of this new location will allow OPD to increase the support of its Total Order Management (TOM®) clients.

Yo Murai will head the new office as President of OPD Solutions Co. Ltd., Japan. "Murai brings extensive experience in the area of Supply Chain Management, and is well respected for his work with many