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February 20, 2008

International Law Firm Alliance Signals Ambitions To Expand In Latin America

MSI Global Alliance announces sponsorship of IBA First Conference of The Americas in Mexico City and appointment of Argentinean law firm member García Menéndez Abogados.

(PRWEB) February 20, 2008 -- MSI Global Alliance announces sponsorship of IBA First Conference of The Americas in Mexico City and appointment of Argentinean law firm member García Menéndez Abogados.

The world's leading international alliance of independent, mid-sized legal and accounting firms, MSI Global Alliance (MSI), (www.msiglobal.org) has its sights firmly fixed on making key law firm appointments in Latin America in 2008.

As part of a campaign to attract new law firms to the alliance, MSI will be one of a select group of exhibitors at the IBA Americas Conference taking place in Mexico from 27-29 February. The event is expected to attract over 500 private practitioners and corporate counsel from the Latin and North America regions.

"We are building something very special for the world of business - an alliance of independently-minded, professional firms, that by working together, are capable of providing sophisticated cross-border advisory services to their internationally-focused clients," says MSI's Chief Executive James Mendelssohn.

"Our firms are deliberately mid-sized in their marketplaces, but what they lack in size, they compensate for in agility, entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to providing partner-level support to their clients.

"Our sponsorship of this prestigious IBA conference is an integral part of our strategy to increase our law firm presence in Latin America - MSI offers a great opportunity for the right firms to extend globally with their clients, and to serve member firm clients from Europe, North America and Asia that are looking to invest in emerging Latin America markets.

"Our key focus is on recruiting internationally-focused, independent law firms from Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. We invite interested firms to come forward," adds Mendelssohn.

The first step in MSI's expansion into Latin American was formalised last week with the appointment of García Menéndez Abogados in Buenos Aries. Recognised by Euromoney and Global Competition Review for its reputation in international trade and anti-trust and unfair competition respectively, the firm has been selected by MSI for its broad experience in advising foreign clients on company incorporation, immigration requirements, mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracts, and stock exchange listings.

"Many Argentinean companies are taking advantage of a strong export market to expand their business activities internationally. Our MSI membership is vital to ensuring these clients will be well looked after by firms like ours," says Sebastián García Menéndez, the firm's managing partner.

"Foreign companies are also keen to benefit from the lower cost base that can be achieved by setting up business centres in Argentina, and our links to clients and professional firms in 100 countries ensure we are well positioned to build a strong international practice," adds García Menéndez.

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

Buy Railings.com Raises the Bar with the Launch of their New Website

Buy Railings, a company offering various components and tubing for the highest quality railings, now offers even more options for their customers with the launch of their new website, BuyRailings.com.

Danbury, CT (PRWEB) February 20, 2008 -- Buy Railings proudly announces the launch of their new website, BuyRailings.com, which provides an online shop for the public to purchase their high quality materials direct. Buy Railings is located out of Danbury, CT where they provide consumers with the highest quality of railing products around. Their rails, brackets, and fittings are the exact same as those that are found in popular restaurants, bars, airports, hotels and office buildings. That means they are quality assured, and suitable not only for commercial use, but for residential wear and tear, as well.

Their main focus as a business is to provide the highest quality of railings and components out there. They know how trying it can be to install brackets that don't line up properly, or deal with fittings that don't actually fit. To eliminate that frustration, they carefully specify and rigorously inspect their products to ensure accurate fit and professional finish. They even work directly with foundries and mills around the world to ensure satisfaction in those areas.

Another feature that assures their railings are superior is the fact they craft their products to meet the expectations of the most discriminating customers. Most all of the brass items they sell are actually solid brass, their stainless steel items are 304 grade solid stainless steel, and their chrome finished items are produced with the finest plating over steel or brass. What is even better is that their products will maintain their beauty and aesthetic appeal with minimal care for many years to come.

Buy Railings launched their new website in order to offer another shopping option for their "railing patrons." It is a very user friendly site for anyone to navigate because everything is so clearly mapped out. A customer can easily go to the home page and find exactly what they are looking for--and then some. They make it simple to find components or rails for any projects, and the projects go beyond regular stair rails. They offer items for specialty projects like bathrooms, curtain rails and more.

Their website presents easy methods of contact for anyone with questions or concerns about the products they sell, ordering, or shipping and handling. The contact page requires only a few short minutes of time to fill out, or for those who prefer more traditional means of communication, a phone number is also listed. In either case, a professional is waiting to assist with any needs a customer has.

For more information on BuyRailings.com please do not hesitate to visit their website at www.BuyRailings.com.

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

RidgeLogic Selected by USAV Group to Present at Digital Signage University

RidgeLogic to educate attendees about single location uses of digital signage.

Buffalo, NY (PRWEB) February 20, 2008 -- RidgeLogic Development, a developer of digital signage software for single locations, has been selected by the USAV Group, a national alliance of professional audio/visual experts, to present at the groups second annual Digital Signage University in Las Vegas on February 26th, which is the day before the industry's largest trade event, Digital Signage Expo.

Digital Signage University is a training program available to the USAV Group's 26 dealer members, representing 48 locations across the United States. RidgeLogic will educate attendees about the digital signage marketplace, their SceneStudio content management software, and how to leverage the easy-to-use application to succeed in one-off sales opportunities.

"The USAV Group is providing their dealer members the tools required to succeed in the digital signage market and we're excited to participate in the training program," says Jack Boyczuk, President of RidgeLogic. "We believe single location uses of digital signage, like corporate and hotel lobbies, are going to experience significant growth and professional audio/visual dealers are well positioned to win these types of deals."

SceneStudio, RidgeLogic's flagship product, provides resellers an affordable price point allowing them to expand into new markets, like small-to-medium business. In addition, the intuitive user interface allows non-technical people the ability to create or maintain the message on a daily basis, keeping the operating cost low, resulting in the lowest possible total cost of ownership.

About RidgeLogic:
RidgeLogic Development provides digital signage software applications, content design and programming services to meet the specific needs of end users, resellers and OEM partners. RidgeLogic is committed to allowing its consumers to utilize non-technical personnel to create or edit content and schedule it for playback, resulting in a digital signage solution that stays fresh and relevant.

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

Dixon Valve Opens New Manufacturing & Warehouse Facility In Houston

Dixon Valve announces the opening on January 28, 2008 of a new manufacturing and warehouse facility in Houston, Texas

Chestertown, MD (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 20, 2008 -- Dixon Valve announces the opening on January 28, 2008 of a new manufacturing and warehouse facility in Houston, Texas. The new 70,000 sq. ft. facility distributes Dixon products to customers throughout Texas and the Gulf Coast/Southwest region, as well as becoming the new manufacturing location for the company's Holedall fittings and related products.

The new facility, located at 6526 Homestead Road in Houston, replaces another Dixon facility nearby. According to Bob Grace, vice president of distribution, the new complex provides a state-of-the-art facility for both manufacturing and warehousing. The building features 30-ft. ceilings and high-racking storage, along with significantly more total warehouse space, enabling Dixon to stock a larger volume and variety of products for ready delivery to customers.

"We are able to increase the number of orders shipped same-day," Grace reported. "Also, our new location is more convenient to major Interstate highway arteries, making it easier for customers who want to pick their orders up," he said.

Furthermore, the new Houston facility has an upgraded product training center. Dixon offers numerous technical and sales training courses for distributors and customers that pertain to its wide-ranging hose assembly, couplings and fittings product lines.

In addition to warehouse operations and the training center, the Houston facility is the new home of the company's Holedall fittings manufacturing operations. Up to now, those operations have been located in Houma, La. Holedall products, which are sold primarily into the oil & gas drilling industry, have their largest market in the Gulf Coast region. The new Houston location makes it easier and faster for Dixon to manufacture and supply Holedall couplings, ferrules and swage stems to customers.

"Having the manufacturing facility located in the same general area as the plating and heat-treating operations is more operationally efficient," noted Wayne Spurrier, vice president, and general manager of Dixon Boss. Dixon plans to utilize its improved facility to expand its manufacturing operations during the coming year to include the production of larger fittings.

Dixon's new Houston facility is one of 12 company-owned branch/warehouse facilities in the company's network, with locations stretching from New York to California. The new facility underscores the company's commitment to improving product availability, delivery and reliability - with same-day shipment and delivery capabilities available to as many customers as possible.

For more information on the new Houston manufacturing and warehousing facilities, as well as on the complete line of products offered by Dixon, call (410) 778-2000 or visit www.dixonvalve.com.

Established in 1915, Dixon Valve is a leading international manufacturer and supplier of hose fittings and accessories. The company serves a wide variety of markets - from petroleum and mining to construction and processing. It offers the industry's most comprehensive product line available from a single source.

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

New Economic Stimulus Plan Can Benefit Corporate Leasing

Corporations that Lease Equipment could see Favorable Lease Rates as Leasing Companies Pass on the Benefits to its Customers.

Mission Viejo, CA (PRWEB) February 20, 2008 -- The new Economic Stimulus Plan signed last week by President Bush, could have the effect of lowering lease rates for corporate borrowers as leasing companies pass on the benefits to their customers.

A provision included in the stimulus plan was "Bonus Depreciation" a term used to describe accelerated depreciation of purchased equipment that exceeds $250,000. The main benefit of this provision is to give businesses an opportunity to accelerate the depreciation of a large purchase.

Normally, if a company acquired $1,000,000 in equipment, the company could claim depreciation in the first year of $200,000 (20% of $1 million). However with the new Bonus Depreciation, that same company could deduct $600,000 in the first year (a 50% Bonus depreciation of $500,000, plus $100,000 which is 20% of the $500,000). The remaining cost can be depreciated over the remaining recovery period.

In a research note to clients, The Optimus Group strongly recommended that Corporate Finance and Treasury departments consider how this new legislation could reduce their corporate borrowing rates as leasing companies may be inclined to pass on the economic benefit of accelerated depreciation on to its customers.

The Optimus Group (optimusgroup.com) is an independent financial advisory firm that negotiates with leasing companies and banks on its clients' behalf. The Optimus Group is NOT a leasing company. In most cases, The Optimus Group, through its expertise in lease/loan contracts, would be able to reduce total lease expenses by at least 10% to 15%. A typical Optimus Group client invests over $5 million in new equipment annually and is the company CFO or Treasurer. For further information, contact Blaine Ung at 949.862.0555 ext. 106 or visit the The Optimus Group website at: The Optimus Group

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

Apex Manufacturing Solutions Names John Nichols Managing Director

Apex Manufacturing Solutions today announced that John Nichols, formerly Director of Business Development, has been appointed Managing Director.

Boise, Idaho (PRWEB) February 20, 2008 –- Apex Manufacturing Solutions today announced that John Nichols, formerly Director of Business Development, has been appointed Managing Director.

In his new post, in addition to sales and marketing activities, Nichols is responsible for setting the company’s strategic direction and implementing best business practices and procedures. He also joins Apex’s ownership ranks as an equal equity owner and managing member of the limited liability company.

Prior to joining Apex in June, 2007, Nichols held executive management roles at Wonderware Software, the world’s foremost manufacturing automation software developer, ISS-Wonderware, a leading Wonderware channel partner, and Incuity Software, Inc., a pioneering business intelligence for manufacturing software provider.

“We’re pleased to have someone of John’s abilities, and 25-plus year track record bringing successful manufacturing automation and optimization solutions to market, step up and help us meet the goals Lonnie and I set for Apex,” said Marya Woods, Apex co-founder and Operations Director. Woods, along with Engineering Director Lonnie Purvis, founded Apex in 2005.

“I’m honored,” said Nichols, “that Marya and Lonnie have invited me to join the ownership and executive ranks of Apex. I have been impressed with their technical prowess, quality of service, business ethics, reputation, and the team they’ve built, from the very beginning of my association with them. I’m looking forward to helping add to what they have started.”

About Apex Manufacturing Solutions
Apex Manufacturing Solutions is a Boise, Idaho-based manufacturing consultant and systems integrator with extensive, successful experience implementing continuous process improvement, control, monitoring, and reporting systems in a broad range of manufacturing and process industries. Companies of all sizes, in all industries, use Apex manufacturing and automation services to identify optimization opportunities, improve production throughput, reduce waste, and increase uptime. Apex clients include global companies in the semiconductor, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, consumer packaged goods, lumber, paper, machinery, metals and mining, water, and energy industries. For more information about the company and its service offerings, please visit the web-site at www.apexmfgsolutions.com.

Editors, for additional information, please contact:
John Nichols
Managing Director
Phone: +1 (208) 284-8157

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

TruStile Doors Leads a Revolution in Green Design

When it comes to Green building, doors are an essential, but often overlooked, detail. Denver-based TruStile® Doors now offers over 350 styles of premium, eco-friendly MDF doors that are SCS certified to contain 82 percent recycled content. TruStile's design-oriented MDF doors are a cost-effective solution for residential and commercial Green builders.

Denver (PRWEB) February 20, 2008 -- In a housing market struggling to recover from decline, Green builders are experiencing an unprecedented revolution of growth. A leader in the Green building movement, Denver-based TruStile® Doors is educating builders, architects and consumers about the impact they are making on sustainability, healthful living and high design in an industry where doors are often overlooked as a Green building component.

"TruStile's MDF doors have been Green since our company started back in 1995," says Vice President of Marketing Chuck Tamblyn. "As a progressive company building a premium brand in the building products space, we made the strategic decision long ago to create design-oriented doors with eco-friendly construction. It's exciting to see so many builders and homeowners joining the Green revolution and realizing the critical role that doors play in renewable, sustainable development."

Susan Davis, a TruStile enthusiast, Green builder and owner of Spectrum Fine Homes in Mountain View, Calif., believes TruStile is at the industry forefront for sustainable building due to the company's variety of customizable, eco-friendly door options. "I love using the TruStile MDF product for interior and exterior doors for many reasons, including its Green options. The doors are built with stile and rail construction, but are still environmentally friendly -- from the recycled MDF content to the low-emitting binders and no-added formaldehyde option," says Davis. "I also love the fact that there are so many standard designs and options to customize."

TruStile recently provided Davis's company with unique exterior and interior door designs for a $500,000 Green-design remodel in Silicon Valley. "Doing the same old, same old gets tiring," says Davis. "With TruStile we can do something unique and different with the exterior, interior, glass and resin options, while maintaining design continuity throughout the home."

As a leading manufacturer of solid MDF doors made with true stile and rail construction, TruStile is certified by SCS® (Scientific Certification Systems) for using 82 percent recycled content in their MDF door construction, making them ideal for Green builders seeking LEED® certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. "TruStile MDF doors allow Green builders to adhere to sustainable building practices without sacrificing aesthetics or design flexibility," says Jason Mounts, Director of Marketing. "Our signature stile and rail MDF construction delivers an affordable, design-savvy product constructed with premium, eco-friendly materials and finished with superior architectural detailing. And, with our new MDF reclamation process, scrap MDF is ground up and donated to a number of agricultural partners for livestock bedding and other uses."

"People spend thousands of dollars on Green materials like reclaimed bamboo flooring and recycled dimension stone," says Mounts. "But the reality is that doors are found in every room in the home. TruStile eco-friendly doors are a comparatively cost-effective design choice, and have a huge architectural influence on homes and workspaces. Designers are pleased to discover that they don't have to sacrifice style for substance when it comes to our Green product line."

About TruStile® Doors
Based in Denver, TruStile Doors is a leading manufacturer of residential and commercial architectural doors in medium density fiberboard (MDF) and natural wood. With a made-to-order manufacturing process, TruStile offers customers style, selection and design flexibility with more than 350 styles and the ability to fulfill any custom design. TruStile's full-line of interior and exterior doors can be individually tailored to reflect personal design styles, adding beauty and character to any project. TruStile provides the shortest lead times in the industry and limited lifetime product warranties. For more information, visit www.trustile.com.

For More Information Contact:
Jason Mounts
Director of Marketing
720.322.8345

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

ICE-Flow GlyphWorks Adds Python Scripting Language

nCode International announced the latest update release of ICE-flow GlyphWorks, including the introduction of a 'GlyphBuilder' capability which uses the Python scripting language. This provides a unique way for users to add specific or proprietary methods into an "off-the shelf" analysis framework and effectively opens up GlyphWorks to a whole range of applications.

Southfield, MI (PRWEB) February 19, 2008 -- nCode International, a leading developer of data analysis software, data acquisition systems and durability solutions, today announced the latest update release of ICE-flow GlyphWorks, including the introduction of a 'GlyphBuilder' capability which uses the Python scripting language. This provides a unique way for users to add specific or proprietary methods into an "off-the shelf" analysis framework and effectively opens up GlyphWorks to a whole range of applications.

ICE-flow GlyphWorks data analysis software provides a graphical, process-oriented environment that enables engineers to rapidly extract useful information from vast amounts of measured data. Complete multi-step analysis processes can be easily created using individual function building blocks called 'glyphs'. The new GlyphBuilder capability provides a Scripting glyph which enables users to now program their own glyphs using Python.

GlyphWorks customers include many of the world's major automotive and aerospace manufacturers such as Ford Motor Company, PSA Peugeot Citroën and Lockheed Martin, who require the ability to process large amounts of test data. These companies often have proprietary analysis methods that cannot be included in a commercial software product. This new scripting capability enables them to cost-effectively retain the knowledge in-house while gaining the productivity benefits of using a standard analysis tool such as GlyphWorks. Other applications include the ability to add support for new or unusual file formats or accessing other third party tools.

Python is a powerful object-oriented programming language that is developed and maintained by a global community of open source developers. The language is the basis of applications used by tens of thousands of companies and organizations worldwide including, Google and NASA, and used in other engineering products such as ABAQUS. Python developers can easily take advantage of the graphical environment of GlyphWorks for visualizing and reporting engineering data including 3D displays and mapping of GPS data.

"The Scripting glyph in ICE-flow GlyphWorks empowers new customer specific functionality," says Jon Aldred, ICE-flow GlyphWorks Product Manager. "The Scripting glyph allows GlyphWorks users to rapidly build custom functions - and to incorporate these in GlyphWorks processes. The scripting capability truly unleashes the power of GlyphWorks and we expect this functionality to be rapidly adopted. Python provides an excellent choice for scripting because of its ease of use and wide acceptance in many industries including engineering."

The Scripting glyph is available for Windows 32-bit platforms in the ICE-flow 4.1 ISR3 update release and will be available across all platforms at the next major release in Spring 2008.

To learn more about the Scripting glyph visit www.ncode.com or to view a pre-recorded webinar, Create Your Own Glyphs with Python, visit www.ncode.com/WebinarDetail.aspx?webinar_id=40.

About nCode International
nCode is a leading developer of durability, test & measurement, data analysis, asset monitoring, and product design (CAE Durability) solutions. nCode offers a unique combination of data measurement and acquisition instruments, powerful analysis software, and services that help customers eliminate unexpected failures by measuring and converting durability, performance and operational data into information from which intelligent business decisions can be made that improve Product Life Performance (PLP) and reduce costs. Established in 1982, nCode has direct offices in Europe, North America, and Asia. For more information about nCode, please visit www.ncode.com.

nCode products include: ICE-flow GlyphWorks, Library, and DesignLife, SoMat eDAQ, and eDAQ-lite. The nCode Logo, nCode, ICE-flow GlyphWorks, ICE-flow Library, ICE-flow DesignLife, SoMat eDAQ, and eDAQ-lite are trademarks or registered trademarks of nCode International Corporation in the USA and/or other countries.

About Python
Python is a powerful object-oriented programming language that is developed and maintained by a global community of open source developers under the oversight of the Python Software Foundation. Python is very easy to learn and can significantly increase programmer productivity. The language is the basis of applications used by tens of thousands of companies and organizations worldwide, and its user base is growing rapidly. Additional information and downloads are available at www.python.org.

Python: Copyright (c) 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 Python Software Foundation; All Rights Reserved.

ABAQUS is a trademark of Abaqus, Inc.

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

Datalogic Scanning Announces New Family of Rugged Industrial Strength Handheld Readers

The PowerScan 8000 Family of Handheld Bar Code Readers is Designed to Withstand the Toughest Environmental Conditions in Demanding Applications

Eugene, Oregon (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 19, 2008 – Datalogic Scanning Inc. is pleased to announce the release of the PowerScan® 8000 Series of rugged industrial-strength handheld readers, which are designed and constructed to withstand the toughest environmental conditions and deliver performance to satisfy the most demanding applications.

A Handheld Bar Code Solution for Every Application!
You asked for it; we designed it with you in mind! The PowerScan 8000 Series of handheld readers come with your choice of

Corded or cordless models
Standard or Auto Range Laser with a range of few centimetres to over 10 meters
2D mega-pixel sensor for omni-directional reading of 1D, stacked, and 2D bar codes
Outstanding characteristics including ruggedness, durability, ability to withstand extreme environmental conditions, with additional optics and interfaces make this new product suitable for any application in the industrial market. There is now a PowerScan handheld reader for any tough environment.

Great performance is not enough; operator comfort is essential in any scan-intensive application; the PowerScan 8000 delivers unsurpassed ease-of-use with its improved ergonomically designed handle and well-balanced weight. For unmatched feedback in noisy environments, and superior good read feedback from any position, the high-performance Datalogic 3GL™ Technology (Three Green Lights) incorporates “GreenSpot™” Technology as well as “Double Good-Read LED™” Technology. The 3GL Technology is a distinctive characteristic of all PowerScan 8000 industrial handheld readers, showcasing the latest innovations in handheld reader technology by Datalogic.

Building on a Heritage of Product Excellence
“Now customers can take advantage of the very best technology the industry has to offer,” said Pietro Todescato, General Manager of Handheld Readers for Datalogic Scanning. “The new PowerScan series synthesizes and further enhances the ten years of design, technology, and experience based upon the PowerScan, Dragon™, and Lynx™ handheld readers. The new reader builds upon our long legacy of success and a demonstrated track-record of proven performance in demanding environments.”

Safety and Flexibility
The operator’s mobility is crucial in industrial applications, not only to increase efficiency, but to optimize safety. The Datalogic STAR cordless system™ increases productivity and flexibility in the work area by offering scalable solutions, from simple point-to-point applications to more complex networks and seamless roaming projects. Both an input and an output device, the powerful bi-directional communication protocol of the PowerScan 8000 handheld reader, combined with an optional display and three push-button keypad not only allow the operator to receive information, but to also actively interact with the host.

Datalogic Scanning has long been a pioneer in cordless handheld technology offering the broadest line of cordless scanners available today:

Dragon™ Mobile Series of industrial handheld readers (1998)
PowerScan® RF industrial handheld reader (2000)
Gryphon™ Mobile Series of general purpose handheld readers (2000)
QuickScan® 6500BT general purpose handheld reader (2006)
PowerScan® 7000BT SRI industrial handheld reader (2007)
QuickScan® Mobile retail handheld reader (November 2007)
PowerScan® 8000 Series of industrial handheld readers (February 2008)

Facts about Datalogic Scanning Handheld Readers:

A Datalogic Scanning bar code reader is installed every 36 seconds.
440,000 PowerScan® industrial handheld readers have been sold since 1998.
200,000 Dragon™ industrial handheld readers have been sold since 2000.
Over 2.5 million Datalogic handheld readers have been sold since 1998.
Over 30,000 customers have chosen Datalogic Scanning handheld readers.

For additional information about Datalogic Scanning products, please visit www.scanning.datalogic.com, email scanning @ datalogic.com, or call +1-800-695-5700 (toll-free in the USA only) or +1-541-683-5700.

About Datalogic Scanning, Inc.
Datalogic Scanning, Inc. is the recognized #1 worldwide leader in high-performance fixed position retail point-of-sale scanners and the #1 provider of handheld scanners in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), with the most complete line of general purpose and ruggedized handheld scanners available today.

Headquartered in Eugene, Oregon, Datalogic Scanning, a division of the Datalogic Group, serves multiple industries throughout the retail supply chain and distribution channel as well as manufacturing, government, healthcare, banking and finance sectors with a presence in over 120 countries.

PowerScan and QuickScan are registered trademarks of Datalogic Scanning, Inc. Datalogic is a registered trademark of Datalogic S.p.A. in many countries and the Datalogic logo, 3GL, Dragon, Double Good-Read LED, GreenSpot, Gryphon, Lynx, and the Datalogic STAR cordless system are trademarks of Datalogic S.p.A. All other brand and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Marilyn Junkins at +1-541-302-2131 or marilyn.junkins @ datalogic.com

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

Kinaxis Revolutionizes How Manufacturers Satisfy Customers and Drive Revenue Growth with Launch of On-Demand RapidResponse for Demand Management

New Service Enables Response to Daily Change inside the Sales and Operations Planning Horizon

Ottawa, Canada (PRWEB) February 19, 2008 -- Kinaxis™ Inc., the leading provider of an on-demand Response Management service to drive rapid and more profitable response to daily changes in demand, supply and product inside the Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) horizon, today announced the availability of its new RapidResponse™ for Demand Management service.

RapidResponse for Demand Management is purpose-built for the unique challenges faced by sales, customer service and demand management organizations as they respond to daily, unexpected change while balancing customer satisfaction and operations performance objectives. When combined with the existing RapidResponse™ for Manufacturing solution, the integrated end-to-end RapidResponse service provides supply chain teams the tools for risk tradeoff from the individual order or forecast change down to the component supply level.

Despite large investments in Demand Planning, Supply Chain Planning and traditional Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) tools, decision-makers are forced to rely on manual efforts, complicated spreadsheets and other makeshift measures. The S&OP process produces a plan that organizations have difficulty with given the number of daily changes that occur inside the planning horizon. Customer-focused companies have quickly realized they can't "plan" their customers.

As noted by AMR Research, "Traditional closed-loop planning and execution may well be yesterday's news. Thanks to globalization, product proliferation and channel consolidation, discrete manufacturers find themselves in a new era of surprise and compromise." AMR Research continues to say, "In environments where decisions are high in risk and complexity, many find they need systems for collective risk tradeoff and response." - Response Management: Next Wave of Supply Chain Innovation? AMR Research, May 2007.

Kinaxis is addressing this Response Management challenge by empowering front-line decision makers to quickly sense demand and supply misalignments and drive more profitable responses by shaping demand and rapidly allocating finished goods supply accordingly. With RapidResponse for Demand Management, action teams utilize personal alerting, multi-enterprise visibility, collaborative "what-if" analysis and rapid decision support to achieve superior customer service and revenue attainment.

"Most companies are managing demand response across their fulfillment networks by brute force with poor results," says Douglas Colbeth, Chairman and CEO of Kinaxis. "Achieving excellence in responding to changing customer demands has become the number one challenge facing enterprises today. Solving the Response Management need in demand management and fulfillment operations represents the largest opportunity for companies to increase customer satisfaction, enhance margins and attain more predictable revenue across the entire value chain. Traditional Planning tools are all about what you hope for - RapidResponse enables companies to deal with reality."

Extending the Kinaxis Response Management solution to focus on demand management business challenges has been highly customer-driven. Kinaxis customers have provided strong validation of the distinct needs of the demand management user community and the urgent requirement for a strategic solution to address them.

Qualcomm
"At Qualcomm, our management and sales operations use RapidResponse to dynamically align supply and demand in the face of continually changing circumstances and growing demand," says Lisa Henderson, Senior Director of Information Technology for Qualcomm. "RapidResponse provides us tools to manage these changes as they occur and offers a solution path for future initiatives to provide advanced supply and demand balancing capabilities."

Toshiba Europe GmbH
"Toshiba Europe has used RapidResponse to improve its purchasing, sales and inventory (PSI) process," says Thomas Kossmehl, Senior Expert, IS Division, Toshiba Europe GmbH. "Using RapidResponse, we now have a consistent, succinct PSI process that dramatically enhances our ability to achieve our desired results. With reliable demand and supply data consolidated in one place, we spend significantly less time on data gathering and more time on analysis and decision-making - which is where the business value lies. RapidResponse has enabled Toshiba to be a more responsive organization, providing a level of flexibility never achieved before."

RapidResponse for Demand Management drives many compelling capabilities and benefits:

Compress the Time to Action Through Proactive, Exception-based Alerts
Exception-based alerts to projected misalignments in demand and supply (e.g., forecast change beyond tolerance, late demand impacting quarter-end, supply disruptions, late customer orders, etc.) enable demand managers and order fulfillment staff to quickly re-align supply and/or engage manufacturing operations to best satisfy customers and meet revenue/margin goals.

Ensure All Stakeholders Have a Shared View of Business Realities
Fully automated integration of demand and supply data from multiple sources including CRM, ERP, demand planning tools, supply chain management tools, spreadsheets and point-of-sale data, provides a single integrated view of forecast, sales orders, inventory and supply. Information can be organized in role-based views to ensure each stakeholder sees the information pertinent to their specific function.

Streamline Forecast Collaboration and Consensus
Automated capture, consolidation and roll-up of customer sales forecasts from disparate systems and sources across multiple distribution channels enables quick consensus for forecast development through internal and customer collaboration to speed demand sensing and more profitable demand responses.

Proactively Resolve Demand and Finished Goods Supply Misalignments
Demand management, sales and customer service staff can proactively resolve demand and supply misalignments and ensure that the right products are in the right place at the right time. Accurate order promise dates are quickly determined and constrained finished goods supply is allocated across multiple distribution channels to best meet customer commitments and revenue/margin objectives. New product introductions can be managed using "what-if" analysis of projected demand/supply changes to ensure a more profitable demand response and to exploit demand-shaping opportunities.

Power Next Generation Sales and Operations Planning
Quickly analyze the impact of daily demand and supply changes using "what-if" analysis to identify the best operational actions to drive effective response, ensuring S&OP business objectives are achieved. Integrated performance management capabilities proactively evaluate the impact of all decisions against the achievement of defined performance targets.

RapidResponse for Demand Management and the fully integrated and latest version of RapidResponse for Manufacturing are both immediately available.

About Kinaxis
Kinaxis delivers an on-demand Response Management service that enables customer-focused companies to achieve breakthroughs in operations performance and customer satisfaction by rapidly and more profitably responding to constant changes in demand, supply and product. Kinaxis RapidResponse combines personal alerting, multi-enterprise visibility, collaborative "what-if" analysis and rapid decision support to empower front-line supply chain staff with tools for risk tradeoff and response to daily changes inside the Sales and Operations Planning horizon. Global leaders such as Casio, Honeywell, Qualcomm, Raytheon and Toshiba use Kinaxis RapidResponse to establish superior responsiveness within their fulfillment networks and supply chains 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 05:54 AM | Comments (0)

American Elements Announces New AE Refractory Metals Product Group

Los Angeles-based American Elements announced the further expansion of its production facilities for all refractory metals and related metals such as beryllium, titanium, hafnium and zirconium.

(PRWEB) February 19, 2008 -- Los Angeles-based American Elements announced the further expansion of its production facilities for all refractory metals and related metals such as beryllium, titanium, hafnium and zirconium. The refractory metals include tungsten, molybdenum, niobium, tantalum and rhenium. A new sales product group, AE Refractory Metals™, will serve the growing demand for these metals with engineering and technical support.

Refractory Metals are a class of transition metals with extreme temperature and corrosion tolerance making them useful in many growing high technology applications including advanced lighting, superconducting materials, high temperature lubricants, catalysts and nuclear energy.

The new production capacity will affect deliveries beginning in Q2 2008 however orders from existing and new customers for current delivery are being processed now. This will expand American Elements' production of tungsten, molybdenum, niobium, tantalum, hafnium and zirconium in all forms including rod, wire, ribbon, tube, sheet, and plates, as well as, high purity thin film coating materials for evaporation and deposition such as sputtering targets, pellets and foil.

For further technical and pricing information on American Elements products, please visit us at www.americanelements.com or contact your local American Elements distributor or American Elements U.S. corporate headquarters at (1)310-208-0551, FAX (1)310-208-0351. American Elements is America's leading manufacturer and supplier of engineered and advanced material products with distribution offices in Europe, Asia, South America and India.

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

Collaboration is Key in Automotive Lighting

The automotive lighting sector is seeing accelerated technological development that is underpinned by an unusually high degree of collaborative activity, according to a just-auto.com report.

Bromsgrove, UK (PRWEB) February 19, 2008 -- The sector is huge. Every year, the automotive lighting industry supplies billions of dollars' worth of lamps, lights, bulbs, reflectors and related devices to the world's vehicle makers and a bustling aftermarket.

However, the lighting sector is unique in the degree of cooperation among its major and minor participants and its degree of global integration, according to the research.

This is due, in part, to the industry's vibrant and vigorous programme of symposia, congresses and conferences at which the latest research and technology is showcased and discussed in great detail among the industry's community of researchers, marketers, regulators, scientists, and principal consumers.

These research and development expositions form a framework within which working groups, particularly in Europe, can develop and commercialise new technology in a rapid and coordinated fashion.

Such working groups defined the parameters and sped the adoption of the world's first halogen headlamps in the early 1960s, the first H4 dual-beam halogen headlamps in the early 1970s, Xenon HID headlight systems in the early 1990s, and advanced AFS front-lighting systems in the early 2000s.

As a result of this type of research openness, life in the world's automotive lighting industry is rather like life in a small town: almost everyone knows what almost everyone else is doing, most of the time.

Everyone is working on advanced front-lighting systems and light-emitting diode (LED) headlamps and tail-lamps. Everyone offers BiXenon headlamps. Everyone can do a combination rear lamp that looks all red, but lights up in the three required colours.

Another report finding is that the automotive lighting industry has lately been undergoing rapid and significant change, under the combined influences of multiple forces.

Lighting regulations, once many in number and significantly different in technical prescriptions in the world's many markets, are now greatly reduced in number and substantially harmonised in content.

Aspects of lighting performance long left unregulated, such as pedestrian compatibility in crashes, are now being fast-tracked for regulation that will significantly affect the way lamps are designed and built. Markets have consolidated, as have vehicle makers and lighting suppliers, giving rise to regionally- rather than nationally-based players round the world.

Lighting technology has advanced at a staggering pace since the beginning of the 21st century, presenting an array of engineering and design options of unprecedented width.

At the same time, vehicle stylists and buyers have grown considerably more daring and demanding, so the wide range of options, considered a mere luxury until recently, is now a necessity. The emergence and stratospheric growth of both supply and demand for vehicles (and, therefore, for vehicular lighting systems) in developing nations has significantly pushed and pulled at the world's automotive lighting makers.

As a result, international and inter-company cooperation is at an all-time high in the industry, the just-auto report concludes.

More details of the just-auto report 'Global market review of automotive lighting - forecasts to 2013' are available by following this link:
http://www.just-auto.com/lighting.

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

Bellwether Services Awarded Subcontract on $1.9B US Air Force Logistics Contract

Global Green Supply Chain and Lean Six Sigma Consultancy Firm Continues Unprecedented Growth in the Competitive Defense Consulting Market. Bellwether expands Environmental, Logistics, and Lean Six Sigma solutions to the US Air Force Logistics Market.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) February 19, 2008 -- Bellwether Services, a leading Green Supply Chain and Lean Six Sigma Consultancy Firm, is awarded a subcontract on the Design and Engineering Program II contract vehicle. The DESP II is managed by Hill Air Force Base in Northern Utah, and is a $1.9 billion Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity vehicle (IDIQ).

This USAF logistics contract provides design, logistics and engineering/technical support for a multitude of military command services. These services include components of the Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), Army Tank and Automotive Command (TACOM), and various other Air Force/Army commands and other government entities that have similar systems requirements.

The contract vehicle can be used by all which would include agencies such as DoD, Navy, Marines and OSD, as well as NASA, DOE, DOJ, DOT, DOS, EPA, Coast Guard, Homeland Security, FAA, FEMA, and even the US Forest Service.

Trapper Hedges, Program Manager, MTC Technologies states, "We welcome (Bellwether Services) our niche Environmental Supply Chain, Lean Six Sigma, and Logistics business partner."

"We have already enjoyed DESP II partnering opportunities with Bellwether's unsurpassed capabilities and hope to further exploit additional markets with their Lean Six Sigma capabilities coupled with superb past performance across a wide spectrum of DoD support activities."

"We are pleased to support our prime, MTC Technologies," explains John Wilkerson, Executive Director, Bellwether Services. "This contract supports our long term growth plan, in addition to continuing to actively serve our defense clients."

About Bellwether:

An internationally recognized Lean Six Sigma, Environmental Supply Chain, and Quality Audit solution provider, Bellwether is dedicated to numerous industries such as: Aerospace, Automotive, Beverage, Call Centers, Chemical, Consumer Products, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Food, Importers, Medical Devices, Pharmaceutical, Public Health, Telecommunications, Sales Centers, Transportation and Warehousing Companies

Founded in 2001 as Consult Quality, LLC, Bellwether is certified as a Minority Business Enterprise, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business and Small Business Administration 8(a) consulting firm. Headquartered in Atlanta, Bellwether's affiliates are located throughout Georgia, Alabama, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, and Virginia.

For more details view our website http://www.bellwether-services.com or call 1.888.536.4583.

Contact:
John Wilkerson
(sales @ bellwetherservices.com)
1.888.536.4583

Our Vision - Believe, Execute, Achieve

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

Versapack Demonstration at Interpack 2008

24-30 April, Düsseldorf, Hall 17, Stand B04

(PRWEB) February 19, 2008 -- Following its concept launch at the Total Exhibition in May last year Versapack - a compact case erecting and packing system - is set to be officially unveiled at this year's Interpack show.

Unlike traditional combined machines, designed by specialists in either case erecting or case packing, Versapack is a class above as it has been uniquely created by two of the leading companies in their fields - resulting in a system without compromise.

Developed jointly by robot manufacturer Quin Systems and end of line packaging manufacturer Endoline Machinery the Versapack is a combination of Quin's high speed automatic RTheta Casepacker and an Endoline 220 series case erecting machine. The effect of these machines working in tandem offers customers additional options for high-speed case packing in areas where automation may not currently be possible.

Mike Webb, Managing Director of Quin Systems, comments: "With the capability of up to 100 picks per minute, the Versapack is probably the fastest and smallest combined Case erector/packer on the market today. Combining the leading skills of the two companies in these two areas provides a result with no half measures"

Those attending this years' Interpack Show will view first hand the benefits of this distinctive machine which will be showcased on the Endoline stand - Hall 17 Stand B04.

Notes to Editors
The principle of Versapack is simple - an Endoline 220 series case erector frame is used to mount the picking head and product feed conveyor, which results in an extremely compact footprint. This has been possible due to the high speed of the Rtheta™ picking head, thereby allowing a simpler and more compact product collating area to be used.

Compact footprint; 1.8m long x 1.8m wide x 2.1m high
Offers a solution for 'standard' production line pitch of 2.5m
Modular infeed system can be added to handle flexible packs and shelf-ready packing configurations

Endoline Machinery and Quin Systems strengthened their allegiance last year by introducing a new compact case erecting and packing system - Versapack. The combined effect of Quin's high speed automatic RTheta Casepacker and an Endoline 221 case erecting machine working in tandem offers customers additional options for high-speed case packing in areas where automation may not currently be possible.

The Versapack can be supplied with a bespoke infeed system to allow products such as sachets to be easily overlapped to achieve a much tighter fit within the case.

For further information on the Versapack visit www.versapack.co.uk or telephone 0118 977 1077

Press enquiries to:
Quin Systems
Robin Maidment
Tel: 0118 977 1077
Email: rmaidment @ quin.co.uk

Endoline Machinery
Emma Scott
Tel: 01767 316422
Email: press @ endoline.co.uk

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

LaProxima Technologies, Inc. Announces the Launch of IPdragnet, an Enterprise Software Solution Specifically Designed for Professionals in the Investigating Field

LaProxima Technologies, Inc. today announced the public launch of IPdragnet, a powerful and cutting edge enterprise software tool designed for investigating professionals. This easy to install and use software allows private investigators, law firms, anticounterfeiting departments of brand owners, and law enforcement agencies to reliably compile and manage investigation records. In addition to launching IPdragnet, LaProxima announced a free, unrestricted 14-day trial for download, which is available at http://www.ipdragnet.com

Lincroft, N.J. (PRWEB) February 19, 2008 -- LaProxima Technologies, Inc. today announced the public launch of IPdragnet, a powerful and cutting edge enterprise software tool designed for investigating professionals. This easy to install and use software allows private investigators, law firms, anticounterfeiting departments of brand owners, and law enforcement agencies to reliably compile and manage investigation records. It is being used by some of the most reputable private investigators, law firms, and multi-national corporations to track information, identify relationships between records, link images and files for evidence tracking, and generate professional reports.

"After years of proven success with select leading brand owners, law firms and private investigators, the time has come to launch IPdragnet publicly. We are excited about the many features this product offers and the proven success this product has met with our existing clients," said Peter Sanzio, VP of Marketing for LaProxima Technologies, Inc.

"As a leading private investigation firm in the North East United States, reputation, productivity and professionalism is everything. IPdragnet serves as the intellectual work-horse of our organization,
classifying all our proprietary information. It saves us both time and money by securely tracking our data in such a way that is clearly discernable, instantly identifying relationships between investigational records that normally would take us hours to do," said Abacus Investigations & Security, an investigation firm based in New York, NY.

Among its many features, IPdragnet offers a Windows compliant, secure enterprise platform scalable to accommodate large and small organizations. Its fully networkable feature allows users to safely and reliably compile investigation information in one source and manage the data quickly and easily.

In addition to launching IPdragnet, LaProxima announced a free, unrestricted 14-day trial for download, which is available at http://www.ipdragnet.com

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

Pricing with Confidence Authors Name "Pricing Cheers and Jeers" Finalists: Top Five Blunders and Successes in Setting Prices Announced

Pricing blunders abound when the economy is down. The first response to the problem is price discounts. At the start, discounting seems to work, but over time, both revenue and profits decline. What's a manager to do? Learn from best practices. Some companies get pricing right and others do it wrong. Introducing the Pricing with Confidence "Pricing Jeers and Cheers", the finalists of the year's most bone-headed and inspired pricing decisions. The list is compiled by Reed Holden and Mark Burton, authors of "Pricing with Confidence: 10 Rules to Stop Leaving Money on the Table" (John Wiley, 2008).

Concord, MA (PRWEB) February 19, 2008 -- Pricing blunders abound when the economy is down. The first response to the problem is price discounts. At the start, discounting seems to work, but over time, both revenue and profits decline. What's a manager to do? Learn from best practices. Some companies get pricing right and others do it wrong. Introducing the Pricing with Confidence "Pricing Jeers and Cheers", the finalists of the year's most bone-headed and inspired pricing decisions. The list is compiled by Reed Holden and Mark Burton, authors of Pricing with Confidence: 10 Rules to Stop Leaving Money on the Table (John Wiley, 2008).

Jeers to Motorola

For allowing competitors with lower-priced phones to move ahead of the lead Motorola enjoyed with the Razor. To make matters worse, when Motorola fell behind in technology, it tried to buy market share by dropping prices on its high value phones. It didn't work because Motorola phones weren't cheap enough for the low value segment and it lost profits in the high value segments. A company which once commanded more than half of the handset market now enjoys less than 10 percent.

Cheers to Nokia

For its decision to offer phones at both the high- and low- price points. Nokia registered an 85 percent increase in net profits by being able to sell less expensive phones to tap the explosive India and China markets. At the same time, it offered fuller featured phones to go after the higher priced PDA segment. The result? Over a 40 percent global share of a very competitive market. Cheers to Nokia for knowing how to price for profits - even with low-margin phones.

Jeers to Dell

Dell used price discounting far too long in a declining market. It was clear to just about everyone that PC purchases were slowing in the primary markets of Europe, Asia, and the US. Since Dell has been slow to introduce dramatically lower priced products to go after the high growth markets in China, India, and Russia, it had to rely on its regular stable of products and markets for growth. Price wasn't the way to get there and Dell found out after losing revenue share and profits. Their reactions of adding new products for growth have been a day late and a dollar short--many days and many dollars.

Cheers to Hewlett-Packard

For its strategy to leverage its strengths in distribution and retail instead of pouring all of its resources to go head-to-head with Dell. HP's timing was perfect. It recognized that as PC buyers buy more notebook computers than desktops, they will want to touch the product before buying. The retail channel is the only place to do that. HP dropped its corporate advertising programs and poured those resources into channel programs. Prices are steady and revenue, profits and market share are up.

Jeers to United Airlines

For pricing policies that are alienating its most loyal business travelers. United yield management and price sensitivity studies, no doubt, show that a loyal group of customers will in the short-term pay more for a product. But if you overcharge your loyal customers by more than 100 percent without a corresponding increase in value, customers will desert in droves, which is what United will experience until it smartens up.

Cheers to Southwest Airlines

Unlike United, Southwest continues to focus on being an efficient airline that serves its customers with fair prices, on time departures and arrivals, and a reasonable box of snacks on each flight. Seats are roomy and comfortable. No assigned seats as yet, but customers who want to pay a little more can board first. The result? More business travelers are using Southwest. It's no surprise that both revenues and profits are up.

Jeers to Oracle

Oracle is growing primarily through large acquisitions and aggressive price discounting. Several years ago, they acquired PeopleSoft. Oracle continues its growth through acquisitions of over thirty companies. The question is whether Oracle will be able to successfully integrate those companies and extract synergies. Preliminary results are promising, but the integration will need to speed up to really be successful. Our guess is that Oracle will continue to use price to close deals just like it had to report prior to acquiring PeopleSoft. Acquisitions can only plug the leak in profits and revenue so long.

Cheers to SAP

SAP, on the other hand, is choosing to grow "organically" by adding services that customers say they value. Yes, Oracle is also acquiring some companies, but they are generally small ones that are being bought for their skill sets rather than their revenue. SAP has consistently tried to leverage and grow its value proposition with existing customers. SAP currently holds a 21 percent share of the global market against Oracle's 11 percent. This is a close game but we think that SAP is pulling ahead.

Jeers to Toyota

Toyota continues to have among the highest quality automobiles available. It has grown share with that quality. Yet we give them jeers for Toyota's continued focus on price incentives to move inventory. That might be reasonable in a growing market, but in a downturn, all it does is reward price-buying by customers. That undermines the image of a quality product. To make matters worse, Toyota dealers continue to be lousy representatives of such a high quality company, placing among the worst in the industry. Toyota needs to begin flexing its muscle and put better standards in its price discounting and dealer networks.

Cheers to Ford Motor Company

For the first time in history, Ford has reacted to an economic downturn not by increasing dealer incentives and customer rebates but by reducing production to match the shrinking demand. The result? Ford is the only one of the Big Six carmakers that did not increase the use of price incentives. Yes, it is still losing money but the losses are peanuts compared to GM's record losses.

About the Authors
Dr. Reed K. Holden is Founder of Holden Advisors. He consults to senior executives in Fortune 500 companies, and runs targeted sessions with management teams to jump-start change in go-to market strategies to improve profitability. For recent thoughts and comments and an opportunity to speak with Dr. Holden, please see his blog: Reed's Blog

Mark Burton is co-founder, vice president for Holden Advisors. As a formulator of the firm's project methodologies and analytical processes, Mark is the driving force in creating offering and pricing strategies for companies that are forging new markets ahead of the competitive curve. Mark also delivers Pricing with Confidence seminars to sales, marketing and product executives. For recent thoughts and commentary on current business events, please see Mr. Burton's blog: Mark's Blog.

About Holden Advisors
Holden Advisors is a pricing strategy consultancy and training firm that works with marketing, sales, pricing, and finance executives to improve clients' offerings, pricing, and sales processes to fuel strong profit and revenue growth. You can read more about Holden Advisors and sign up for Holden's newsletter at www.holdenadvisors.com.

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

New Modular Bar Die Systems for Series 1800 and 2200 from Eagle

Eagle introduces new modular bar dies designed to simplify installation and maintenance of bar equipment while also delivering great style and decorator options.

Clayton, DE (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 19, 2008 -- Eagle introduces new modular bar dies designed to simplify installation and maintenance of bar equipment while also delivering great style and decorator options. Configured so that underbar equipment such as Eagle’s popular 1800 and 2200 Series underbar equipment can be mounted to and supported by the bar die, the new offerings are available for both flat-wall and pedestal style underbar designs.

Eagle’s modular bar dies offer numerous user benefits and open up new options for bar system customers. The rugged, super-strong bar die design and construction eliminates the need for underbar legs in pedestal style bar configurations. It also completely encloses soda, beer, electrical and plumbing lines in a chase that is incorporated into the unit. This chase serves as a wall or front of the bar which is covered by panels that hide the lines. Panels are removable, providing easy access to the chase for ongoing maintenance or to make modifications.

The front panels of the bar die can be covered in a choice of decorative laminate or wood millwork finishes, in addition to stainless steel, thereby giving designers and consultants a wide range of options to fit any décor style. Decorative brass or chrome rails and fittings are also offered to complete the design. The result: a stunning bar setup that is strikingly attractive in addition to being functional and highly durable.

For more details on Eagle’s new modular bar dies and other innovative equipment solutions for bar installations, contact Eagle’s SpecFAB Division (ext. 3043) with sales inquiries or the Marketing Department (ext. 3129) with inquiries pertaining to marketing support. Telephone: (800) 441-8440. Web site address: www.eaglegrp.com.

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

NanoHorizons, Inc., Promotes Daniel Hayes to President and CEO

Nanomaterials Manufacturer Focuses on Expanding Relationships with Producers of Advanced Textiles and Medical Equipment

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) February 19, 2008 -- NanoHorizons™, Inc., an emerging leader in applied nanoscale materials, announced today the appointment of Daniel Hayes, PhD, as President and CEO. Hayes is a co-founder of the company who formerly directed research, development, and operations.

Hayes was instrumental in developing the NanoHorizons’ first generation of silver antimicrobial additives for textiles that led to important partnerships with Indo Poly LTD., Faytex Inc., and G.J. Littlewood. Now under the SmartSilver™ brand, these additives are used to impart antimicrobial and antifungal properties to yarns and fabrics and also to finishes, paints, foams and laminates. These versatile products have led to important new partnerships with Piedmont Chemical, Eversharp and others.

“Dan played a key role in NanoHorizon’s efforts to develop multipurpose silver nanoparticle products and move the company into advanced coatings and medical equipment,” said NanoHorizons Chairman, Stephen Fonash, Ph.D. “Under Dan’s leadership we anticipate continued expansion of our SmartSilver ™ brand in the fabrics and fibers arena while expanding our nanoparticle business in other sectors.”

Hayes steps up from his role as Vice President Operations and replaces Robert Burlinson, founding CEO of NanoHorizons, who remains on the Board of Directors. Hayes has a doctorate degree in Engineering Science from Penn State University where he also completed his undergraduate degree in life sciences.

About NanoHorizons, Inc.

NanoHorizons, Inc., (www.nanohorizons.com) with its solid foundation in applied chemistry and engineering, is a leader in the emerging field of practical nanotechnology. Developed for the medical industry and now entering the textile and apparel markets, NanoHorizon’s SmartSilverTM antimicrobial offers permanent bacterial control for natural and synthetic fibers and fabrics. NanoHorizons is privately held and headquartered in State College, PA. The company works closely with customers from its R&D laboratory, manufacturing facility, and technical support office adjacent to The Pennsylvania State University campus.

Keywords: nanotechnology, advanced textiles, SmartSilver

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

Leica Geosystems Presents the First Ever 2008 CONEXPO-CON/AGG PowerGrade Challenge Simulated Job Site Experience

Interactive simulations transform the showroom floor, putting industry professionals into the driver’s seat of today’s top technologies.

Norcross, GA (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 19, 2008 -- For the first time, attendees to CONEXPO-CON/AGG, the industry’s largest equipment and technology exhibitions, will have an opportunity to experience the Leica Geosystems PowerGrade Challenge, an amazingly realistic, simulated environment uniquely designed to demonstrate the power and possibilities of today’s most advanced construction solutions.

Rich Calvird, Product Marketing Manager for Leica Geosystems, says, “We’re changing the face of show floor exhibits, bringing the construction site to the fingertips of the industry. Through this interactive job site experience, attendees can evaluate and compare productivity benefits by actually performing simulated job site activities with both conventional manual and automated methods. This is a truly exciting first look into equipment and technology demonstrations of the future.”

Take the PowerGrade Challenge at the Leica Geosystems CONEXPO-CON/AGG, March 11-15, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada, at booths # (S-16805) and (S-17105). The daily winner of the PowerGrade Challenge will receive a Leica PowerBlade 2D indicate machine control system valued at $4,000 or credit towards a Leica 2D PowerSnap system.

Leica Geosystems -- when it has to be right
With close to 200 years of pioneering solutions to measure the world, Leica Geosystems products and services are trusted by professionals worldwide to help them capture, analyze, and present spatial information. Leica Geosystems is best known for its broad array of products that capture accurately, model quickly, analyze easily, and visualize and present spatial information.

Those who use Leica products every day trust them for their dependability, the value they deliver, and the superior customer support. Based in Heerbrugg, Switzerland, Leica Geosystems is a global company with tens of thousands of customers supported by more than 2,400 employees in 22 countries and hundreds of partners located in more than 120 countries around the world. Leica Geosystems is part of the Hexagon Group, Sweden.

Contact:
Andre Ribeiro
Director of Marketing
Leica Geosystems Inc.
Atlanta, GA 30092
United States
Phone: +(770) 326-9557
Web Site: www.leica-geosystems.us

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

New Web Site Improves Access to USC Consulting Group Resources

USC Consulting Group, LLC (USCCG) has introduced its new web site at www.usccg.com. The site features high-speed navigation across expanded and updated content, which is cross-referenced by industry and capabilities.

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) February 19, 2008 -- USC Consulting Group, LLC (USCCG) has introduced its new web site at www.usccg.com. The site features high-speed navigation across expanded and updated content, which is cross-referenced by industry and capabilities.

On the site, the operations management consulting firm showcases its 40 years of experience in business performance improvement via case studies, videotaped client interviews, pod casts, client testimonials, industry overviews, and white papers. The information runs the gamut of industries, from aerospace and chemicals to private equity and utilities. It also offers insight into the firm's extensive array of services, which include enterprise transformation, Lean/Six Sigma, business intelligence, supply chain optimization, and asset performance management.

"The new site enhances the visitor experience," said Gary Brown, USCCG director of marketing. "It's holistic design places related information no more than a click or two away. So visitors will quickly and easily find what they are looking for, no matter how they choose to navigate the site."

Tricycle Studios in Tampa, FL, designed and built the site.

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 Lean/Six Sigma, enterprise transformation, supply chain optimization, process improvement, project management, value stream mapping, training and facilitation, blended learning solutions, modeling and simulation, and asset performance management. 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 03:52 AM | Comments (0)

QuadTech Opens New California Office

QuadTech Opens New Office in Irvine, CA, to Support Medical Accounts

Maynard, MA (PRWEB) February 19, 2008 -- QuadTech, a leading provider of electrical safety test and passive component measurement solutions, today announced that it has opened a new office in Irvine, CA, to support the growing demand for QuadTech products and services on the West Coast.

QuadTech's business with Medical Device Manufacturers based on the West Coast has increased significantly over the past few years. President and CEO Phil Harris says, "The Irvine office expands QuadTech's ability to offer local sales and technical support to a fast growing base of customers."

Adds Harris, "Our medical customers are facing more demanding compliance standards. They are tasked with getting new products to market quickly and efficiently, controlling costs and meeting increasingly tougher regulatory requirements and higher quality standards."

QuadTech's Medical Team has tremendous industry knowledge and a clear understanding of standards compliance issues. The medical team is able to provide solutions to customers that are vital for success in today's highly competitive medical manufacturing marketplace.

Shari Richardson, Director of Engineering - Medical Division, says, "A West Coast-based office creates an opportunity to build stronger relationships with current customers, and to establish relationships with a new customer base." Staffed initially by a medical applications engineer and a medical account manager, Richardson adds, "We can offer better technical support to our customers. We'll have two dedicated medical team members readily available to help customers with the complexities of ensuring that a device complies with IEC 60601 and to assist with other product safety testing needs."

QuadTech's Sentinel System Solution is a combination of hardware and software, providing fully automated electrical safety testing designed to streamline manufacturing processes and ensure compliance to the IEC 60601-1 standard for Medical Electrical Equipment.

The address for the Irvine, CA office is:
7 Chrysler
Irvine, CA 92618-2009

Phone: 949-215-3338
800-253-1230

Fax: 949-242-2777

About QuadTech:
QuadTech, an ISO 9001-Registered company, is a solutions provider enabling Medical Device Manufacturers and other manufacturing industries to test the safety and quality of their electrical products while ensuring compliance to FDA and other regulatory agencies. QuadTech offers a complete line of instrumentation and solutions including LCR meters, hipot and ground bond testers, safety analyzers, megohmmeters, milliohmmeters, systems and software, as well as calibration and repair services. Based in Maynard, MA, QuadTech has a worldwide network of direct sales and distributors who service and support customers around the globe. QuadTech is dedicated to doing everything in its power to assist the customer in achieving their testing objectives.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:49 AM | Comments (0)

Kyle Farley Named Aspens New Vice President of Manufacturing

Farley to Ramp Production to Meet Growing Demand

Albuquerque, NM (PRWEB) February 18, 2008 -- Aspen Avionics, Inc. announced today that Kyle Farley has joined the company as Vice President of Manufacturing. In this position, he will manage and lead Aspens growing manufacturing team, as the company brings the Evolution Flight Display System to market and ramps up production to meet demand.

Farley was most recently employed by S-TEC, where he was Vice President of Manufacturing Operations. In this position, he directed all aspects of manufacturing including production, manufacturing/test engineering, supply chain management, facilities and export compliance.

We have to mature our manufacturing process very quickly, to fulfill our large and growing backlog of orders for the Evolution Flight Display System, while ensuring high quality,” said John Uczekaj, Aspen Avionics President and CEO. Kyle is the right man for the job, and his outstanding experience and leadership will help meet the challenges of this critical period in Aspens growth.”

Prior to his tenure at S-TEC, Farley worked in a variety of manufacturing and production positions, including an eleven-year stint at Perry Equipment Corporation, also in Mineral Wells, Texas, where he managed purchasing and production. He has a BS in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.

About Aspen Avionics, Inc.
Aspen Avionics specializes in bringing the most advanced technology and capability from the commercial and business aviation markets into general aviation cockpits—and budgets. Our products increase situational awareness and reduce pilot workload, making it even easier and safer to fly in both VFR and IFR conditions. The way we look at it, getting the latest avionics technology shouldnt always mean spending a lot of money—on equipment or installation. At Aspen Avionics, we design products to be affordable, easy to install, and easy to own. The company can be found on the web at http://www.aspenavionics.com, or may be reached at (505) 856-5034.

Note Aspen Avionics New Address: The company is now located at 5001 Indian School Road NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:48 AM | Comments (0)

Word Sell, Inc. Completes National Customer Service Training for Elkay Plastics Co., Inc.

In today's uncertain economy, understanding customer needs is more important than ever. Training firm helps major industrial supplier take its customer care performance to the next level.

St. Charles, IL (PRWEB) February 18, 2008 -- Word Sell, Inc. (www.wordsellinc.com) recently completed an extensive customer service training program for Elkay Plastics Co., Inc. (www.elkayplastics.com), a leading national supplier of flexible packaging bags and film. The program, "Building Unbreakable Customer Relationships", was designed exclusively for Elkay Plastics and involved more than 60 participants in eight locations.

Word Sell, based in St. Charles, IL, creates and conducts modular, customizable training and coaching programs for sales, sales management and customer service personnel. Elkay expanded the scope of their program to include employees in several operational departments that engaged customers on a daily basis.

Gordon Tyler, Elkay's Vice President of Operations and Technology, noted that customer care has always been a top priority for the firm. "Today's customers are more sophisticated and demanding than ever before," said Tyler. "We are always looking for ways to better understand our customers and exceed their expectations. Word Sell's training is proving to be an important part of getting that done."

"The fact Elkay was willing to devote so much time and energy to customer care training speaks volumes about their organization," said Word Sell president, Brad Shorr. "Lots of companies train sales people, but how many make a real effort to develop the skills of their customer service personnel? Those are the folks who have the most contact with customers, and sometimes the most impact."

Word Sell has seen greater interest in sales and customer service training since the beginning of 2008. Shorr believes economic conditions may be the reason. "There's a growing perception that business activity is likely to be slow for the rest of the year," he said. "That being the case, companies want to develop the people they have rather than add to the staff. In addition, they want to do everything possible to retain and do more with existing customers. Our programs help companies do those things."

About Word Sell, Inc.
Word Sell, Inc., based in greater Chicago, provides sales and marketing support to small and midsize businesses. Emphasizing action, Word Sell helps firms put ideas to work quickly and effectively, and ensure sales and marketing activities are working in harmony. Its services include individual and group training and coaching, executive consulting and New Marketing support, including business blog development.

About Elkay Plastics Co., Inc.
Headquartered in Commerce, California, Elkay Plastics Co., Inc. provides innovative development, production and delivery of a broad range of plastic bags, packaging supplies and poly tubing for the healthcare, food services, and industrial packaging markets. Founded in 1968, the firm has become an industry leader and services customers across the United States through its nationwide network of service centers.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:47 AM | Comments (0)

Midbrook Offers Steam Venting Solution for Parts Washers

Midbrook, Inc., of Jackson, Michigan, the world leading provider of process specific, high volume aqueous part cleaning systems is offering an alternative to rooftop steam venting for parts washers.

(PRWEB) February 18, 2008 -- Parts washers that utilize spray or heating stages unavoidably generate steam, fog and mist during the cleaning process. Obviously, large amounts of steam on the factory floor are not desirable for health or production purposes. The steam in their face will bother workers and also risk the clean part being exposed to excessive humidity. This raises a concern- what to do with the excess steam produced by the washer?

An alternative solution to venting the steam out of the roof is the installation of a Midbrook Mist Reducer to the washer. Midbrook's Mist Reducer attaches to any washer. It is able to capture steam and fog that is produced in spray cleaning systems that use water with temperatures up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit, condensate it and then return it back to the wash tank for future use. This, obviously, increases the efficiency of the washer by lowering costs of replacement chemistry and limiting the amount of water that needs to be added to the tank during production.

The Midbrook Mist Reducer can be installed using a minimal amount of equipment and requires limited labor to maintain. Initially, the output from steam is gathered and captured by the mist reducer via a fan that draws the fog and mist from the interior of the wash process house and delivers it continuously to the Mist Reducer.

Once the steam has been collected, the Mist Reducer generates turbulence within its cabinet. As a result of the turbulence, air eddies begin to form. The air eddies propel the small droplets of steam into the porous walls of filters, where they are trapped. At this point, they drain back into the washer and are re-used for their original purpose.

The mist reducer is a relatively uncomplicated assembly which is why it requires little maintenance and is cost efficient to run. It saves money in lost chemicals, and does not require expensive installation of a ductwork system to vent through the roof. By attaching a mist reducer to a parts washer, the washer will have improved efficiency and the cleaning process will be improved.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:46 AM | Comments (0)

'RAPID' Industry Expert to Discuss Direct Digital Manufacturing During Free Webcast

The Low-Volume Manufacturers Association is recommending that all its members and those interested in the RAPID industry register for the webcast scheduled for Wednesday, February 27, at 2 p.m. (EST)/ 11 a.m. (PST). RedEye RPM, the world's largest rapid prototyping and parts building service, is producing and hosting the one-hour webcast.

Beverly Hill, CA (PRWEB) February 18, 2008 -- Manufacturers, designers, engineers and others who stand to profit from the growing array of additive fabrication technologies - RAPID - can participate in a free webcast featuring one of the industry's leading visionaries.

The Low-Volume Manufacturers Association is recommending that all its members and those interested in the RAPID industry register for the webcast scheduled for Wednesday, February 27, at 2 p.m. (EST)/ 11 a.m. (PST). RedEye RPM, the world's largest rapid prototyping and parts building service, is producing and hosting the one-hour webcast.

Carl Dekker, currently president of Met-L-Flo, Inc., a respected additive manufacturing service center, and a past chairperson of the SME's Rapid Technologies and Additive Manufacturing Community (RTAM), will be the featured presenter. Dekker will explore successful applications for direct digital manufacturing, including: non-critical, simple geometries; non-critical complex geometries; structural, non-critical parts; and high complexity, critical parts.

"This is a wonder, free educational opportunity that RedEye RPM is making available to everyone with an interest - or just a curiosity - about our industry," says Dean Rotbart, L-VMA founder and director. "RedEye is a leader in educating the RAPID industry when it comes to available and emerging technologies, as well as trends and best practices."

Jeff Hanson, RedEye's manager of business strategy and development, will serve as host of the webcast, which will include a Q&A period at the end of Dekker's remarks.

Dekker teaches the Rapid Technologies and Additive Manufacturing Technologies Certificate Programs and is a steering committee member and chair of RTAM's Direct Digital Manufacturing Tech Group.

Both RedEye and Met-L-Flo are active members in the Low-Volume Manufacturers Association, a volunteer organization dedicated to showcasing the benefits of rapid-prototyping, rapid-manufacturing and other emerging additive fabrication technologies. For additional information on the association or the upcoming webcast, visit L-VMA at www.l-vma.org.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:46 AM | Comments (0)

Companies Must Address Urgent Succession Planning Now for Upcoming Baby Boomer Retirement

76 million boomers will retire in the next 5 years without enough replacement talent. FPC's recruiters nationwide have already been seeing the early effects of the massive baby boomer retirement wave and clients are scrambling to hire employees now who can grow into those positions.

New York, NY (PRWEB) February 17, 2008 -- FPC's recruiters nationwide have already been seeing the early effects of the massive baby boomer retirement wave expected in the next 5 years, when 76 million are expected to leave the workforce according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS.)

Ron Herzog, CEO & President of FPC said, "USA Today online had an article noting that the first boomer had recently received the first social security payment and put it in these dramatic terms - 10,000 people retiring each day. The mass retirement wouldn't be so bad if there were enough people coming into the workforce to enter those jobs left vacant due to the retirements - and those vacancies being discussed do not even include the additional jobs added due to the projected long-term economic growth." Unfortunately, the BLS projects that the pool of workers following the boomers is smaller, aggravating the situation even more. "Human Resources departments and Hiring Managers nationwide will be challenged to find enough qualified people to fill those positions once the retirements start. FPC recruiters have seen that some HR professionals have already been pro-actively addressing this issue."

Bill Martin, FPC's highest producing owner in 2007 and President of FPC of Greensboro, added, "Our clients haven't been able to find enough qualified grads to fill this pipeline so they've partnered with us to find people to back-fill the pipeline with 2-3 years of experience. Just about 20% of our recent placements have been these baby-boomer replacement positions and we expect that number to increase."

Why is this so urgent?
"The urgency is there because people of retirement age are typically in management or technically complex positions. This is particularly the case in technical manufacturing positions, where the learning curves are often steep." Said Mr. Martin. Mr. Herzog added, "Companies need new employees in those jobs now in order for them to develop the skills needed by the time the boomers retire over the next five years. The urgency is real."

Who is Being Hit the Worst?
"Many of our clients are manufacturing companies, which are expected to be among those hard hit due to their disproportionate number of employees older than 45 in management." noted Mr. Herzog.

What Can Companies Do Now to Prepare?
Mr. Martin responded, "Unless those jobs being vacated are filled pro-actively, those employees left behind will have to pick up the extra responsibility - leading to a number of other employee-relations issues. That means hiring professionals with 2-3 years of experience now, what we call "high-potentials". In our case, with people with Lean Transformation experience.

Many HR departments have the framework for succession planning in place, so one thing that may help to determine how and when to strategize with their hiring sources is to take a look around the company - what is the demographic make-up of your team? When does your retirement bubble burst? And then start pro-actively implementing strategic hiring plans to counter-act this workforce phenomenon."

Mr. Herzog summed up the situation, "The bottom line is the companies need to address this retirement crisis now in order to remain competitive."

About FPC
FPC of Greensboro serves Fortune 500 executive recruitment needs nationally with talent in Lean Transformation (TPS), Lean Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, Purchasing / SCM, Medical Device, Pharmaceutical, Chemist / Engineer's, Quality / Validation, Plant Management and H/R - O/D.

FPC of Greensboro is part of the FPC (Fortune Personnel Consultants) network of more than 65 franchise offices. Advocates for both clients and candidates since 1959, FPC recruiters are committed to bringing together the right individual with the right opportunity. For further information about FPC, call 800-886-7839 or visit the FPC Web site at fpcnational.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:44 AM | Comments (0)

CNC Information Site To Be Launched Building a CNC Community with CNC Videos, CNC Forums, CNC Machine Galleries

CNC Information Website is set to be launched in the near future. This CNC site will be based upon a CNC Community full of CNC users and DIY CNC hobbyists. The CNC Site will highlight CNC Video's, CNC Forums, CNC Machine Galleries, CNC Blogs, and much more.

Hobart, Washington (Bluehost/PRWEB ) February 17, 2008 -- A New CNC Information site is on the verge of being officially launched and becoming the premiere CNC Community for all Hobby CNC enthusiasts. Ivan's CNC Information website has been live for a few weeks now but it was only in the Public Beta stage. Ivan used this Public Beta stage to gather information from CNC Members on what they wanted in a website. After gathering this information, CNC Information is ready to give the DIY CNC users what they have asked for.

The official launch of CNC Information will take place in 14 days. This launch is set to come with a few special offers and promotions that are for CNC Members only. Membership is available to all who are interested and is currently free. Member's can join today by visiting: CNC Information

CNC Community Members will be privy to some exclusive benefits that are only found on CNC Information. These member only benefits include the ability to create your own member profile where members can share information on themselves and CNC Projects they are working on in their own CNC Shop. Members will also have the ability to visit and partake in forums, CNC Video's, and access to great CNC Information. Members who join before the official CNC Information Launch will get a Free G-Code Quick Guide just for signing up. Members who want o take advantage of this Free Offer can sign up at: CNC

Ivan Irons, the director of the CNC Information website, has created the free G-Code Guide himself for a handy reference to have in all DIY CNC shops throughout the world. Ivan's G-Code guide can not be bought, only given to those who sign up for membership into the CNC Information website before it is officially launched. Members can sign up 24 hours a day by visiting Ivan's CNC Information website at: CNC Community

Ivan will also have further bonuses for his CNC Community on launch day for only those CNC members that are signed up. This special bonus will be CNC industry secrets video series that cannot be bought anywhere. This video series will work for CNC Plasma Cutters, CNC Laser Cutters, CNC Mills, CNC Wood Routers and just about everything else CNC. It bridges CNC Commercial Parts and CNC Art Parts but will only be available for CNC Members. Ivan will be releasing more information on the launch of his new CNC Information website in the next week. In the meantime, users can sign up as a member to get their free G-Code guide and then be let in on the industry secret video series that will be available once the site is officially launched on March 1, 2008. Membership is free and the sign up page can be found on the CNC Information home page at the following CNC address: CNC

About CNC Information: CNC Information is a community CNC website that was created to bring users into a deeper understanding with CNC.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:43 AM | Comments (0)

NextSport to Partner with Six Flags Theme Parks to Launch In-Park Fuzion Scooter Riding Zones

First Fuzion Scooter Riding Zone Slated For Six Flags Discovery Kingdom In Vallejo, CA In Spring 2008

EMERYVILLE, Calif. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) February 17, 2008 -- NextSport, the creator and manufacturer of the popular line of Fuzion performance scooters, announced today, that it has entered into a multi-year partnership with Six Flags Theme Parks to create in-park Fuzion Scooter Riding Zones with the first Fuzion Zone to be unveiled in Spring 2008 at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, California.

“As all things related to board sports continue to gain popularity, a partnership with Six Flags is a natural fit to create an engaging consumer experience with our young brand as we share the same consumer audience that seeks a safe, yet exhilarating experience,” commented Ed Dua, President of NextSport. “The Fuzion Scooter Riding Zones will introduce a large audience of kids all over the country to the great new ride of the Fuzion performance scooter.”

The Fuzion Zones will provide Six Flags’ park guests the exciting opportunity to ride a Fuzion scooter in a custom designed and fully supervised Fuzion skate park. The Fuzion skate park will feature basic riding zones and a variety of different ramp and jump configurations to accommodate all levels of riders. Park guests will be trained and supervised by Fuzion trained park staff and a team of Fuzion riders to help facilitate a safe and fun experience for everyone.

Additionally, Fuzion Zone participants and observers alike will have the opportunity to watch members of the national Fuzion Pro Team demonstrate their skills during Fuzion exhibitions, followed by meet and greet sessions and autograph signings. And, eager and aspiring Fuzion Zone riders will be given the unique opportunity to win prizes and sign up to be a member of Team Fuzion.

“The creation of the onsite Fuzion Zone is another example of the powerful experiential marketing offerings available in our parks,” said David McKillips, Vice President of Corporate Alliances for Six Flags. “This partnership allows Fuzion to market its product directly to our guests and get invaluable one-on-one face time with their key customers.”

Six Flags will utilize their in-park signage programs, print and online promotions and radio and TV advertisements to showcase the park’s Fuzion Zones.

About NextSport Inc.

Founded in 2004, NextSport designs, develops, and manufactures innovative action sports products. The company’s flagship product line, the Fuzion performance scooter is sold in a wide range of sporting good, specialty and mass retailers including Dicks Sporting Goods, Toys R Us, Sports Authority and Target stores. NextSport is a privately owned company based in Emeryville, CA. For more information about NextSport Inc. and Fuzion scooters please visit www.nextsport.com.

About Six Flags

Six Flags, Inc. is the largest regional theme park company in the world -- a national brand with regional focus. Our 21 entertainment destinations in North America comprise theme, water and zoological parks. Last year, nearly 30 million guests spent a combined 250 million hours at Six Flags parks. Founded in 1961, we celebrated our 45th anniversary in 2006. Six Flags, Inc. is a publicly traded corporation (NYSE: SIX) headquartered in New York City. For more information, please visit, www.sixflags.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:41 AM | Comments (0)

Scot Lacek Puts IT Expertise to Work at USC Consulting Group

APICS-certified business intelligence specialist joins development team.

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) February 17, 2008 -- Scot A. Lacek, 45, most recently Visio sales specialist at Microsoft Corporation, has joined USC Consulting Group, LLC (USCCG) as a business development executive working out of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.

Mr. Lacek's background includes highly successful sales and business development positions with IBM, CSC, Peoplesoft, and Oracle, as well as Microsoft. He has been instrumental in developing and launching a number of business intelligence solutions.

Prior to his Visio post, Mr. Lacek served as business development director for Analytix, Inc. and as senior analytic application sales specialist at Cognos Corporation. He held similar positions with IBM, Quest One Decision Sciences, Peoplesoft, Computer Science Corporation, and Oracle. He began his career in 1985 as a manufacturing project engineer with Westinghouse and later moved to Amdahl Corporation.

Mr. Lacek earned his Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering from the University of Illinois and his MBA from Santa Clara University. He is APICS (American Production and Inventory Control Society)-certified in production and inventory management and holds a Series 7 license. He also is certified in System ESS software and Manugistics applications and is a domain expert in Oracle applications. Mr. Lacek is a member of the American Institute of Industrial Engineers (AIIE) and served as co-president of the Santa Clara MBA Association and secretary of the Santa Clara University MBA Alumni Board. He resides in Excelsior, MN.

According to David Riggs, a USCCG partner and vice president/senior regional manager, "Scot Lacek is a proven business development resource with a solid track record of success established while working at some of the best companies in the country. His deep knowledge of business intelligence systems will undoubtedly pay handsome dividends for our clients and prospects."

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 03:40 AM | Comments (0)

American Tire Corporation Successfully Presented Radial OTR Tires in Arizona

The global mining industry is suffering supply shortage of various sizes of OTR tires. As one of the most reliable giant OTR tire manufacturers, American Tire Corporation (ATC) was invited and successfully presented its radial OTR tires and Washington OTR tire plant at the quarterly meeting of Southwest Association of Master Mechanics in Mesa, Arizona.

Chino, California (PRWEB) February 17, 2008 -- American Tire Corporation (ATC) successfully presented its radial OTR tires and Washington OTR tire plant at the quarterly meeting of Southwest Association of Master Mechanics in Mesa, Arizona.

On February 15, 2008, Dr. Abraham Hengyucius and Mr. Brad Harris respectively introduced ATC's production and marketing program on behalf of ATC -- the manufacturer of Colorado OTR tires. This 1.5-hour presentation was started from the production section by Dr. Hengyucius who specified ATC's current and coming production, capacity for 63", 57", 51" and 49" radial OTR tires, manufacturing equipments, plant details and strategic objectives. The government support for both production and international marketing was emphasized. Then, Mr. Harris analyzed the current situation of global OTR tire industry, Colorado OTR tire's marketing strategy and on-site engineering support program. The first batch of delivered Colorado 63" tires was introduced, with video and accurate figures collected from the mine site, as a successful example from ATC.

Around 40 audiences from different mines in addition to some OTR tire distributors attended this presentation. Dozens of questions regarding Colorado radial OTR tire's warranty, delivery schedule, pricing, after sale service, etc., were discussed during the Q&A session. According to Southwest Association of Master Mechanics, the audiences are "all maintenance managers, general foremen and supervisors from all of the Arizona mines and from some New Mexico and Nevada Mines."

With objective to become the largest and best manufacturer for 63" and 57" tires, American Tire Corporation is a well-established US OTR tire manufacturer which has had several "firsts" in the OTR tire industry. For more information, please check its website http://www.americantire.us.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:39 AM | Comments (0)

BeFurnished.com Rolls out the Trolley Table, a Unique Addition to their Top Quality, 100 Percent Teak Wood Outdoor Furniture Line

The Trolley Table is top notch quality, distinctive in appearance, and comes at a fantastic price. It is as convenient as it is aesthetic, enabling the owner to wheel appetizers, serving ware, or drinks to the intended destination all in one trip. In addition to appeal, affordability and convenience, it has the ability to withstand harsh climates, chemicals, fungi, and rot, making it ideal to use as outdoor furniture anywhere in the world.

Stamford, CT (PRWEB) February 16, 2008 -- BeFurnished.com takes pride in the furniture they sell to their customers. They offer a great selection, high quality as well as styles that are as individual as the patrons who buy from them. This is true of one of their latest arrivals at their store, the Trolley Table.

The Trolley Table is a great example of all of the attributes that BeFurnished.com strives for in their furniture. It is top notch quality, distinctive in appearance, and comes at a fantastic price. Because it is a table on wheels, it offers its owners the convenience of eliminating several trips inside by enabling them to wheel appetizers, serving ware, or drinks to the intended destination all in one trip. It sports two trays, and a built-in bottle holder to ensure that the drinks won't spill when wheeling over bumpy terrain.

As with most of the furniture at BeFurnished.com, the Trolley Table is made of 100% plantation-grown Indonesian teak wood, and stainless steel hardware. What this means for the consumer is that they are guaranteed that they won't have to go out and buy new furniture any time soon--unless they are simply looking for a change.

Both teak wood and stainless steel are durable products, with teak wood being termed as the "king" of all hardwood. It has been the pillar of the shipbuilding industry for centuries. Many do not realize that the decks of the Titanic were covered in teak, and the wood is as good today as it was the day it sank in 1912--truly attesting to its durability. In addition to its enduring traits, teak wood has the ability to withstand harsh climates, chemicals, fungi, and rot--making it ideal to use as outdoor furniture anywhere in the world.

The stainless steel hardware of the Trolley Table also has its benefits because it happens to be one of the strongest and most practical forms of alloy available. Combining it with teak wood only enhances the product and adds to the value and resiliency.

The motto at BeFurnished.com is, "Without you, we are nothing!" The excellence in the furniture and their efforts to make it everything the consumer would want just proves that they take their motto seriously. Clearly, their new Trolley Table is yet another example of how they do just that.

For more information on teak tables, please visit BeFurnished.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:38 AM | Comments (0)

Labelmaster Provides Packaging And Labeling Especially Designed For Shipping Lithium Batteries

National Battery Day on Feb. 18 prompts heightened awareness of dangers of shipping lithium batteries

Chicago, Illinois (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 16, 2008 -- Recently, DOT and international transportation authorities have published new regulations concerning the transportation of lithium batteries, especially by air. Due to their volatile nature, lithium batteries pose a serious fire hazard if they are damaged or short circuit during transportation. Since batteries are chemical devices, they must be shipped, used, and disposed of safely and appropriately in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines and government regulations.

Labelmaster®, a U.S.-based manufacturer of hazardous materials and regulatory compliance products has developed a line of labels using transportation requirements and industry standards. A new packaging line of proto-type lithium batteries was developed to address regulatory issues.

Labelmaster has been a regulatory compliance leader for over 40 years and is committed to providing products that help keep people and transport vehicles safe.

In the last year, there have been a handful of incidents of computer laptops that have burst into flames because of the battery. With tens of millions of batteries in use, there have been very few incidents, however those incidents have been dramatic. FAA statistics show that batteries, particularly lithium batteries have been implicated. There has been a considerable effort on the part of government and industry in tightening the rules governing the transport of batteries, particularly in the air mode. New restrictions on the sizes and types permitted for passengers are being put in place with certain battery types and sizes being restricted to cargo aircraft.

For additional information on Labelmaster’s packaging and labels designed for safer shipping of lithium batteries, visit labelmaster.com/batteries., or call 1-800-621-5808.

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. For additional information visit www.labelmaster.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:37 AM | Comments (0)

ArcelorMittal Selects ICE-flow Software to Conduct Study

nCode announced that it has been selected to partner with ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel company, on the European Commission, Research Fund for Coal and Steel Project (RFCS "SpeedFat" Project). This research program focuses on technologies to guarantee the continued economic, clean and safe production of steel and steel products. ArcelorMittal and its key partners are collaborating to improve signal analysis methods in order to accelerate fatigue tests, and use computer based fatigue analysis methods.

Sheffield, England (PRWEB) February 15, 2008 -- nCode International, a leading developer of data analysis software, data acquisition systems and durability solutions, today announced that it has been selected to partner with ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel company, on the European Commission, Research Fund for Coal and Steel Project (RFCS "SpeedFat" Project). This research program focuses on technologies to guarantee the continued economic, clean and safe production of steel and steel products. ArcelorMittal and its key partners are collaborating to improve signal analysis methods in order to accelerate fatigue tests, and use computer based fatigue analysis methods.

The primary objective for ArcelorMittal in this project was to develop methods for determining how test signals can be reduced in size for use on test rigs or in computer based fatigue analysis methods, but remain representative of actual damage. Analysis methodologies are being developed for metal sheets (stress life or strain life approach) and welds (spot welds and seam welds). To conduct this portion of the study ArcelorMittal selected nCode's ICE-flow test and simulation analysis software suite, GlyphWorks and DesignLife.

ICE-flow GlyphWorks data analysis software provides a graphical, process-oriented environment that enables engineers to rapidly extract useful information from vast amounts of measured data. Complete multi-step analysis processes can be easily created. GlyphWorks is widely used for applications such as data processing for durability and fatigue life prediction, noise and vibration analysis and accelerated testing.

ICE-flow DesignLife is the latest technology from nCode for finite element based fatigue and durability analysis - delivering virtual fatigue analysis. Fully integrated with GlyphWorks, DesignLife provides a unique environment for integrating both test and CAE data. It delivers a broad range of fatigue technologies and applications including stress-life, strain-life, multi-axial, spot weld and seam weld analysis as well as vibration shaker test simulation.

"ArcelorMittal has worked with nCode for many years due to its expertise in durability, strong product offering, and its ability to provide us with local support," said Mr. Bastien Weber, Research Engineer - ArcelorMittal Research Automotive Products in Maizières-Lès-Metz. "nCode's ICE-flow software suite provides us with the ability of being able to easily build and very quickly analyze processes in a powerful environment. A major benefit is that once the analysis process is defined, it can be re-used indefinitely by varying input parameters, and can be shared with other users - saving us both time and money", he further added.

About nCode International:
nCode is a leading developer of durability, test & measurement, data analysis, asset monitoring, and product design (CAE Durability) solutions. nCode offers a unique combination of data measurement and acquisition instruments, powerful analysis software, and services that help customers eliminate unexpected failures by measuring and converting durability, performance and operational data into information from which intelligent business decisions can be made that improve Product Life Performance (PLP) and reduce costs. Established in 1982, nCode has direct offices in Europe, North America, and Asia. For more information about nCode, please visit www.ncode.com.

nCode products include: ICE-flow GlyphWorks, Library, and DesignLife, SoMat eDAQ, and eDAQ-lite. The nCode Logo, nCode, ICE-flow GlyphWorks, ICE-flow Library, ICE-flow DesignLife, SoMat eDAQ, and eDAQ-lite are trademarks or registered trademarks of nCode International Corporation in the USA and/or other countries.

About ArcelorMittal:
ArcelorMittal is the world's number one steel company, with 320,000 employees in more than 60 countries. The company brings together the world's number one and number two steel companies, Arcelor and Mittal Steel.

ArcelorMittal is the leader in all major global markets, including automotive, construction, household appliances and packaging, with leading R&D and technology, as well as sizeable captive supplies of raw materials and outstanding distribution networks. An industrial presence in 27 European, Asian, African and American countries exposes the company to all the key steel markets, from emerging to mature, positions it will be looking to develop in the high-growth Chinese and Indian markets.

ArcelorMittal key pro forma financials for 2006 show combined revenues of USD 88.6 billion, with a crude steel production of 118 million tonnes, representing around 10 per cent of world steel output.

ArcelorMittal is listed on the stock exchanges of New York (MT), Amsterdam (MT), Paris (MTP), Brussels (MTBL), Luxembourg (MT) and on the Spanish stock exchanges of Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia (MTS).

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:36 AM | Comments (0)

The Rouse Group Development Company Selects the Bokka Group as Interactive Agency of Record

The Bokka Group has been retained to provide full-service interactive marketing to The Rouse Group Development Company.

Denver, CO (PRWEB) February 15, 2008 -- The Bokka Group has been retained to provide full-service interactive marketing to The Rouse Group Development Company.

"The Rouse Group is in the beginning of brand renewal," says Paula Huggett, VP/Client Services Director, the Bokka Group. "We were excited to implement their first brand piece - TheRouseGroup.com."

The first phase of the site is complete and will now continue to evolve over time.

About The Rouse Group Development Company
The Rouse Group is dedicated to creating thoughtful, well-planned places to live that respect the character and values of the local community. Places that exist in harmony with the natural environment and that enrich the lives of all who live there.
For more information

About the Bokka Group, Inc
Headquartered in Denver, CO, the Bokka Group is a leading interactive marketing company that provides technology solutions for master planned communities, home builders and land developers across North America.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:35 AM | Comments (0)

Packaging World Publishes Exclusive Interview with Zettlemoyer-Lazar on the Wal-Mart Packaging Scorecard

Sam's Club director of packaging Amy Zettlemoyer-Lazar spoke with Packaging World in an exclusive interview on Wal-Mart's much-debated Packaging Scorecard. The story appears in this month's issue of Packaging World.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) February 15, 2008 -- Since Wal-Mart unveiled its Packaging Scorecard for sustainability to the packaging community in late 2006, brand owners have sought to understand how this initiative will affect them and their product packaging. In anticipation of the scorecard's official launch on February 1 of this year, Zettlemoyer-Lazar offered Summit Publishing Company's Packaging World an exclusive interview. Topics discussed were the status of the project, its reception by consumer packaged goods suppliers and packaging vendors, and implications for the industry and the environment. The interview took place in early December and appears in this month's edition of Packaging World (http://www.packworld.com) and online at http://www.packworld.com/view-24566.

The scorecard is a Web-based database populated by Wal-Mart consumer packaged goods suppliers with details on the packaging for each of their products. Designed to calculate the net environmental impact of this packaging, the scorecard computes a final score for each package based on the results of nine metrics. The scores ultimately rank the packages against competitive products within each category. Among the metrics considered are greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), product-to-packaging ratio, cube utilization and innovation, just to name a few.

Wal-Mart's packaging initiative -- which has stimulated an avalanche of activity in the packaging community around sustainability -- is just one element of a game-changing strategy by the company focused on three ambitious environmental goals. These goals, first outlined in October 2005 by Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott in his "Twenty First Century Leadership" speech, are: to be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy, to create zero waste and to sell products that sustain resources and the environment.

Since being thrust into the spotlight two-plus years ago, Zettlemoyer-Lazar has earned the respect of many in the packaging community for her responsiveness and professionalism. During the Packaging World interview, Zettlemoyer-Lazar emphasized the importance of industry members and in particular the trade press in spreading Wal-Mart's message. "Without you, we are not going to be able to reach our goals," she said. "We need the help of the entire packaging industry; we can't do it by ourselves."

The complete interview can be found in this month's issue of Packaging World or online at http://www.packworld.com/view-24566.

About Packaging World
Packaging World is the flagship publication of Chicago-based Summit Publishing Company. This privately held company is an integrated media publisher offering business information for packaging professionals including print magazines PACK EXPO Showcase; Healthcare Packaging and Contract Packaging. In addition to packaging e-newsletters, Summit Publishing Company also produces Webcasts and a variety of conferences for packaging professionals.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:34 AM | Comments (0)

Document Scanning and Document Security for Toshiba on the Move

Document Scanning requires work from a company which can guarantee document security levels. When Toshiba Electronics was looking for a partner to take on the job of scanning commercially sensitive documents prior to an office relocation, it was no surprise that security came high on their list of requirements and that Preview Services were chosen to fulfil the document scanning role.

(PRWEB) February 15, 2008 -- Over recent months, the UK national news has been full of embarrassing losses of confidential personal data, with both CD ROMs and documentation of a highly sensitive nature being "misplaced". More than anything else, this has highlighted the overriding importance of ensuring high levels of data security when dealing with sensitive information at all times and in particular when transporting it.

Therefore when Toshiba Electronics was looking for a partner to take on the job of scanning commercially sensitive documents prior to an office relocation, it was no surprise that security came high on their list of requirements. In addition, they were looking for a doucment scanning company which had a track record in dealing with projects of this type and size, and had staff and facilities to deal with it quickly and efficiently.

In turning to Preview Services, they found that they could rely on their depth of experience across a wide range of different types of document scanning and document management. As a result, Preview was able to offer both the experienced personnel and the in depth knowledge and abilities to provide what Toshiba required. In running the project through Preview's state of the art Records Management Centre, the specific accounting requirements in reporting overall extrapolated quantities could also be closely controlled.

When it came to ensuring that the documents, which included customers' sales orders, arrived safely for the work to be carried out, security was naturally enough a critical aspect of the process. To make certain that there could be no issues in this respect, the collections of the documents for scanning were made by a police-vetted logistics team and booked into Preview's Records Management Centre over a two day period where the work was carried out. The scanning and filing of the documents was then carried out by staff used to dealing with this type of confidential documentation.

"The security and the reporting were both key elements for us - the first to guarantee complete confidentiality for our customers, and the second to allow us to verify the volume of document scanning involved," commented Lin Welsh, who had overall responsibility at Toshiba for the moving project. "Preview were able to deliver the all round scanning capabilities including the facilities, calibre of staff and levels of security that we required, all with the clarity of communication that we needed to closely monitor progress throughout the project."

This initial document scanning project was swiftly followed by a second which covered a number of years' worth of documentation from the Accounts Department, who were looking to ensure that they had the information in digital form ahead of the office move. This covered a range of different types of documents including purchase orders, proof of delivery papers, VAT returns and expense claims, all of which were handled in the same secure manner, on time and ahead of the move.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:33 AM | Comments (0)

Prodigy® Motion Control Card Offers OEM Machine Designers Access to the Powerful Features of the MagellanTM Chip Set

Prodigy® Motion Control Card improves application flexibility with powerful new feature set including direct amplifier commutation signals for multi-axis and multiple motor types.

Lincoln, MA (PRWEB) February 15, 2008 -- The Prodigy® Motion Cards from Performance Motion Devices, Inc. (PMD), designed with PMD's advanced Magellan Motion Control IC, provide board level, multi-axis motion control for DC brush, brushless DC, step, and microstepping motors. In addition to trace capture, Prodigy cards provide advanced motion control features including trajectory generation, servo loop closure, quadrature signal input, motor output signal generation, on-the-fly changes, commutation, and much more.

Key Updated Features Include:

4 axes motor control with direct amplifier commutation signals for brushless DC and microstepping motors, allowing the designers to use lower cost amplifiers.
Servo loop rates of up to 50 µSec/Axis (20 kHz).
Quadrature encoder rates up to 8 Mcount/Sec.

Prodigy cards are available in PCI and PC/104 configurations, and provide 1, 2, 3, or 4 axes of control. Prodigy-PCI and Prodigy-PC/104 utilize high density logic circuitry to provide cost-effective, advanced motion control functions programmed in C/C++ or Visual Basic language. The cards accept input parameters such as position, velocity, acceleration, and jerk from the host, and generate a corresponding trajectory. Instantaneous on-the-fly changes can be sent by the user, and external signal inputs can be used to program automatic profile changes.

Prodigy-PCI and Prodigy-PC/104 are available now. Prices start at $380 in OEM quantities.

"Providing designers with motion control tools like Prodigy enable them to design more flexibly and to quickly setup applications that demand precision and reliability. As design times shorten and time-to-market for OEM's become increasingly critical, designers have turned to motion card solutions to provide fast results at low cost. Our Prodigy Motion Cards have been designed to control a full range of motion parameters that few other solutions offer. Prodigy lets machine designers match each card's axis to a different amplifier, and a different motor type. This flexibility makes Prodigy a top choice for OEM designers." - Chuck Lewin, President & CEO, Performance Motion Devices

Features:

Uses PMD's advanced Magellan Motion Control IC
Direct amplifier commutation signals supporting 6-step (Hall-based) and sinusoidal commutation
Available in 1, 2, 3, & 4 axis versions with selectable multiple motor type control
High-speed servo loop rate: 50 µsec/axis
High precision ± 10V 16 bit DAC output to amplifier
Pulse and direction
High-speed motion trace for servo tuning diagnostics (up to 40 KB)
S-curve, trapezoidal, electronic gearing, and user-generated profile modes
PCI-bus, PC/104 (ISA), CANbus, or serial communications (RS232, RS422/485)
Incremental and parallel encoder input and dual loop encoder input
PID filter with velocity and acceleration feedforward and dual biquad filters
8 general purpose digital inputs and outputs
10-bit general purpose analog inputs

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:31 AM | Comments (0)

CV Technology Confronts Fugitive Dust Explosion Risk and Remediation within the New OSHA Mandates

A new OSHA mandate has given the topic of combating fugitive dust and minimizing the risk of dust explosion a new challenge.

Jupiter, FL (PRWEB) February 15, 2008 -- Within the context of industrial dust explosions there has always been an appreciation for the hazard posed by fugitive dust. That can be defined as dust that escapes from process equipment and accumulates in layers on the floor or other horizontal surfaces and worst of all up in the rafters. The insurance industry reports the largest losses in dust explosion accidents often come from secondary explosions fueled by layers of fugitive dust.

To CV Technology, an International leader in dust explosion prevention and mitigation, this on-going problem is well understood and nothing new. However a new OSHA mandate has given the topic of combating fugitive dust a new challenge. What is new is that the amount of dust that can pose a hazard is much less than was appreciated until very recently.

According to the OSHA Directive on Combustible Dust promulgated in October, 2007, the maximum allowable dust layer is only 1/32nd of an inch. That is so little dust that it is debatable that it can be accurately measured. Upon learning of so strict a requirement it is not uncommon for industrialists to simply throw their hands up in despair.

At a recent meeting of task force members from the NFPA 654 Technical Committee as well as interested parties from related ASTM Committees, the dilemma was framed by a visiting executive from a major American manufacturing company. He reported that in one 100' x 300' high bay facility, his company has been using dedicated cleaning crews equipped with special platforms and rigging to safely clean the roof truss system where dust collects at the rate of approximately 1/16th of an inch per six months. This amount of dust is the suggested limit in NFPA 654. The cost for this twice yearly effort is $500,000.00 per cleaning, or $1,000,000.00 per annum. This company is now faced with doubling that expenditure unless other measures can be found to reduce the dust loading on the facility.

Why is such a small amount of dust considered dangerous? At that same meeting it was reported that testing a layer of dust 1/32nd of an inch deep, covering only a small fraction of the total horizontal area, roughly equivalent to the surface area of support trusses and beams in a typical general occupancy commercial building, upon being lifted into a dust cloud, proved more than sufficient to destroy said building after ignition. Thus, the small amount of dust necessary to pose a significant hazard, placed in counter-point to the high cost for clean up, clearly defines the dilemma faced by industry.

Bill Stevenson Vice President of engineering for CV Technology states, "The options for dealing with this dilemma are still not clear and there is much thought and discussion being expended to find remediation." Stevenson continues, "In the meantime even though it is doubtful if housekeeping is enough, it is a start. A common question we get is 'Is it safe to use compressed air blow down? '" To address this CV Technology offers the following set of guidelines.

Housekeeping using blow down:

This method should be used in circumstances where the use of a vacuum system has proven to be either impractical or ineffective. It is better to use vacuum systems of course, but blow down should not be ruled out as it is far better to blow down than to allow dust accumulations to exceed safe levels. Generally follow these guidelines when blow down is necessary:
1. Clean frequently enough to avoid hazardous dust accumulations. The latest OSHA Directive mandates 1/32nd of an inch.
2. Limit the blow down to one small area at a time using both low volume and low air pressure to avoid dangerous dust concentrations.
3. Shutdown any electrical equipment not suitable for Class II, Division 2 hazardous locations.
4. Prohibit hot work, open flames, or hot surfaces in the area where blow down is to be used.
5. Assign responsibility to work crews for specific areas or systems who are capable not only of performing the cleaning task, but are qualified to identify dust leaks.

Pay particular attention to areas above floor level such as the tops of equipment, roof trusses and so forth. Accumulations in these high spots should be considered more dangerous because they are harder to reach, harder to clean, and if disturbed become suspended over a longer duration and range.

If an HVAC system is used to remove dust during blow down, inspect the ducting and any plenums carefully to make sure there is no accumulation of dust in them. If there is any accumulation, this dust must be cleaned out. Consider increasing air velocities in HVAC ducting to prevent further accumulations inside these systems.

In addition to housekeeping it is very important to find ways and means to reduce dust emissions in facilities handling combustible dusts and powders. The elimination of leaks should be given high priority. Aspiration systems need focus. Are they adequate or can they be improved? Are there better ways to handle powders without creating fugitive dust? These and other questions need answers and since every situation is different these answers should be derived from a qualified risk analysis.

Stevenson concludes with a practical example: "Anyone who has ever baked a cake or a loaf of bread can attest that simply transferring 3 cups of flour from the canister to the mixer bowl results in a layer of dust on the kitchen counter. If that simple task results in fugitive dust, how much more difficult will it prove for industry to meet this new challenge? This is going to be a very tough nut to crack and it will require innovation, effort, and flexibility to effectively address it."

CV Technology provides strategic consulting to examine the needs of each client and assess the risk of dust explosion. In addition, CV Technology manufactures products that are designed to prevent or mitigate dust explosions. Isolation Valves, Rupture Discs and Panels, and Flameless Vents are custom tailored to minimize (and in some cases prevent) any damage or other interruptions to the process if an explosion were to happen. More information and detail is available on the corporate website: http://www.cvtechnology.com

CV Technology, Inc
15852 Mercantile Court
Jupiter, FL 33478
USA

Phone (561) 694-9588
www.cvtechnology.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:31 AM | Comments (0)

Asset Performance Technologies, Inc. (APT) Announces New Canadian Subsidiary Office as Part of Major Oil Sands Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) Initiative

Successful Suncor Energy Project proves Canadian oil and gas producers demand tools that ensure zero unplanned downtime.

Albuquerque, NM (PRWEB) February 14, 2008 -- Asset Performance Technologies, Inc. (APT) announced today the formation of its Canadian subsidiary, Asset Performance Technologies of Canada, Inc., to better serve its customers in the oil and gas industry in Canada. According to Mark Benak, VP of Business Development for APT, "We are very excited about our new subsidiary and are now in a much better position to satisfy the maintenance and reliability needs of our Canadian customers by eliminating unplanned downtime through cutting edge analysis and implementation. It continues to be a pleasure for us to work with world class companies like Suncor Energy on their Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) initiatives."

In addition to oil and gas operations, 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
+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.

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

All Flex Announces Another Year of Record Sales

All Flex, a manufacturer of flexible circuitry announces record sales increase for 2007, its fifth consecutive year of growth.

Northfield, MN (PRWEB) February 14, 2008 -- All Flex Acquisitions, LLC (d.b.a. AllFlex) reports a record sales increase in fiscal 2007. This is the fifth consecutive year All Flex has recorded considerable revenue growth.

All Flex is a flexible circuit manufacturer specializing in quick turn and low to medium volume production runs. For over 16 years All Flex has been producing flexible printed circuits and flexible circuit assemblies serving the medical, military, aerospace, automotive, instrumentation, and, industrial markets. Across the various markets is a wide array of over 400 served customers with 100 new customers added in 2007.

Reduced manufacturing cycle times are key at All Flex. A new improvement initiative called Jumpstart® was introduced to expedite and formalize the process of launching new products while providing valuable measurements for improvement monitoring. This along with other continued lean manufacturing efforts during the year reduced cycle times significantly.

While All Flex has enjoyed consistent annual growth the company forecasts continued demand for electronic miniaturization and compressed delivery times. "We are in the custom engineering business," says Dave Becker, Sales Manager. "our product technology fits hand in glove with the demand for greater functionality within a compressed physical area. Our engineering staff has broad industry experience to assist customers with innovation and application."

All Flex President, Greg Closser, also attributes the success to their customer focused approach, "Our business has been growing because we have people that understand that everything revolves around the customer. Our customers need us to respond immediately to inquiries and concerns and to deliver good parts to them quickly. Meeting the needs of customers is the only management fad that never goes out of style."

All Flex is a privately owned company located in Northfield Minnesota. All Flex has served a variety of markets with flexible circuit applications, including single-sided flexible circuits, double-sided flexible circuits, and multi layer flex circuitry. All Flex provides quick turn prototypes and low to medium volume manufacturing for flexible PCBs as well as flex circuit assembly.

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

All Flex Announces Another Year of Record Sales

All Flex, a manufacturer of flexible circuitry announces record sales increase for 2007, its fifth consecutive year of growth.

Northfield, MN (PRWEB) February 14, 2008 -- All Flex Acquisitions, LLC (d.b.a. AllFlex) reports a record sales increase in fiscal 2007. This is the fifth consecutive year All Flex has recorded considerable revenue growth.

All Flex is a flexible circuit manufacturer specializing in quick turn and low to medium volume production runs. For over 16 years All Flex has been producing flexible printed circuits and flexible circuit assemblies serving the medical, military, aerospace, automotive, instrumentation, and, industrial markets. Across the various markets is a wide array of over 400 served customers with 100 new customers added in 2007.

Reduced manufacturing cycle times are key at All Flex. A new improvement initiative called Jumpstart® was introduced to expedite and formalize the process of launching new products while providing valuable measurements for improvement monitoring. This along with other continued lean manufacturing efforts during the year reduced cycle times significantly.

While All Flex has enjoyed consistent annual growth the company forecasts continued demand for electronic miniaturization and compressed delivery times. "We are in the custom engineering business," says Dave Becker, Sales Manager. "our product technology fits hand in glove with the demand for greater functionality within a compressed physical area. Our engineering staff has broad industry experience to assist customers with innovation and application."

All Flex President, Greg Closser, also attributes the success to their customer focused approach, "Our business has been growing because we have people that understand that everything revolves around the customer. Our customers need us to respond immediately to inquiries and concerns and to deliver good parts to them quickly. Meeting the needs of customers is the only management fad that never goes out of style."

All Flex is a privately owned company located in Northfield Minnesota. All Flex has served a variety of markets with flexible circuit applications, including single-sided flexible circuits, double-sided flexible circuits, and multi layer flex circuitry. All Flex provides quick turn prototypes and low to medium volume manufacturing for flexible PCBs as well as flex circuit assembly.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:05 AM | Comments (0)

Star Packaging Equipment Ltd. Website Revamp Reveals Extensive Packaging Equipment Services

Star Packaging Equipment launches new website addition to help packaging operations find the support they need such as consulting, sales, installation, training, machine upgrades, parts, repair and preventative maintenance.

Mississauga, Ontario (PRWEB) February 14, 2008 -- Star Packaging Equipment Ltd, a leading full service packaging equipment distributor, announced today the launch of a new website addition that better reflects its wide array of full service and support solutions. While these service offerings are well known by its many satisfied customers, the new website addition demonstrates to website visitors the breadth and depth of its service offerings. This is important news for buyers looking to source systems, as well as for packaging operations with systems lacking after sale support. Professional packaging equipment services give operations the expertise needed to maintain competitive performance levels, efficiency standards, safety and assurance against unexpected downtime.

Support services are broken down, and described as per the following:

Sales and Consulting: Each packaging operation has unique needs, wants and objectives. Selecting the best system solution is not the same for everyone. Choosing the right system will give the best value, performance and return on investment.

Equipment Installation: Correct set up and configuration of a packaging system must be done properly in order for it to achieve maximum performance levels. If done incorrectly, your packaging process may experience problems and in some cases may even put operators at risk. Expert installation ensures fast and successful deployment.

Machine Upgrades: Upgrading a packaging machine or system can be a cost effective alternative to purchasing a new one. An upgrade can enable a system to increase its performance levels so that it can provide acceptable speeds, efficiencies and or quality that prolong its life and usefulness. Upgrading is not on option for all systems nor is it always a good investment. Consulting services provides the expertise needed to make the right choice.

Equipment Training: Maximize safety and efficiency. Teach your staff how to achieve optimal performance and efficiency levels while maintaining safety standards.

Preventative Maintenance: Save time and money by maintaining your systems with preventative maintenance by factory trained technicians. Most operations cannot afford untimely system breakdown and should have a tailored maintenance plan set up. Preset frequencies are recommended such as monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or yearly maintenance agreement plans. Main benefits include:

Assurance and peace of mind
Decrease chance of equipment downtime
Maintains optimal efficiency
Increase equipment safety
Increase system reliability
Increased product levels

Equipment Repair: Emergency and field repair services provided by factory trained technicians. Onsite service calls as well as same day urgent dispatching get operations back up and running. All major brands of packaging equipment systems are serviced such as: Lantech Stretch Wrappers, Cousins, Wulftec, MacWrap, Muller, Orion, Conflex, Damark Shrink Packaging, RBS, Shanklin, 3M Sealers, Interpack Sealers, Loveshaw (Sealers and Erectors), Little David Printers, Better Pack Tapers, Marsh Taper and Phoenix Tape Dispensers.

Replacement Parts: Simplify the sourcing of packaging equipment parts, deal with friendly knowledgeable professionals that understand your requirements. Service technicians are available to answer inquiries, identify solutions and process your parts order.

For more information on packaging automation consulting, sales, packaging equipment installation, training (operator training), emergency repair service, machine upgrades, replacement parts and / or preventative maintenance solution services, refer to the new packaging equipment services section now available on the Star Packaging Equipment Ltd. website or send an inquiry via a preferred contact option listed on the site .

About Star Packaging Equipment Ltd.:
Star Packaging Equipment Ltd. provides packaging equipment system solutions and full support services to Canada, USA and abroad. Main product lines include: case sealing, case erecting, tape dispensing, product identification, labeling machines, stretch wrapping equipment, automatic pallet wrappers, shrink wrap machines, strapping machines, integrated conveyors, tape dispensers, various applicators and used packaging equipment systems. Packaging operations seeking high performance cost efficient and reliable full service support professionals can contact Star Packaging Equipment to learn more about their range of system and service solutions.

Contact:
Public Relations Department
Star Packaging Equipment Ltd.
1-905-564-0092 (local) / 1-866-753-1532 (toll free)
http:// www.starpkg.ca.

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

Telogis, Inc. Names Technology Industry Leader Jack L. Messman as Chairman

Jack Messman, former Chairman and CEO of Novell, Inc. (NOVL) and current board member of Radio Shack and Safeguard Scientifics, has been named a Director and Chairman of Telogis, Inc. Telogis is a GPS location based services software company based in Irvine, CA, with offices in New Zealand.

Irvine, CA (PRWEB) February 14, 2008 -- Telogis, Inc., the leader in real-time GPS location technologies, today announced that the Board of Directors has named Jack L. Messman as a Director and Chairman of the Board.

Mr. Messman brings a wealth of experience in corporate leadership and governance to Telogis. Mr. Messman most recently served as Chairman and CEO of Novell, Inc. (NOVL), an infrastructure software company. While at Novell, he led Novell's transformation into the Linux, open source and identity management businesses.

"I am very pleased to join my former colleague, Dave Cozzens, Chief Executive Officer of Telogis, in this exciting venture," said Mr. Messman. "Dave has the perfect credentials to lead Telogis from a strategic and operational perspective and is assembling a great team to continue the company's dramatic growth and technology leadership. Telogis' GeoBase geospatial platform and OnTrack fleet management application are stellar offerings that are driving the global market for location based services. In addition, the delivery of these solutions through SaaS (software as a service), allows customers an easy, quick and inexpensive way to improve the profitability of their business."

"We are excited to have someone of Jack's caliber join Telogis as the company has entered a phase of rapid growth" said Dave Cozzens. "His depth of experience and knowledge of the software and technology space will be a valuable asset. Jack's strategic leadership will also be critical as we continue to expand our offerings and provide exceptional value to our customers, partners and resellers."

Mr. Messman also serves on the Boards of Radio Shack Corporation (NYSE), Safeguard Scientifics Inc. (NYSE), Timminco Ltd. (Toronto Exchange) and AMG Advanced Metallurgical Group N.V. (EuroNext).

About Telogis
Telogis, ranked 70th in the Inc. 5000 Top Companies in Software, delivers location-based services through two product lines- OnTrack and GeoBase. OnTrack is a GPS-based Fleet Management application that enables enterprises to rapidly reduce costs and increase productivity in their fleets. GeoBase is a scalable, feature rich, easy-to-use platform that delivers geospatial functionality to enable software applications.

Telogis was established in 2001, and has offices in California and New Zealand. Telogis software, services and products are used and distributed worldwide through a network of authorized resellers and licensees. 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.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:02 AM | Comments (0)

Liquid Cooling for IGBT Power Semiconductor Devices Announced by Vette Corp

Aluma-Cop Liquid Cooled Flat Tubes -- Smaller, Lighter & Better Performing IGBT Power Semiconductor Cooling

MANCHESTER, N.H. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) February 14, 2008 -- Vette Corp (Vette), a leading global provider of thermal management solutions, announces Aluma-Cop liquid cooling for insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT). Vette’s liquid cooling flat tube design enables a smaller and lighter solution to cooling IGBT power semiconductors across demanding applications. IGBTs are high efficiency and fast switching power semiconductor devices and cooling them to insure their reliability is critical for electric vehicles and hybrid cars, where IGBTs control the AC motors and generators connected to the car’s batteries. IGBT power semiconductor applications also include power supplies and uninterruptible power supplies, variable speed refrigerators, air-conditioners, and digital amplifiers in high-end consumer audio systems.

According to Vette Corp North American Power Division President Chris Cutaia, “What makes Aluma-Cop liquid cooling unique is how we designed the tube. The flat tube forms a larger, wider ‘cold’ surface area against the devices or modules that require cooling. It has a cross-sectional aspect ratio of greater than four to one with internal integral forged fins creating a flow channel optimized for both fin pitch and fin height to width ratios. This achieves much greater cooling performance than typical designs that simply press a smooth bore round copper tube into an aluminum carrier block,” Cutaia concluded.

Aluma-Cop cooling solutions can provide cooling to an IGBT power semiconductor device without an aluminum carrier block. In addition to weight and size reductions, this enables the end user to position the IGBT semiconductor modules by simply loosening clamps and sliding the modules into their desired position at any time during the product assembly sequence. Vette designed Aluma-Cop tubes to connect together via manifolds to support all sizes of IGBT power semiconductor applications.

Pricing and Availability

Vette’s thermal solutions incorporating Aluma-Cop liquid cooling are currently available worldwide in customized configurations to meet an application’s specific needs. For more information on prototypes, customization, attachments, or volume pricing, contact Vette customer service: (585) 265-0330, or visit the company’s website www.vettecorp.com to find the location nearest to you.

About Vette Corp

Founded in 2004, Vette Corp is a global thermal management solutions provider specializing in solving thermal challenges for leading OEM’s, operators and owners of computer, communications and industrial electronic equipment. Vette maintains a growing IP portfolio, with design and applications engineering in Asia and North America. The company operates high-volume manufacturing facilities in both continents.

Vette Corp’s extensive solutions portfolio, design and manufacturing capabilities are complemented by world-class supply chain and customer service to offer clients the lowest cost, highest quality, end-to-end solutions available for today’s complex thermal problems. Vette is privately held and is headquartered in Manchester, New Hampshire, USA. For more information about Vette Corp, visit www.vettecorp.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:02 AM | Comments (0)

International Test Solutions Appoints Danny Chiu to Head Asia Applications Engineering and Support Organization

Danny Chiu has been brought on as International Test Solutions' Applications Manager for Asia where he will work to strengthen engineering and business support efforts in Taiwan and mainland China.

Reno, Nevada (PRWEB) February 14, 2008 -- International Test Solutions (ITS) announced that Danny Chiu has been appointed as the Applications Manager - Asia effective February 1, 2008. Mr. Chiu joins International Test Solutions after a 9-year career at Spirox Corporation (Taiwan), where he held significant technical support and sales leadership positions. He will provide readily accessible technical and local commercial support to our existing and future customers in Taiwan and mainland China.

Gene Humphrey, President of ITS, commented, "I am very excited to have Danny join our organization. He is a highly qualified and experienced team player familiar with the specific needs and application requirements of the Taiwanese customer base. Danny's leadership in Asia will be a tremendous asset as International Test Solutions continues to expand into new markets."

Danny stated, "I am very excited to join the experienced International Test Solutions Technical Team and look forward to working closely with customers throughout Asia."

Mr. Chiu will be responsible for managing the company's new branch office in Zhubei City, Taiwan. The office is located at 7F.-8, No.9, Zhuangjing 6th St., Zhubei City, Hsinchu County 30264, Taiwan (R.O.C)

About International Test Solutions, Inc. (ITS)
International Test Solutions provides non-destructive probe card cleaning products used by semiconductor manufacturers to remove debris and contaminants generated during wafer level and burn-in/test socket testing. By removing loose debris and adherent contaminants in-line, the quality of the testing data is improved, the test equipment downtime is reduced, throughput is increased and manufacturing yields are improved.

For more information about International Test Solutions, or this particular news article, please contact Tina Romero at (1) 775.284.9220 or (sales @ inttest.net).

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 03:00 AM | Comments (0)

Todd Hauge Named Aspen Avionics’ Chief Financial Officer

Senior Executive Rounds out Management Team

Albuquerque, NM (PRWEB) February 14, 2008 -- Aspen Avionics, Inc. (www.aspenavionics.com) announced today that Todd Hauge joined the company as Chief Financial Officer in November, 2007. Hauge has more than 20 years of finance and accounting experience, most recently at WorkRite Ergonomics, Inc, where he was first the Chief Financial Officer, and later promoted to President, directing all financial functions and activities for the company. In addition, Hauge oversaw the development, sourcing, and launch of new products with market-leading features and lower costs, resulting in lower price for the consumers.

Prior to WorkRite, Hauge held senior level finance positions at Vestor Holdings, Inc., a private equity fund, and Deloitte & Touche, where he was Senior Manager, Emerging Business Services.

“We are pleased to have Todd join us in a position that takes full advantage of his financial management expertise," said John Uczekaj, Aspen Avionics’ President and CEO. “He joins us during an exciting period of growth here at Aspen, and his impressive track record speaks to his abilities. He has been a strong addition to Aspen’s executive team.”

Hauge graduated Summa Cum Lude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Arizona State University. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of Financial Executives International; American Institute of Certified Accountants; and New Mexico Society of Certified Public Accountants.

About Aspen Avionics, Inc.
Aspen Avionics specializes in bringing the most advanced technology and capability from the commercial and business aviation markets into general aviation cockpits and budgets. Our products increase situational awareness and reduce pilot workload, making it even easier and safer to fly in both VFR and IFR conditions. The way we look at it, getting the latest avionics technology shouldn’t always mean spending a lot of money on equipment or installation. At Aspen Avionics, we design products to be affordable, easy to install, and easy to own. The company can be found on the web at http://www.aspenavionics.com, or may be reached at (505) 856-5034.

Note Aspen Avionics’ New Address: The company is now located at 5001 Indian School Road NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:59 AM | Comments (0)

Midbrook CapSnap Continues Global Expansion

Midbrook, Inc. recently completed the sale of a CapSnap™ Water Bottling Equipment system to a major bottling operations company in Saudi Arabia, continuing the global expansion of the line. CapSnap™ systems can be found in most of the prestigious brand bottling plants in the world. CapSnap™ has been implemented in countries around the globe, including Saudi Arabia, Chile, Thailand, and Mexico systems in just the past year.

(PRWEB) February 14, 2008 -- Midbrook, Inc. recently completed the sale of a CapSnap™ Water Bottling Equipment system to a major bottling operations company in Saudi Arabia, continuing the global expansion of the line. CapSnap™ systems can be found in most of the prestigious brand bottling plants in the world. CapSnap™ has been implemented in countries around the globe, including Saudi Arabia, Chile, Thailand, and Mexico systems in just the past year.

The time-tested industry standard PortaPlant and the new expandable Adapta systems, manufactured by the Cap Snap Water Equipment Group of Midbrook, Inc. are completely integrated modular water bottling lines for 5-gallon (19 liter) and other refillable bottles. A wide range of models are available, each designed to include the bottle washer, filler, capper and interconnecting conveyor system in a highly efficient layout which can be operated by a minimum number of personnel.

These systems are capable of automated washing, sanitizing, rinsing, filling capping of 3 or 5-gallon bottles, inspection, palletizing, and using robotics. The automated machines can process 150 to 3,000 bottles per hour depending on the needs of customers. The ability to handle such a large volume of bottles per hour sets CapSnap™ apart from competitors, who are inexperienced in creating large machines capable of such performance. The patented Hydrojet™ system cleans the bottle inside and outside with opposing high pressure water forces to eliminate the need for mechanical bottleneck grippers. In addition, all CapSnap™ equipment meets or exceeds CE, IBWA, EBWA, and FDA standards and directives.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:59 AM | Comments (0)

The INTIMA Lounge Chair Has Been Created Just For You And Your Spouse

The Escobar Company has designed and built the first dual purpose lounge chair. Ultimately and intimately, the INTIMA Lounge Chair provides the perfect place to say, "I love you," and the perfect means to create a long-lasting, satisfying and vibrant marriage for you and your spouse.

Houston, TX (PRWEB) February 13, 2008 -- The Escobar Company has designed and built the first dual purpose lounge chair. The INTIMA Lounge Chair provides a place for you to discover new, incredible and thrilling sensations with your spouse during your most intimate times together. The INTIMA Lounge Chair is an elegant piece of furniture inspired by the curves and beauty of the human body and the flow of passion created during the most intimate times a husband and wife can have.

The Escobar Company has taken the concept of the traditional Victorian style chaise lounge chair and modified it to allow freedom of movement combined with ideal ergonomic support for a couple during lovemaking. The ultimate purpose for the INTIMA Lounge Chair is to provide you with surpassing pleasure and amazing comfort while still being purposely functional. "Designed primarily to enhance and maximize your sexual experiences, the INTIMA Lounge Chair is stylish enough to fit into any bedroom décor," says owner and designer Ricardo Escobar.

The INTIMA Lounge Chair has dimensions that help the human body accommodate rest and support itself in various amazing positions during intercourse, allowing for more comfortable and uninhibited verbal, visual and physical interaction. By its design, the INTIMA Lounge Chair allows you to breath normally in order to achieve maximum sensations and prolong your lovemaking experience.

The guitar-like hourglass shape of the INTIMA Lounge Chair complements the curves of the human body to allow free movement on a comfortable yet supportive surface. Ultimately and intimately, the INTIMA Lounge Chair provides the perfect place to say, "I love you," and the perfect means to create a long-lasting, satisfying and vibrant marriage for you and your spouse.

Slated to be available in the Summer of 2008, The INTIMA Lounge Chair (Patent Pending #60/945,929) will be offered with a choice of fabric selections to match any décor.

Ricardo Escobar is the owner of the Escobar Company and designer of INTIMA. He was born in Honduras, earned his Bachelor degree in Business from Ouachita Baptist University and is now a U.S. citizen. Escobar is an entrepreneur and ordained pastor currently residing in Houston, Texas with his wife and three children. For more information or to custom order your INTIMA Lounge Chair, send email to rescobar@msn.com or call the Escobar Company at 713.829.3140.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:57 AM | Comments (0)

New Dog Treats and Cat Treats Made with Organic Wheatgrass

A new generation of health conscious consumers belly up to the juice bars for their daily shots of nutrient-rich wheatgrass. Now many realize the importance of green nutrition and healthy choices for their pets too. To meet the needs of this fast growing market, Bell Rock Growers offers healthy dog treats and cat treats in four tasty recipes, all made with organic wheatgrass. Pet Greens Treats, Powered with Green Nutrition, debuts this week at Global Pet Expo in San Diego.

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) February 13, 2008 -- Bell Rock Growers, the pioneer grower and supplier of green nutrition pet products, adds new recipes to its popular line of healthy dog treats and cat treats. Formerly called Grass Goodies®, the newly branded and expanded Pet Greens® Treats will debut this week with exclusive show specials for retailers and distributors at the Global Pet Expo in San Diego (Booth #3846). Orders ship to stores nationwide early April 2008.

Pet Greens Treats come in four tasty recipes: Roasted Chicken or Deep Sea Tuna semi-moist treats for cats; Roasted Chicken or Savory Beef jerky-style treats for dogs. All four varieties of Pet Greens Treats are made with wholesome ingredients, including organic wheatgrass. Recipes contain no wheat gluten, no corn, and no artificial colors or flavors.

According to Bell Rock Growers Co-founder Catherine Hoffmann, the company's passion for Pet Greens began with her personal quest for greater well being. "After experiencing the healing qualities of wheatgrass in my own life, I learned green nutrients also improve our pets' health," says Hoffmann. "We developed Pet Greens to provide quality pet nutrition similar to green food supplements people include in their own diets."

Wheatgrass is packed with high concentrations of chlorophyll, active enzymes, carotene, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients known to promote healthy gums and digestion, detoxification and development of healthy blood and muscle tissue. Wheatgrass also satisfies pets' instinctual cravings for greens, providing a safe alternative to harmful household plants and chemically treated outside grasses.

Bell Rock Growers Co-Founder Marty Walls partnered with Hoffmann in 1996 to launch the pet product industry's first nationally distributed live wheatgrass, called Pet Grass®, and catnip with major retailers and independent stores. The innovative duo created another industry first when they incorporated green nutrition into Pet Greens Treats, providing pets with healthy, convenient treats for training and rewards between meals. "Bell Rock Growers has earned a solid reputation among retailers and consumers as a premium supplier of affordable green nutrition products for pets," says Walls. "Our Pet Greens Treats set the benchmark for quality, convenience and originality in pet nutrition."

Pet Greens Treats have a suggested retail price of $3.99 for 3 oz. packages of semi-moist cat treats and $5.29 for 4 oz. packages of jerky-style dog treats. Retailer prices may vary.

Based in San Marcos, Calif., Bell Rock Growers is a certified organic grower of live wheatgrass and the pioneer supplier of green nutrition products for pets. Bell Rock Growers' complete line of products Powered with Green Nutrition™ include: Pet Greens® Live Pet Grass® and Catnip; four varieties of Pet Greens Treats for dogs and cats; Pet Greens Garden self-grow wheatgrass kits; and an all-natural grooming line with wheatgrass.

Retailers and distributors are invited to visit Bell Rock Growers at booth #3846 for samples and exclusive Global Pet Expo offers Feb. 14-16, 2008, or visit www.bellrockgrowers.com for more information.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:57 AM | Comments (0)

Solar Innovations, Inc. Announces Its Improvements to Orchid Greenhouses

Solar Innovations, Inc. a custom manufacturer of residential and commercial greenhouses, conservatories, sunrooms, folding and sliding glass doors, walls, windows, and screens, has improved its orchid greenhouses through innovation.

Myerstown, PA (PRWEB) February 13, 2008 -- Solar Innovations, Inc., a custom manufacturer of residential and commercial greenhouses, conservatories, sunrooms, folding and sliding glass doors, walls, windows, and screens, has improved its orchid greenhouses through innovation.

Orchid greenhouses, which have traditionally been difficult to manufacture and successfully operate, have again been improved by Solar Innovations. A delicate plant, Orchids require a consistent environment (55° to 65° F) which is difficult to maintain in greenhouses greenhouses throughout the change of seasons; however, Solar Innovations' thermally broken framing system can improve the greenhouse's operational efficiency.

Orchids are one of the most difficult flowers to care for, and require special attention in several areas: temperature, moisture, lighting, soil, and nutrients. "Solar Innovations' greenhouses are able to provide the proper environment for Orchid growing when designed as explained."

Solar Innovations thermally broken system extends beyond the walls of the structure to the doors, seals, and operable ventilation units. Stainless Steel spacers within the glass panels also improve the greenhouse's greenhouse's environment by providing thermally sound glazing and a more consistent internal environment despite the changes in external temperatures.

Watering systems by Solar Innovations can be incorporated into the structure to provide ease of care for this delicate vegetation. Solar Innovations offers misting and drip systems which provide moisture with the touch of a button and can be easily incorporated into an environmental control system to improve atmospheric consistency within the greenhouse. greenhouse

Solar Innovations many shading options also improve environmental control and can be customized to meet needs specific to each growing environment. Solar offers several shade options that include synthetic fabrics which can be removed from their placement and cleaned, reducing the concern for moisture damage caused by mold and mildew.

Solar Innovations' environmental control systems can be designed to accommodate advanced features like evaporative coolers and foggers, drip systems, sensaphones, remote programming, photo and light sensors, and soil sensors and stabilize the growing environments so that Orchids can flourish. The horticulturalist's time can now be spent tending to plants rather than tinkering with the growing environment. Beyond the cost and time efficiency of the greenhouse greenhouse control system, Mother Nature will also benefit. Control systems reduce the need for chemicals aiding plant growth as the environment is more closely adjusted to create the ideal conditions and reduce energy costs and waste.

Solar Innovations recently completed an Orchid Greenhouse in Georgia, the Dr. Cole Project. This exquisite Orchid greenhouse is an irregular structure as it incorporates a conservatory nose into a partial lean-to section with an attached straight eave, double pitch structure including a gable end. Measuring 27 feet long with a 22 foot projection, this structure includes operable ridge vents, a shading system, and decorative elements to create a focal point in the neighborhood.

Solar Innovations is always pleased to work with its customers to create the perfect environment for any vegetation, especially Orchids. For more information on Solar Innovations' greenhouses greenhouses or their new facility in Pine Grove, Pennsylvania, please contact the marketing department at skylight @ solarinnovations.com or call 800-618-0669.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:55 AM | Comments (0)

Hawker Beechcraft Acquisition Company, LLC Reports its 2007 Results

Hawker Beechcraft Acquisition Company, LLC (HBAC) reported sales of $2,793.4 million and operating income of $148.3 million for the nine months ending December 31, 2007.

Wichita, Kan. (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 13, 2008 -- Hawker Beechcraft Acquisition Company, LLC (HBAC) reported sales of $2,793.4 million and operating income of $148.3 million for the nine months ending December 31, 2007. During this time period, the Company delivered 351 business and general aviation aircraft.

Included in the operating results were non-recurring, non-cash charges of $105.2 million resulting from the step-up in the cost basis of finished goods and work in process inventory in accordance with purchase accounting related to the acquisition of the business from Raytheon Company and $48.1 million in increased depreciation and amortization expense, also non-cash, due to the purchase accounting step-up in the cost basis of long term assets.

Operating cash flow has totaled $579.2 million since the acquisition of the business in March 2007 and reflects the Company’s operating income, increase in customer deposits, reduction in the level of used aircraft inventory, and other working capital initiatives implemented throughout the period. Cash flow was adversely affected by the delay in the shipment of T-6A Texan II aircraft due to issues relating to verification of a supplier’s compliance with parts specifications. Deliveries are expected to resume later this month.

The Company, including its predecessor Raytheon Aircraft, delivered 430 business and general aviation aircraft in 2007, comprised of 162 jet, 157 turbo-prop and 111 piston aircraft, as compared to 400 in 2006. The company obtained FAA type certification for three of its newest King Air models during the fourth quarter and delivered four King Air 350ER’s, 24 King Air B200GT’s and 10 King Air C90GTi’s.

The Company recorded net bookings of $5.1 billion for the nine months ending December 31, 2007, resulting in a record backlog of $6.3 billion.

“Hawker Beechcraft has had a terrific first nine months with tremendous customer response to our new product introductions, as is evident by our unprecedented growth in bookings and record backlog,” said Jim Schuster, chief executive officer, HBAC. “International markets continue to expand, with approximately 60 percent of our backlog coming from international customers.”

Financial and other information for the nine months ending December 31, 2007 is available on the Company’s Web site at www.hawkerbeechcraft.com.

Earnings Conference Call:
HBAC’s 2007 earnings results conference call for the nine months ending December 31, 2007 will be held at 9:00 a.m. CST on Tuesday, March 11, 2008. To attend, please register at https://cossprereg.btci.com/prereg/key.process?key=PK4CP89PH.

Once you have registered, you will be provided with the information you need to join the conference, including dial-in numbers and pass codes. A recording of the earnings call will be posted to the Company’s Web site on the afternoon of March 11, 2008 and will remain available for 45 days.

Hawker Beechcraft is the world’s leading business, special-mission and trainer aircraft manufacturer – designing, marketing and supporting aviation products and services for businesses, governments and individuals worldwide. The company’s headquarters and major facilities are located in Wichita, Kan., with operations in Salina, Kan.; Little Rock, Ark.; and Chester, England, U.K. The company leads the industry with a global network of over 100 factory-owned and authorized service centers.

This release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including statements that address activities, events or developments that we or our management intend, expect, project, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s assumptions and assessments in light of past experience and trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other relevant factors. They are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ significantly from those envisaged by our forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described or implied in the forward-looking statements are general business and economic conditions, production delays resulting from lack of regulatory certifications and other factors, competition in our existing and future markets, lack of market acceptance of our products and services, the substantial leverage and debt service resulting from our indebtedness, loss or retirement of key executives and other risks disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:55 AM | Comments (0)

An Out-Of-This-World Promotion: How a Science-Fiction Artist has won a Cult Following by Giving Away $60 Statues to Every Fan

The greatest challenge for ArtFromSteel director Martin Pavion was how their business could afford to give away $60 hand-made science-fiction statues to every fan without going bankrupt in the process. Giving away literally thousands of star wars, alien, predator statues, the company has developed a cult following, almost overnight with appreciative sci-fi collectors spreading the news like wildfire.

Las Vegas, Nevada (PRWEB) February 13, 2008 -- It took a lot of planning to get things just right but Art From Steel's novel promotion strategy has elevated the small business into a viral phenomena in its first week. By giving away hand-made science fiction statues to every one of their fans they've developed customer loyalty faster than they could ever have anticipated.

Art From Steel is the leading manufacturer of hand-crafted statues made from recycled steel art in Asia. Under the supervision of 6 master artists the team manufacture creations, often 3-4 meters tall from recycled scrap metal.

"Some of our Alien and Predator statues take 12 artists 2-3 months to make, so we certainly can't target the impulse buyer. Instead, it's vital that we build up long-term relationships with our fans," states Martin Pavion, the company director.

The problem:- How can a medium-sized business fund a promotion to give away $60 statues to every customer without breaking the bank?

"We spent a lot of time with our artists and, rather than leave the finer details to our master artists we gave every person the opportunity to train and practice on their favorite statues. Now every artist we work with is capable of creating 2-3 statues themselves to the same standard as our master artists.

We took a gamble. We figured that if a customer's going to get one free item shipped in the post, then we should make it practical for them to order another statue too. We did this by providing both a gift voucher and a 40% off voucher too. Although the extra statues are still provided at a large discount, we make enough on them to fund those orders where customers want just one statue.

What really helped us keep down our costs though was our refer-a-friend promotion. We decided to let people upgrade their coupons from $40 to $60 so they could get our more complex statues for free as well. All they had to do was to tell three friends about our promotion.

We've really been amazed so far. Despite asking members to refer just three friends, we've had customers tell as many as 60 people about us! Nearly half of them have then visited our site and the growth has been phenomenal. Every day we are being contacted by great people who either want us to commission a unique statue for them or want to represent us overseas.

We've more than quadrupled the number of members we have already and we're getting together a wonderful bunch of fans who really love our work and our work ethics.

The secret of our success - beyond any doubt - has been that we've generated trust from our fans. We always knew that it would be a huge challenge to deliver $60 statues to them all for free. We told them many months ago what we planned to do, we were open to admit we had no idea how we'd do it and this gave us a lot of credibility once we announced our solution."

Art From Steel is now the largest workshop for hand-made statues from scrap metal. Whilst the business excels in science-fiction statues including life-sized Alien, Predator and Star Wars characters, they have a portfolio of over 400 models and create new ones every month.

Art from Steel is still giving away one free statue to every visitor if you visit their website

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:53 AM | Comments (0)

Dixon Valve Takes Training To The Next Level

Dixon's Mobile Connections training centers-on-wheels bring practical knowledge and safety training on fluid handling and transport systems ... right to the plant doorstep.

Chestertown, Md. (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 13, 2008 -- Dixon Valve & Coupling Company (www.dixonvalve.com) is touring the United States with its mobile training centers, bringing practical product knowledge and safety training right to the front door of the plant.

Dubbed Mobile Connections, the 35 ft. Dixon trailers are complete training and product centers on wheels. Since the debut of the first trailer, named "Boss," at the annual meeting of the National Association of Hose & Accessories Distributors in April 2004, Dixon's mobile training program has grown to include two fully equipped trailers that have traveled hundreds of thousands of miles making visits to hose distributors and end-user sites across North America.

According to Scott Jones, vice president of sales and marketing, Dixon's Mobile Connections trailers provide a valuable service to distributors and end-users who are seeking to increase their knowledge in the efficient operation of fluid handling and transport systems. "We're using our trailers to train distributors and end users." Jones said. "The goal is to promote the wide range of solutions that are available for virtually every industrial application."

In addition to appearing at industrial distributor locations for open houses, Dixon's Mobile Connections fleet has traveled to numerous end-user locations such as mining facilities, steel mills and chemical plants. Along with training on proper product selection, hose assembly installation and safe operating usage, a Hose Assembly Safety Center within the trailer introduces Dixon's Hose Assembly Safety Survey Program. As a part of this safety program, qualified Dixon technicians conduct a review of a facility's hose assemblies and other fluid handling systems, earmarking areas of possible safety concern and suggesting remedies. This complimentary service is unique in the industry.

The Mobile Connections trailers also incorporate a Product Display Center presenting the entire family of Dixon products and components, including products for sanitary, petroleum, industrial, fire protection, chemical, agricultural and construction applications.

For more information, or to discuss a visit by one of Dixon's Mobile Connections trailers to your location, contact either Scott Jones, sjones @ dixonvalve.com or Dawn Sutton, dsutton @ dixonvalve.com at (410) 778-2000.

Dixon Valve & Coupling Company, with a heritage that extends back to 1916, is a leading international manufacturer and supplier of hose fittings and accessories, serving a wide variety of industries and applications with a comprehensive and diverse product line.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:52 AM | Comments (0)

Lasit USA's High Speed OEM Laser Provides Easy Integration

Users find Lasit USA's OEM laser marking system easy to integrate into existing systems.

Branford, CT (PRWEB) February 13, 2008 -- Lasit USA's OEM laser marking system has been found to be easily integrated into factory lines and existing systems. The 110 VOLT, 2 AMP OEM fiber laser marking system is now available in 20, 30, 50, 100, 200 watts, and produces permanent, high contrast marks (surface and deep to .020) on metals such as steel, aluminum (coated as well as uncoated) , carbide, graphite, and plastics. Capable of marking any Graphic, Logo, 2 D Matrix, Bar Codes, and alpha-numerics, it provides up to 100,000 hours of maintenance free operation.

The system contains a fully air-cooled ytterbium Q-switched fiber laser with M 2 beam quality less than 1.05. The system comes with Lasit's scan head, one of the fastest on the market today, as well as user friendly Windows-based FlyCad and FlyControl Software. FlyCad emulates "AutoCad" type function, which provides full drawing capability. FlyControl provides motor and Scan Head control as well as diagnostic software, which can be accessed remotely. The software allows for remote entry of data via a TCIP network connection and can have a custom interface that provides for custom modifications.

The marking system comes standard with the new programmable Smart Focus - the alignment of a lighted dot and line provides for instant set up and focusing. Another new feature is the Smart Link cable - a rugged stainless steel cable designed to encase the fiber cable, which prevents damage or breakage in the fiber and communications delivery.

A small footprint with 19-inch rack mount allows for easy integration into factory lines with on-the-fly software capability. Remote control commands through IO board for devices such as PLC, HMI or computer to control the system. Lens availability from 163 to 420mm to allow for marking up to 12 inch x 12inch area. Three axis scan heads available for larger areas over 12 inches.

"Customers love the ability to customize this laser marking system to integrate with their current applications," said Robin Barbero, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Lasit USA.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:51 AM | Comments (0)

Placon Corporation Expands New Recycled PETE (RPET) Extrusion Capabilities in China

Placon's EcoStar™ line of polyethylene terepthalate (PETE) is now available in China.

Madison, WI (PRWEB) February 13, 2008 -- Placon Corporation, a Madison, Wis.-based design and thermoform packaging company, announces the expansion of its polyethylene terephthalate extrusion (PETE) capabilities at its Suzhou, China production facility.

Placon now has the ability to service its customers with the EcoStar™ line of PETE material solutions on two continents. "Our North American customers have long appreciated our EcoStar™ material and thermoform packaging solutions, including our flagship EcoStar™ PC50 which contains 50% post-consumer recycled PETE as well as our new HS 1000 heat sealable PETE. Now we can provide that for our China customers as well," says Laura Stewart, Vice President Sales & Marketing.

Customers in North America will continue to receive the same high-quality design and thermoform packaging they've come to expect with the EcoStar™ line. Projects originating in North America will continue to be produced at Placon's plant based in Madison, Wisconsin. The Suzhou location is poised to begin providing the same EcoStar™ products for the domestic market in China.

"Our Chinese customers needed a quality thermoformer of recycled PETE in China, and we are excited to have the ability to supply our EcoStar™ PETE thermoform products from our Suzhou factory," says Liang Ying, General Manager Placon Suzhou.

Placon's PETE offerings include thermoforms made from EcoStar™ PC50 (RPET) - 50% post consumer recycled PETE, EcoStar™ HS 1000 - a heat sealable PETE, and amorphous PET (APET).

Placon has been a leader in thermoformed packaging for more than 40 years. The China facility has been in operation since 2004. The company designs and manufactures plastic thermoforms for packaging used by the food, retail and medical industries. Placon is a member of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition and has been named an "Energy Star" by the Capital Region Business Journal.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:50 AM | Comments (0)

The Future of Advanced Manufacturing

Advanced manufacturing in 2025 will stem from the evolution of smart software, robotics, and smart-sensor networks, forecasts Social Technologies futurist Matthew Sollenberger. These will then facilitate new developments and capabilities in computer-aided design and production processes.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) February 13, 2008 -- The DC-based research and consulting firm Social Technologies recently released a series of 12 briefs that shed light on the top areas for technology innovation through 2025. The brief on advanced manufacturing, by futurist Matthew Sollenberger, is the seventh trend in the series.

"Advanced manufacturing in 2025 will stem from the evolution of smart software, robotics, and smart-sensor networks," Sollenberger forecasts. "These will then facilitate new developments and capabilities in computer-aided design and production processes."

Sollenberger foresees improvements in quality control and production efficiency that may enable the rise of mass customization--i.e., the ability to produce low quantities of specific products in a profitable and high-quality manner.

Drivers of Manufacturing Innovation:
Currently, the push to improve advanced manufacturing is being driven by the following factors:

Sustainability: Interest in environmental and community sustainability, and consumers' desire to reduce or eliminate waste, are providing incentives to develop efficient, flexible, low-cost production technology. "In addition, consumers are concerned about resource availability and community autonomy," Sollenberger adds.
Consumer sophistication: Consumers are also demanding increasing personalization of products. "A 2007 survey of major industrial, electrical, and transport manufacturers revealed that 73% viewed customization as critical to sales for products costing more than $1 million," Sollenberger says. "And 25% perceived it as critical even for products priced below $1,000."
Global competition: Pressures to accelerate production, reduce error rates, and climb higher on the value chain are pushing companies to develop increasingly sophisticated manufacturing technology.

Challenges Ahead:
Advanced manufacturing is on course to develop into a formidable market force, Sollenberger believes, but he points to obstacles that will need to be overcome. These include:

Bioengineering: Competition from industrial biotechnology, which is becoming increasingly cost-effective in the production of pharmaceuticals, will pose a significant challenge to the advanced manufacturing industry, Sollenberger believes. "By 2020, industrial biotech will be a substantial and growing market force, and for advanced manufacturing to stay relevant, it will need to improve efficiencies and generate less waste."
Touchless manufacturing: Advanced manufacturing production lines could very likely erode the competitiveness of low-cost touch labor, forcing many World 2 countries to confront a skills gap. "Millions of factory workers would need to be retrained to be productive in other sectors," Sollenberger forecasts.
Integrative processes: The rapid manufacturing technique of solid freeform fabrication (SFF), which creates solid, single-material parts such as bolts or bumper cars, is extremely competitive for many advanced manufacturing organizations. However, currently available technology is not close to enabling those firms to produce more complicated goods, such as computers and TVs. "But as nanomaterials come of age, SFF will adapt," the analyst says.

Forecasts:
As advanced manufacturing continues to develop, it will likely redefine present methods of customization and thus have significant commercial and social impacts:

Distributed digital manufacturing: Digital manufacturing already exists as state-of-the-art technology enabling organizations to develop, plan, and execute a product with computer simulations and models. The next step will be a convergence of those processes, with layered fabrication and distributed cell production methods. "Supply chains will have virtual networks of supplies that could be called almost on an as-needed basis," Sollenberger says.
Garage production: Instead of purchasing a physical product from retailers, consumers could pay for a digitized production plan that allows them the right to make a specific number of copies, and Sollenberger notes: "Over the long term, this could represent a major shift from centralized to distributed, local production."
Zero-waste processes: SFF manufacturing already promises to eliminate a large amount of waste. It is conceivable that as technology advances, no waste would be produced. Currently, Nike is leading the charge on this front and is using recycled polymers, water-based solvents, and fabric woven from plastic soda bottles.

Learn More:
To talk to Matthew Sollenberger about the business implications, wildcards, and other implications, contact Hope Gibbs, Social Technologies' Leader of Corporate Communications: hope.gibbs @ socialtechnologies.com.

About Matthew Sollenberger:
Futurist Matthew Sollenberger joined the research team at Social Technologies in the spring of 2007. Previously he worked as a research analyst at The Arlington Institute (TAI), a futurist consultancy in Northern Virginia, where he focused on the Risk Assessment and Horizon Scanning Project for an Asian government, and engaged in Middle Eastern conflict modeling, systems thinking, and morphological analysis. Also at TAI, he co-authored a paper on the implications of wildcards for long-term US national security interests, published in the Fall 2006 issue of National Strategy Forum Review. A 2005 graduate of Swarthmore College's political science program--with high honors and a minor in peace and conflict studies--Matthew brings to the job a passion for global issues. While in college, he was a research assistant at the World Policy Institute, working on its Counter-Terrorism Project. Matthew collaborated on a paper, "Prisons and the Education of Terrorists," that was published in the Fall 2004 issue of World Policy Journal. Areas of expertise include Foreign policy, Technology.

About Social Technologies:
Social Technologies is a global research and consulting firm specializing in the integration of foresight, strategy, and innovation. With offices in Washington DC, London, and Shanghai, Social Technologies serves the world's leading companies, government agencies, and nonprofits. A holistic, long-term perspective combined with actionable business solutions helps clients mitigate risk, make the most of opportunities, and enrich decision-making. For information visit www.socialtechnologies.com, our blog: http://changewaves.socialtechnologies.com, and our newsletter: www.socialtechnologies.com/changewaves

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:49 AM | Comments (0)

RFID Journal, EPCglobal to Provide Compliance Training for Sam's Club Suppliers

RFID Journal and EPCglobal to provide an "EPC Compliance and Benefits Training" preconference seminar during RFID Journal LIVE! 2008 at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, April 16-18.

New York (PRWEB) February 13, 2008 -- RFID Journal, the world's leading media and events company covering radio frequency identification (RFID), and EPCglobal North America, a not-for-profit member organization supporting the adoption of Electronic Product Code (EPC) technology, today announced that they will jointly produce an "EPC Compliance and Benefits Training" seminar in conjunction with RFID Journal LIVE! 2008, RFID Journal's sixth annual conference and exhibition, being held April 16-18 at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas.

The new compliance training seminar, which will take place on April 16, is designed to educate suppliers to Sam's Club and other major retailers, who need to learn not just how to place EPC tags on their shipments, but also how to integrate their tagging systems with their back-end inventory management systems to save time and labor and to use the EPC data provided by retail partners to reduce out-of-stocks, increase promotions execution and drive business value.

Suppliers to Sam's Club will meet with Sam's Club representatives to discuss the retailer's EPC initiative prior to the start of the seminar and they will have the opportunity to attend the EPC Compliance and Benefits Training seminar for free. Other companies that wish to attend can select the seminar as one of 11 preconference seminars offered at RFID Journal LIVE! 2008.

"RFID Journal is committed to helping companies benefit from RFID technologies, so we feel its important to offer training to help people understand where the value is and how to realize it," said Mark Roberti, Founder & Editor of RFID Journal. "We'll bring in end users who have been tagging shipments and have them explain not just how they did it, but how they are benefiting from EPC technology."

The seminar will explain how to:

Encode tags and associate EPCs with the right product
Place the tag on a case in the place that will maximize its chances of being read
Integrate an EPC tagging system with a back-end inventory management system
Use EPC data to improve supply chain operations

"This really is a unique opportunity to learn a great deal in a very short period of time," said John Seaner, President of EPCglobal North America. "We're working with our subscribers from the vendor community to provide a checklist of what suppliers need to do and then they can go to the exhibit hall and meet the vendors who can fulfill their needs."

Among the speakers who will participate in the seminar are:

Bill Hardgrave, Director, RFID Research Center, University of Arkansas
Paul Freeman, Director EPC/RFID Program, Best Buy
Richard Ulrich, Solutions Architect, Wal-Mart Stores
J. Kevin Brown, Information Systems, Daisy Brand
Sue Hutchison, Product Manager, EPCglobal
Michele Southall, Director of Community Development, EPCglobal

In addition, EPCglobal will hold a Joint Action Group meeting prior to RFID Journal LIVE! 2008, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers will hold its IEEE RFID 2008 conference in conjunction with the event as well. The EPCglobal meeting is a gathering of members from all action groups that contribute to the development of EPCglobal standards. The IEEE event is the second in a series of annual conferences dedicated to addressing technical and policy challenges in the areas of RFID technologies, as well as their support for large-scale distributed information systems and applications.

Register before March 7 to save up to $300 off the on-site cost of a conference pass. For more information about RFID Journal LIVE! 2008, visit www.rfidjournalevents.com/live/.

About RFID Journal LIVE! 2008
RFID Journal LIVE! is the largest and most important RFID event in the world. More than 2,500 people attended the 2007 event. RFID Journal LIVE! 2008 will feature more than 200 leading technology providers exhibiting in the 120,000-square-foot exhibit hall. The exhibit hall will showcase live demonstration centers and, for the first time ever, technology companies will compete for a new Best in Show Award, to be determined by RFID Journal Editors with input from attendees.

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. For more information, visit www.rfidjournal.com.

About EPCglobal NA
EPCglobal North America is a not-for-profit organization that fosters the development and implementation of EPC technology in the United States and Canada. To learn more, please visit www.EPCglobalNA.org.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:47 AM | Comments (0)

American Precision Prototyping to Use Accura® Materials Exclusively

-Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Rapid Prototyping service provider offering proven, dependable Pro Parts in Accura® family of Stereolithography Materials-

Tulsa, OK (PRWEB) February 13, 2008 -- American Precision Prototyping, a leading provider of Direct Digital Manufacturing solutions, announced today it has selected 3D Systems' Accura® family of materials exclusively for its entire SLA® Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing operations to deliver proven, dependable Pro Parts.

The patented Accura® portfolio of engineered materials build highly accurate, ready-to-use, smooth parts of various sizes and geometries in hours. These materials, in combination with 3D Systems' cutting edge equipment, creates small and large Pro Parts with beautiful surfaces, fine features and crisp edges, delivering the quality and feel of injection-molded polypropylene, ABS and polycarbonate, without molding, tooling, dies or traditional machining.

As a sole Accura® Pro Parts provider, APP offers a comprehensive selection of Accura® Materials, including the new, tough, gray-molded, ABS-like Accura® Xtreme Plastic; the just-released, rigid engineered nanocomposite, Accura® Bluestone™ Material, designed for motorsport and aerospace applications; and the popular, clear Accura® 60 Plastic that has the properties and appearance of polycarbonate.

"I am pleased to be offering the full line of Accura® Materials to APP customers," said Jason Dickman, APP's president. "Accura® Materials are the broadest range of materials available and meet the demands of virtually any application. I have been in the RP industry for many years and have witnessed first-hand the evolution of Stereolithography materials from the early acrylate materials that yielded inaccurate, brittle parts to those today that are closer to production-grade materials than ever before. The Accura® Materials line really exemplifies the commitment of 3D Systems to the development of cutting-edge SL materials that push the envelope of traditional prototyping materials and bring customers closer to production parts."

"It is a testament to the breadth, differentiation and functionality of our SLA® Materials' portfolio that a leading service bureau has chosen to go 100% Accura® for its Stereolithography materials," said Abe Reichental, 3D Systems' president and chief executive officer. "Accura® Materials are fast becoming an industry-leading brand, further enhancing our Pro Part solutions. The word is getting out that our expertly engineered materials bring a whole new dimension to part design and fabrication, delivering a new level of accuracy, speed, flexibility, cost-effectiveness and superior quality."

About 3D Systems
3D Systems is a leading provider of 3-D Modeling, Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing solutions. Its systems and materials reduce the time and cost of designing products and facilitate direct and indirect manufacturing by creating actual parts directly from digital input. These solutions are used for design communication and prototyping as well as for production of functional end-use parts: Transform your products.

More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com.

About American Precision Prototyping, LLC:
American Precision Prototyping, LLC, (APP), a privately held services company, is the premier rapid prototyping and manufacturing facility in the Midwest. APP sets itself apart from other rapid prototyping and manufacturing facilities by offering free, instant online quoting 24/7, complete project solutions from design to production utilizing the latest equipment and materials in house, providing unsurpassed customer service, and offering their customers a 100% quality guarantee.
Instant Quotes, Quality Parts.

More information on the company is available at www.approto.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:46 AM | Comments (0)

American Tire Corporation Enters Asian Market

American Tire Corporation (ATC) is pleased to announce that its Colorado brand OTR tires have entered into Asian market from the beginning of 2008. Large quantity of Colorado brand 35", 49", 51" and 57" OTR tires will be shipped to Asia. ATC will possibly export more than US$100 million's Colorado OTR tires to Asia in 2008.

Chino, CA (PRWEB) February 13, 2008 -- American Tire Corporation (ATC) is pleased to announce that its Colorado brand OTR tires have entered into Asian market from the beginning of 2008.

Several containers of Colorado brand 35" and 49" OTR tires have been shipped for users in South Asia and Middle East. Dozen of containers of such tires and larger will be shipped to the same area in the first quarter of 2008.

This is the first time for ATC to contribute directly to Asian countries. This market is previously occupied by Japanese, French, Russian and Chinese tires. According to the current market of OTR tires in Asia, Russian and Chinese tires are successively losing their traditional market. ATC will possibly export more than US$100 million's Colorado OTR tires to Asia in the coming 10 months.

Of course, the entry into Asian market is an opportunity, but also a big challenge, for ATC because ATC will have to take measures to directly face the competition from France and Japan in that continental.

However, ATC is confident in its presence in Asia. With supports from the U.S. government and ATC's engineers, Asian users will see Colorado OTR tire advantages accordingly.

With objective to become the largest and best manufacturer for 63" and 57" tires, American Tire Corporation is a well-established US OTR tire manufacturer which has had several "firsts" in the OTR tire industry. For more information, please check its website http://www.americantire.us.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:44 AM | Comments (0)

Magnoware Releases Update to its Award-Winning Help Desk and Service Support Solution, the DataTrack System

Magnoware Inc., a leader in helpdesk and support software solutions, is pleased to announce the immediate availability of a service update for its award-winning DataTrack System 2005 Second Edition.

San Luis Obispo, CA (PRWEB) February 12, 2008 -- Magnoware Inc., a leader in helpdesk and support software solutions, is pleased to announce the immediate availability of a service update for its award-winning DataTrack System 2005 Second Edition.

A robust, web-enabled service management solution, the DataTrack System is designed for small to large-sized help desks, call centers, software development teams and IT departments. Existing customers are highly encouraged to upgrade to this release as it provides vast improvements to functionality, ease-of-use and reliability.

The DataTrack System 2005 sports over 50 new features and just as many visual and underlying improvements. Some functionality found in the DataTrack System is as follows:

Integrated Work Order and Service Management
Integrated Asset Management with Automatic Network Auditing
Integrated Knowledge Management
Automation and Escalation
File Attachments
User-definable Fields, Statuses, and Categories
Searching, Reporting, and Analyzing Made Easy
Improved Security
Integrated History and Audit Trail

Solutions:

Help Desks, Call Centers & Customer Support Desks
Technical Support & IT Help Desks,
Product & Software Defect Tracking

Those wishing to evaluate the Magnoware DataTrack System may download a fully-functional 14 day evaluation by navigating to http://www.magnoware.com.

With over 2,000 customers throughout the globe, Magnoware, Inc. is a world-wide leader in help desk and service support software solutions. Its flagship product, the DataTrack System, is presently in use by clients ranging in size from small, one-manned help desks, to corporate giants like Coca Cola, Toyota, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, and Nautilus.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:43 AM | Comments (0)

AffordableLED.com Launches 31 NEW Designs of Programmable LED Signs

One of the largest wholesale online distributors of LED signs AffordableLED.com launches 31 new designs of programmable LED signs for store owners and retailers. These LED signs can easily be customized using a remote keyboard.

Rowland Heights, CA (PRWEB) February 12, 2008 -- In the world of business, it is indeed a fast and furious race to the top. With millions of other contenders trying to outdo each other, one has to definitely stand out and be noticed in order to survive in the dog-eat-dog world of business. One surefire way of rising above the rest is to have creative LED signs that would make people stop, look and absorb the information.

As times are constantly changing, more and more businesses are starting to use LED signs because of their various advantages to neon signs. LED signs flash, move, scroll, and animate in many ways making it more exciting to see and a lot more interesting to look at. As it is a basic human trait to pause and check out any moving video or text, LED signs will not only get noticed more, it will also convey any company's message more effectively.

AffordableLED.com, the largest online wholesale distributor of LED signs, has now added more designs to its already vast selection of LED signs. Just recently, the company has added 31 new designs of programmable LED business signs. These LED signs are specially designed for retailers and business owners alike. It is very cost-effective as messages can be instantly changed or revised via a remote keyboard making it really easy and convenient. What's more, these LED signs use 70% less energy and only takes less than an hour to put up. They are lightweight, easy to install, and safe to touch and operate. Combined with light, color, and motion, these programmable LED signs provide an effective window of opportunity that can reach out to more customers any time of the day.

While the main reason for programmable LED signs is to attract more foot traffic, they can also offer more savings for the company in the long run.

With all the advantages of LED signs being offered now, investing in one can possibly be a very wise move.

About AffordableLED.com
Based in Southern California, AffordableLED.com is the leading manufacturer of indoor and outdoor LED signs. All LED signs are of high quality, produced with cutting edge technology. LED signs can be customized to suit the needs of the clients. All LED signs sold have a 1 year warranty and a lower-than-market price guarantee.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:40 AM | Comments (0)

B2B Web Marketing Agency Launches New Site to Share its Knowledge RefreshWeb Offers B2B Marketers Free SEO Tools and Web Marketing Resources

RefreshWeb, a B2B Web marketing agency based in Austin, TX, will launch its new Web site, designed to serve as a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Web marketing resource for the agency's clients. The RefreshWeb team is offering complimentary SEO tips, tools, and other marketing resources on their new Web site. The list of practical SEO techniques includes SEO tools, search analytics, keyword research, pay-per-click (PPC) and search engine ranking checkers, along with others.

Austin, TX (PRWEB) February 12, 2008 -- RefreshWeb, a B2B Web marketing agency based in Austin, TX, will launch its new Web site, designed to serve as a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Web marketing resource for the agency's clients. The RefreshWeb team is offering complimentary SEO tips, tools, and other marketing resources on their new Web site. The list of practical SEO techniques includes SEO tools, search analytics, keyword research, pay-per-click (PPC) and search engine ranking checkers, along with others.

"We encourage our clients to learn as much about search engine marketing as they can," comments John Rasco, Founder and President. "That is why we are providing the free SEO tools on our new site. The more a client understands about search marketing, the faster we can progress them toward their goals."

RefreshWeb helps clients to maximize their search engine rankings, optimize online sales processes, and strengthen their Web marketing presence. They are SEO experts and masters of marketing, which is a rare combination.

RefreshWeb focuses on the business-to-business market. Unlike many search engine optimization companies, RefreshWeb understands that the B2B process is different.

"B2B marketing isn't like B2C--it's not triggering impulse buys with freebies or starting trends," states Rasco. "The RefreshWeb team knows that B2B marketing is about being a solid, reliable provider that helps its clients' businesses to grow."

To ensure their clients' visibility on the Web, RefreshWeb conducts exhaustive research for search terms specific to that business and tests and analyzes their Web site's visibility on each search term. This research is also used to develop a comprehensive search engine and Internet marketing plan to support the overall corporate goals and vision.

RefreshWeb provides additional client services, such as SEO, web development, social media optimization and Web 2.0 integration, white papers, press releases, and pay-per-click advertising. The success of a company's online presence depends on the SEO work being monitored and adjusted over time, and the RefreshWeb team places a high priority on doing just that.

"We have made it our mission to be the best B2B Internet marketing agency around," Rasco stated.

Businesses are invited to learn about search engine marketing by utilizing the complimentary SEO tips, tools, and resources available on RefreshWeb's new site. The team also encourages B2B businesses to request a ranking report, provided at no charge.

About RefreshWeb

RefreshWeb, a B2B Web marketing agency, serves mid-sized corporations that desire to maximize their search engine rankings, optimize on-line sales processes, and strengthen their Internet marketing presence. RefreshWeb team members are both SEO experts and marketing masters--a rare combination. The RefreshWeb team excels at weaving best practices in SEO and marketing principles together into one solid Internet marketing strategy.

The team conducts an exhaustive search term and competitor audit. This is used to develop a comprehensive search engine and Internet marketing plan that supports the corporate goals and vision. The comprehensive scope of services includes SEO for organic visibility, pay-per-click, white papers, press releases, social media and Web 2.0 integration.

Clients have access to consulting services with the team of SEO experts who keep clients informed of the direction of the Web strategies. Ongoing monitoring and monthly reporting of the SEO and marketing progress occur in order to continually refine and maximize successes.

For more information on RefreshWeb, visit www.refreshweb.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:39 AM | Comments (0)

NCH Corporation Launches Expanded Safety Equipment and Supply Division With New Supply Line Direct™ Catalog and E-Commerce Site

On January 1, NCH Corporation introduced an expanded safety equipment and supply division, along with a new catalog, Web site and expanded safety and maintenance product line. The division, known before as Quality Maintenance Supplies, was also renamed and re-branded as Supply Line Direct.

Irving, TX (PRWEB) February 12, 2008 -- On January 1, NCH Corporation introduced an expanded safety equipment and supply division, along with a new catalog, Web site and expanded safety and maintenance product line. The division, known before as Quality Maintenance Supplies, was also renamed and re-branded as Supply Line Direct.

More than 5,000 safety, maintenance, material handling, storage and organization products are included in the new 196-page supply catalog. All catalog items, along with additional products, are featured in a new e-commerce site, www.SupplyLineDirect.com.

Supply Line Direct catalogs are being distributed initially to current customers by territory sales representatives in the Chemsearch®, Certified Laboratories and Mantek® divisions of NCH Corporation's North American Chemical group. Catalogs can also be requested on the Web site.

The new name and expanded product line target the objective of NCH chemical divisions to be more strategic suppliers and full-service sources for the safety equipment and maintenance supplies that chemical customers currently buy from other suppliers. The mission of Supply Line Direct, reflected in the tagline for the division, is to provide products designed for "protecting people, your business and the environment.

The largest expansion of the product line was in spill response products, secondary containment, safety equipment and personal protection. New product lines include industrial shelving, storage and various maintenance tools.

The new Web site is a full e-commerce site for new and existing customers to use for sourcing products and placing orders. All catalog items are included in the site. Additional products are being added on an ongoing basis. The site also features special pricing on selected products and a technical information section with articles and information sources on safety, health, maintenance and topics of interest to the operations and maintenance customers of NCH divisions. The site was designed with objectives of delivering easy-to-navigate product lines, clear and bold product presentations, large product photos, clear pricing charts and supplemental product information that the catalog does not have space to provide.

Plans for the division include expanding product lines, growing sales within the NCH customer base, strengthening Web presence and online transactions and generating new customers for the supply and chemical divisions.

ABOUT SUPPLY LINE DIRECT AND NCH CORPORATION - Supply Line Direct is the safety equipment and supply division of NCH Corporation North American Chemical group. NCH Corporation is a privately held company headquartered in Irving, Texas. The company was founded in 1919 and operates globally as a provider of industrial maintenance solutions. NCH divisions operate in 50 countries, providing industrial cleaning and maintenance products, water treatment services, plumbing repair products, pet care products and specialty industrial supplies.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:39 AM | Comments (0)

Newly Designed Stainless Steel Utility Sinks from Eagle MHC

Eagle MHC offers one of the industrys largest selections of utility sink designs available from a single manufacturer.

Clayton, DE (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 12, 2008 -- Eagle MHC offers one of the industrys largest selections of utility sink designs available from a single manufacturer. These ultra-durable sinks are designed to maximize functionality in installations where NSF construction is not a requirement.

All Eagle MHC utility sinks are made from 16-gauge stainless steel (type 304 or type 430) for strength and durability, and feature legs with adjustable bullet feet. The legs are made of galvanized tubing and are located directly under sink bowls for maximum weight support and stability. This line features Eagle MHCs Euro-style edging on the front.

Eagle MHC offers utility sinks in 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-compartment models, with bowl sizes ranging from 18” x 18” to 24” x 36”. Sinks are also available with optional detachable or welded drainboards made from heavy-gauge type 304 or type 430 stainless steel.

For more details on the comprehensive range of utility sink styles and models available from Eagle MHC, contact Lynda Donavon (ext. 3027) with sales inquiries, or Eagles Marketing Department (ext. 3129) with inquiries pertaining to marketing support. Tel. (800) 441-8440. Web site: http://www.eaglegrp.com/.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:38 AM | Comments (0)

Customer Manufacturing Group Publishes Reading Guide for Value Acceleration

Customer Manufacturing Group, a thought leader in using business process management to improve marketing and sales results, announced the reading guide to Value Acceleration: The Secrets to Building An Unbeatable Competitive Advantage. The new reading guide helps companies apply Value Acceleration concepts to achieve a long-term competitive advantage.

Santa Clara, CA (PRWEB) February 12, 2008 -- Customer Manufacturing Group, a thought leader in using business process management to improve marketing and sales results, announced the reading guide to Value Acceleration: The Secrets to Building An Unbeatable Competitive Advantage.

Value Acceleration, published in April 2007 and authored by Mitchell Gooze and Ralph Mroz, presents powerful ideas enabling a company's long-term competitive advantage through the core function of marketing. Customer Manufacturing Group defines marketing as the full spectrum of sales and marketing activities from defining strategic direction to creating products and selling them.

Vital to the Value Acceleration concept is the ability to apply business process management principles to marketing and sales. The idea behind this is to give companies the capability to transform their marketing and sales activities into a smooth, predictable and accountable process. This allows companies to measure contribution and return on investment. The end goal is to create loyal and profitable customers with the ultimate goal of improving marketing and sales results.

"Value acceleration is a powerful concept that we developed over the course of 10 years," said Mitchell Gooze, president and founder of Customer Manufacturing Group. "This is the first comprehensive process model applied to the central function of marketing and we believe that it will enable companies to transform their business."

The Value Acceleration reading guide provides a tool to guide readers through the concepts of the book. It includes a section of discussion questions designed to stimulate thinking around the ideas in the book about what empowers a competitive advantage. More importantly, it enables readers to apply the book and its concepts to build a competitive advantage for their own company.

For more information about Value Acceleration: The Secrets to Building An Unbeatable Competitive Advantage and to download the reading guide, visit http://www.valueacceleration.com/readingguide.shtml.

About Customer Manufacturing Group, Inc.:
Customer Manufacturing Group is the thought leader in using business process management to improve marketing and sales results. The company redesigns marketing and sales processes to create a repeatable and manageable System to Manufacture Customers®. For the last 15 years the company has successfully helped hundreds of companies apply process management to marketing and sales to gain a competitive advantage. The company has offices in California, Massachusetts and New Jersey. For more information about Customer Manufacturing Group, visit http://customermanufacturing.com/.

Media Contact:
Adriana Saldaña
831.722.9910
adriana(at)saldanapr.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:37 AM | Comments (0)

JobOps Announces JobOps Version 4.20

JobOps, a Job Management Software solution developed for Sage MAS 90 and Sage MAS 200 ERP systems, announced today that it has updated its flagship JobOps Job Management Software to Version 4.20.

Minneapolis, MN (PRWEB) February 12, 2008 --  JobOps, a Job Management Software solution developed for Sage MAS 90 and Sage MAS 200 ERP systems, announced today that it has updated its flagship JobOps Job Management Software to Version 4.20. The latest release is now compatible with Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 Version 4.20, the most current version. JobOps is a comprehensive solution for automating job management functions for manufacturing, distribution, and field service organizations and is the preferred choice for hundreds of North America's small and mid-sized businesses. JobOps Version 4.20 is shipping now.

About JobOps and Synergistic Software
JobOps is a suite of integrated modules for the award-winning Sage MAS 90 ERP and Sage MAS 200 ERP systems and is published by Synergistic Software Solutions, LLC. a wholly-owned subsidiary of BDO Seidman, LLP. More than 600 customers, representing over 7,000 end-users have selected JobOps to power their custom job management operations and workflow. Synergistic Software Solutions is a provider of Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 accounting and business solutions for small and mid-sized businesses. The company is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota and has a network of JobOps Solution Providers throughout the U.S. For more information visit the JobOps Web site at www.jobops.com or call 612.367.7300 or 800.815.8483.

JobOps is a trademark of BDO Seidman, LLP, and Synergistic Software Solutions, LLC, is a registered trademark of BDO Seidman, LLP. Sage Software, the Sage Software logos, and the Sage Software product and service names mentioned herein are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sage Software, Inc., or its affiliated entities. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:36 AM | Comments (0)

Adesso Albums Responds To Polaroid Production Announcement

Adesso Albums (www.adessoalbums.com) released today a response to Polaroid's recent announcement that it will be shutting down factories in Massachusetts and ceasing production of it's instant cameras and film. Despite this news from Polaroid, Adesso Albums will continue to sell Polaroid instant cameras and film, and expects to be able to do so through 2009. Company to remain a source for Adesso Albums for Polaroid and cameras and film.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- Adesso Albums (www.adessoalbums.com) released today a response to Polaroid's recent announcement that it will be shutting down factories in Massachusetts and ceasing production of it's instant cameras and film. Despite this news from Polaroid, Adesso Albums will continue to sell Polaroid instant cameras and film, and expects to be able to do so through 2009. Company to remain a source for Adesso Albums for Polaroid and cameras and film.

"As a partner of Polaroid for the past several years, we were aware of the decision to phase out this part of their business some time ago and inventoried cameras and film accordingly," said Lesley Mattos, founder of Adesso Albums. "We have plenty of Polaroid inventory and albums to accommodate our new and existing customers - for some time to come."

Adesso is also extremely optimistic that another company - one that is currently or has at one time been involved in this market - will acquire licensing rights for the Polaroid instant film and continue to make the film available to the estimated 28 million Polaroid enthusiasts around the world.

While the Company's roots are in the Polaroid instant technology, Adesso Albums, Inc. has continued to keep pace with what type of image capturing technology consumers are using so that it can continue to accommodate new trends. In addition to Adesso Albums for Polaroids, the Company also offers Adesso Albums for digital photos and recently announced its newest product line for ZINK, an inkless printing technology that allows users to print instantly from their digital cameras and camera phones.

Mattos continued, "No matter how you capture your images, Adesso Albums has a place for you to turn them into an instant memento!"

Adesso Albums' patented concept is revolutionizing the traditional guest book market. The albums combine Polaroid instant photos taken of guests at events - such as weddings, bridal or baby showers, birthday, anniversary, graduation parties - with personalized hand written sentiments from those guests, creating a unique, one of a kind, real time memento of the event that can be enjoyed the instant the event is over.

For more information:

Contact: Lesley Mattos
Visit: http://www.adessoalbums.com
Call: 800.961.7761
Fax: 415.957.9902

About Adesso Albums:
Adesso Albums, Inc. was founded in January 2002 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. The Company designs, markets and sells the world's first line of "instant photo guest books®" internationally. Adesso Albums and the Adesso Albums logo are registered trademarks of Adesso Albums, Inc.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:35 AM | Comments (0)

General Packer Co., Ltd. Appoints PTI Packaging as Premier Agent for the Americas Pouch Packaging Equipment Solutions

General Packer Co. Ltd. has appointed PTI Packaging Systems as agent in the Americas for their line of packaging machinery. General Packer is renowned for their technological edge, quality and strong, robust machine design. Their pouch filling & sealing machines for milled products and various dry goods have captured the top leading industry position.

Tokyo, Japan and Tuckahoe, NY (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- General Packer Co. Ltd. has appointed PTI Packaging Systems as agent in the Americas for their line of packaging machinery.

Tony Stauffer, president of PTI, stated, "General Packer is renowned for their technological edge, quality and strong, robust machine design. Their pouch filling & sealing machines for milled products and various dry goods have captured the top leading industry position. Representing General Packer closes the loop on the solutions we can now offer our customers."

"General Packer has leveraged their expertise in food-related machines to expand into packaging equipment for markets to include health food, pet food, pharmaceutical, medical and household products," commented Jeffrey Crangle, general manager of the PTI Packaging Systems group. "We are excited to promote the world class, premier line of equipment which General Packer offers. GP machinery provides high quality sealing technology and accommodates high speed filling applications for pre-made pouches and bags for sizes ranging from small retail packages to larger bulk retail and institutional bags. PTI is targeting markets for various dry products such as cereals, granolas, fruit, nuts, candy, pet food, pet treats, snacks and gas flush filling applications."

Mr. Tsuyoshi Ozeki, general manager for General Packer, Co., said, "Experience is the key factor, and PTI has a proven track record of successful system integration projects and the all important knowledge and technical understanding of production processes. PTI together with General Packer are fully equipped to offer comprehensive solutions, from machinery selection to product development, to satisfy the diversified needs of customers throughout North America."

"In support of the sustainability movement, it's important to note that General Packer has also taken the lead in pursuing various activities designed to protect the natural environment and to raise customer satisfaction," said Mark Ewing, PTI's sales manager for the General Packer line. "Their product development efforts focus on the "ultimate, no-loss packaging machine," one that saves energy and resources by minimizing waste. In addition to making energy-saving products, General Packer endeavors to develop methods to eliminate waste during the manufacturing process. These are critical points industry-wide in today's market."

About General Packer Co., Ltd.
General Packer Co. Ltd. is a leader in developing high performance automated machinery for packaging dry and powdered products into pouches and bags. They are a total solutions provider of packaging systems that integrates all of the relevant processes, from manufacturing to final shipment, and includes peripheral equipment and services such as conveying, weighing, filling, packaging, checking, accumulation, and cartoning. General Packer is publicly traded on the Nikkei JASDAQ stock index.

About PTI Packaging Systems
PTI Packaging Systems provides top-tier solutions for food, pharmaceutical and personal care packaging from manufacturing & distribution, R & D and complete start-to-finish engineering and project management. PTI's core competencies and focus is to provide end-to-end packaging solutions for new and existing project requirements for pouch, sachet, stick pack, cup and tray filling & sealing applications, retort sterilization, automated handling and secondary packaging.

For media inquiries, please contact Michelle Wolf for further information.
Tel: 973.252.6039
Email: m.wolf @ ptiusa.com
http://www.ptipacktech.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:34 AM | Comments (0)

New Product for Repair and Sealing of Penetrations to a Certified Landfill Cap

AquaBlok Bentonite coated aggregate material maintains low permeability while providing ease of installation for vertical well casings and structural support as a pipe bedding for gas piping.

Toledo, Ohio (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- AquaBlok, Ltd., manufacturers of innovative composite particle materials, announce the approval of a product formulation that has been used successfully for the repair and sealing of certified landfill caps in various applications.

Re-establishment of the low permeability soil barrier is required when a certified landfill cap is breached, whether as a result of disturbance by a pipe trench, vertical gas pipe borehole installation configuration or joining FMLs to sheet pile walls or other unique areas of landfill. The current standard process to replace disturbed soil barriers in tight areas is very time consuming and cumbersome.

A photo of AquaBlok applied in such a horizontal pipe section is shown. AquaBlok material can simply be poured into the trench or annular opening in a manner similar to gravel or other bulk backfill material.

"AquaBlok Sealant Materials Self Compact for Low Permeability and Conform to Complex Shapes such as Pipe Bedding, Methane Gas Wells and Sheet Pile Walls - without the Use of Geotextiles or Liner Materials"

Current construction practices to re-establish low-permeability conditions, which are dictated by existing and relevant regulations, commonly involve the following general procedure: digging trenches of various depths or drilling a boring (up to three feet in diameter) through each of the surficial protective layer, the low-permeability cap (including the FML component, if present) and finally down into the landfill material. In the case of a vertical pipe section with a 6-12-inch diameter perforated well casing in the boring, screened at the appropriate interval, the annular space would be backfilled above the screened interval with low permeability soils in a "step-cut" fashion to provide good bonding which results in a much larger repair area than the actual perforation.

The use of an AquaBlok sealant material for landfill trenching, gas-well construction or other general purposes eliminates the need to use compacted clay material or step cut a trench or borehole to accommodate appropriate compaction. A similar approach is used where AquaBlok is applied as a pipe bedding and sealant for installation of horizontal pipe, where the landfill soil cap component has been breached.

Use of AquaBlok for cap penetrations and as a pipe sealant has a number of technical, economic, and regulatory based advantages over current construction methods, including:

Formulations of the product are comprised of sodium bentonite clay, and the low-permeability (10-9 cm/s) and resiliency, or re-sealing ability, of such material is well known to the environmental and regulatory community.

The product self-compacts when wetted and hydrated. Consequently, the material can be placed as a single dry lift, with water added afterwards. The material's self-compacting ability precludes the need for additional excavation and therefore use of clay and protective material, as well as compaction-driven backfilling. In the case of a gas well, it can be constructed exclusively within the confines of the existing borehole.

In its dry form, the product handles easily, like aggregate. Thus, it can be delivered to a site in packages varying from 50-lb sacks to two-ton super sacks and either poured or shoveled by hand.

The amount of water needed to initially hydrate the product, once placed into the annular space, is not critical, thus precluding the need for neutron probe testing during well construction.

The product's demonstrated abilities to act as a low-permeability, air-tight seal greatly increases the potential for successful re-certification of the landfill cap upon re-inspection.

About AquaBlok, Ltd.
AquaBlok, Ltd. is a manufacturer of composite materials utilizing its patented coating and amendment approach. The company has a long history in the environmental industry and a range of products utilized in sediment remediation technologies. AquaBlok utilizes its delivery system in a range of products including, pond and industrial impoundment sealing, as seep collars on piping, to construct cut-off walls in porous soil conditions, flood control applications (i.e. levee and dam protection), and to deliver organoclay-based materials. In addition, AquaBlok is a licensee of Halliburton's Bariod Division for the BARACLEAR® algae treatment product.

Please contact AquaBlok for pricing and/or distributor inquires.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:33 AM | Comments (0)

eDynaQuote's eProcurement Process Saves National Retailer 35% on Office Supplies

A national retailer headquartered in Ohio will save nearly $700,000 this year on its office supplies and toner products through a competitive purchasing process performed by eDynaQuote. The savings were based off the national retailer's last actual spend and were achieved by utilizing eDynaQuote's proprietary reverse auction software and eprocurement process expertise.

Erie, PA (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- A national retailer headquartered in Ohio will save nearly $700,000 this year on its office supplies and toner products through a competitive purchasing process performed by eDynaQuote. The savings were based off the national retailer's last actual spend and were achieved by utilizing eDynaQuote's proprietary reverse auction software and eprocurement process expertise.

The strategic sourcing project began with a detailed spend analysis to create logical part groupings to offer for bid. Once the spend analysis was complete, a supplier search and stringent qualification process followed to ensure that only qualified suppliers were invited to participate in further negotiations. Those suppliers were then invited to participate in a detailed survey to define and evaluate the non-price factors such as company size, website ordering capabilities, and references. Next, suppliers submitted pre-bids to ensure that all items in the group were included in their bid and to pre-approve alternates to branded items. The final step was an online reverse auction in which 68 bids were submitted in one hour by six pre-qualified suppliers.

Using the eDynaQuote platform, the process is streamlined and allows for continuous bidding until all of the suppliers provide their lowest bid. Before the auction begins, the bid documents are available to all suppliers online via a secured internet connection. This ensures that bidders have easy access to the most up-to-date specifications. Instead of submitting bids via phone, fax, email or paper, they simply register with eDynaQuote and sign in to the secure site on the announced day and time of the auction to place their bids. Once a bid is placed the suppliers can see where they rank allowing them to alter their bids immediately if they choose.

"eDynaQuote™ offers a powerful, yet easy-to-implement on-demand solution that helps clients streamline the purchasing process to save potentially millions of dollars. eDynaQuote offers professional support and provides full-service help-desk support which allows clients to choose from among a variety of service levels to address specific needs, including full-service reverse auction management, strategic procurement consulting, and self-service auction management options.

For additional information, visit http://www.edynaquote.com or email info@edynaquote.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:32 AM | Comments (0)

Christian Crucifixes Added to Church Furniture Dealer Heavenly Wood's Web Site

Heavenly Wood is well known for its huge line of non-denominational church furniture. This month Heavenly Wood has added dozens of new handmade wood crucifixes to its site.

Kaysville, UT (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- Heavenly Wood has been successfully selling Christian-oriented church furniture online for years. This furniture ranges from prayer kneelers and lecterns to wooden wall crosses and stackable chairs. This month Heavenly Wood has added 24 wooden Christian crucifixes and six new sick call sets to its Web site. This is a new market for Heavenly Wood and the company is excited about this new addition.

For just over two years Heavenly Wood has been selling Christian wooden crosses online. The line of wooden crosses has been successful and Heavenly Wood felt the handmade wooden crucifixes would be a great fit. The 24 new crucifixes are made from solid wood, are handmade and feature various stain finishes and corpuses of Christ. Many are available with bases for use on tables and counters and many are also available in various heights and sizes. Although these crucifixes are more commonly found in churches, they are also widely used in homes. You can find the newly added crucifixes here: Wooden Crucifixes.

Heavenly Wood has also added six new sick call sets. These are also handmade with particular attention paid to the detailing of the cross and corpus. The sick call sets, traditionally used by Catholics, are designed for use in religious practices with those that are sick or ill. All sick call sets include candles and a holy water bottle. You can find the newly added sick call sets here: Religious Sick Call Sets.

All church furniture, including crucifixes and sick call sets, are available on Heavenly Wood's Web site. Customers may view and select products online, securely add them to their cart and have them shipped directly to the door of their church or home. Heavenly Wood has paid particular detail to making the church furniture easy to order. Orders may also be placed over the phone. This is all done to try and save clergy, priests and other people time by eliminating the need to physically visit traditional "brick-and-mortar" stores. You can find Heavenly Wood's entire line of church furniture here: Church Furniture.

Heavenly Wood plans on continuing to add to their line of church furniture and is very excited about the new addition of crucifixes and sick call sets. For further information, please contact Morgan Cloward, Marketing Director of Heavenly Wood, 1-800-257-2968.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:30 AM | Comments (0)

Objectivity/DB Version 9.4 Released With Vista Support, Level 6 Grid Compliance

Release enhances usability and functionality for customers using Objectivity/DB

Sunnyvale, Calif. (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- Objectivity, Inc., the leading provider of software solutions for complex data management applications, has announced that it will begin rolling out Objectivity/DB Version 9.4 to customers today. The new release features Windows Vista compatibility, new JCA support for Grid Enabled WebSphere 6.1 and improved productivity for customers.

With the new release, Objectivity/DB will fully support Windows Vista, which is widely used by the company's customers. The release will also provide support for four additional platforms, including the newest Linux SUSE, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 and 5, and AIX 5L Version 5.3 on Power5.

"Support for these platforms will increase the flexibility of a product that is already the database industry leader in interoperability between client/server platforms," said Objectivity CEO Jay Jarrell. "Objectivity is dedicated to staying on the leading edge of innovation by continuously improving our technology and enhancing usability for our customers."

In addition to supporting new platforms, Release 9.4 will provide JCA support for Grid Enabled WebSphere 6.1, which enables Objectivity's customers to more easily and cost-effectively distribute computer and data-intensive applications.

Another important facet of the release is improved JAVA capability, which will enable application designers to build custom collection classes to make applications faster, more scalable and better at memory management.

Objectivity will also incorporate upgrades identified through customer requests and feedback received since the last minor release.

"We frequently consult with our user community to help us identify product improvements that will enhance their productivity when using Objectivity/DB," said Jacques Darakdjian, Objectivity's vice president of Engineering. "As part of our Customer Care Program, we identified a number of upgrades that would benefit our customers."

The Release 9.4 data sheet, which outlines the full list of features and highlights, is available in the Objectivity/DB product section of the website.

A note on Objectivity/DB
Objectivity/DB has a fully scalable, SOA-compatible distributed processing architecture that manages localized, centralized or distributed databases by synthesizing large, complicated streams of data into a single logical view, enabling real-time data collection and analysis.

About Objectivity, Inc.
Objectivity, Inc. is the leading provider of complex database management solutions for mission-critical applications. The company's flagship product, Objectivity/DB, is used by government, security, complex manufacturing, commercial services, science, and engineering organizations to increase speed, precision and productivity. Objectivity remains on the cutting 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 the Objectivity website or calling (408) 992-7100. A 60-day free trial of Objectivity/DB is also available on the Objectivity website.

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.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:30 AM | Comments (0)

Dan Graham Named Decorize CFO

Former EVP/CFO of Freedom Financial Group

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) February 11, 2008 -- Decorize, Inc. (OTCBB: DCZI), a recognized leader in the home accents industry, announced today the appointment of Dan Graham as Chief Financial Officer of the Company.

Mr. Graham is the former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Freedom Financial Group, Inc. a publicly-traded company (Springfield, MO), where he managed that company’s finance, accounting, investor relations, human resources and IT functions and helped the company become Sarbanes-Oxley 404-compliant. He was the senior executive in charge of Freedom Financial’s Canadian subsidiary operations, and was responsible for strategic planning, budgeting and long-term forecasting.

Prior to his tenure at Freedom Financial, Mr. Graham was Group Vice President, Finance and Administration of DT Industries, Inc., a $500 million multi-national manufacturer. Mr. Graham, 45, graduated from Oklahoma State University with a B.S. in Finance and Accounting. He became a Certified Public Accountant and worked for McGladrey & Pullen, LLP.

“Dan is a multi-faceted executive with in-depth experience in financial and operations support, information systems and banking, as well as internal controls and auditing,” said Steve Crowder, CEO of Decorize. “We searched for someone outside the home furnishings industry who could bring a different perspective to the Company. We believe we have found the ideal person to help the Company become the market leader in this fragmented industry.”

About Decorize

Decorize, Inc. specializes in designing, manufacturing and delivering the finest premium home accents directly from its production facilities in Indonesia and China to retailers across the U.S. The Company has developed a vertically integrated design, sourcing and logistics model that reduces costs traditionally channeled into home furnishings. This model allows the Company to remain on the leading edge of the market by identifying trends and developing product significantly faster than others. Because of this vertical integration, Decorize is able to serve its customers with shortened delivery times for custom orders. Decorize serves more than 3,000 retail accounts, including national brand names such as Stein Mart, Broyhill Furniture Industries, OfficeMax, Home Depot, May/Federated Stores, Neiman Marcus, Rooms To Go, and Sears-The Great Indoors. For more information, visit the Decorize web site at www.decorize.com.

Safe Harbor

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements about the future performance of Decorize, economic trends, and other forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including and without limitation, continued acceptance of Decorize’s products, increased levels of competition for the Company, new products and technological changes, Decorize’s dependence on third-party suppliers, and other risks detailed from time to time in Decorize’s periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Decorize provides no assurance regarding the actual outcome of the events contemplated by any forward-looking statements included in this release.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:28 AM | Comments (0)

QAD Named ''Top ERP Provider for Customer Experience'' in Consumer Goods Technology's Annual Reader's Choice Awards

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) February 11, 2008 -- QAD, Inc. (Nasdaq: QADI), a leading provider of enterprise software and services for global manufacturers, today announced that Consumer Goods Technology magazine has selected QAD as the top provider for customer experience in the Enterprise Resource Planning section of the magazine’s annual Reader’s Choice Awards, published in the January 2008 issue. The annual Reader's Choice Awards honor winners across twelve different categories focused on service and solutions for consumer goods companies.

Consumer products manufacturers worldwide rely on QAD as a trusted partner to analyze, plan and manage every aspect of their enterprise at every stage in the manufacturing process. QAD develops and delivers enterprise solutions designed to solve the immediate challenges consumer products manufacturers face today while laying the groundwork for future success and lasting bottom-line results.

“We are pleased to be included in this year’s Reader’s Choice Awards,” said Phil Friedman, vice president, consumer products, QAD. “Consumer products manufacturers have to deal with many different layers of suppliers, distributors and channels in taking their product to market these days. QAD is committed to supporting these manufacturers in achieving their goals in brand development, demand management, and new product introduction.”

QAD Enterprise Applications are designed to streamline the management of manufacturing operations, supply chains, financials, customers, technology and business performances all in one suite. Built on a deep, foundational understanding of manufacturing and designed for maximum flexibility anywhere in the world, QAD Enterprise Applications are available in 27 languages and can handle multiple currencies. For both single-site manufacturers with customers and suppliers in many locations around the world, and global enterprises with factories and plants in dozens of countries, QAD can provide the solutions and support to operate multi-national businesses efficiently and profitably.

The Reader's Choice Award winners are included in the January 2008 issue of Consumer Goods Technology and can be viewed online at: http://www.consumergoods.com/cgt/pages/archives/. This is the eighth annual Reader's Choice Awards for GCT.

About QAD

QAD is a leading provider of enterprise applications for global manufacturing companies. QAD applications provide critical functionality for managing manufacturing resources and operations within and beyond the enterprise, enabling global manufacturers to collaborate with their customers, suppliers and partners to make and deliver the right product, at the right cost and at the right time. Manufacturers of automotive, consumer products, electronics, food and beverage, industrial and life science products use QAD applications at approximately 5,800 licensed sites in more than 90 countries and in as many as 27 languages. For more information about QAD, telephone +1 805 684 6614, or visit the QAD Web site at: http://www.qad.com.

“QAD” is a registered trademark of QAD Inc. All other products or Company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Note to QAD Investors:

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These risks include, but are not limited to, evolving demand for the company's software products and products that operate with the company's products; the company's ability to sustain license and service demand; the company's ability to leverage changes in technology; the company's ability to sustain customer renewal rates at current levels; the publication of opinions by industry and financial analysts about the company, its products and technology; the reliability of estimates of transaction and integration costs and benefits; the entry of new competitors or new offerings by existing competitors and the associated announcement of new products and technological advances by them; delays in localizing the company's products for new or existing markets; the ability to recruit and retain key personnel; delays in sales as a result of lengthy sales cycles; changes in operating expenses, pricing, timing of new product releases, the method of product distribution or product mix; timely and effective integration of newly acquired businesses; general economic conditions; exchange rate fluctuations; and, the global political environment. In addition, revenue and earnings in the enterprise resource planning (ERP) software industry are subject to fluctuations. Software license revenue, in particular, is subject to variability with a significant proportion of revenue earned in the last month of each quarter. Given the high margins associated with license revenue, modest fluctuations can have a substantial impact on net income. Investors should not use any one quarter's results as a benchmark for future performance. For a more detailed description of the risk factors associated with the company and the industries in which it operates, please refer to the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2007 ended January 31, 2007.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:26 AM | Comments (0)

Green Trade Show Exhibit Line Now Offered by E&E Exhibit Solutions

Phoenix Trade Show Display Company Joins Green Marketing Trend with Exclusive Rights to Resell Eco-Systems Sustainable Exhibits in Arizona

TEMPE, Ariz. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) February 11, 2008 -- E&E Exhibit Solutions today announced its exclusive reseller relationship with Eco-Systems, a Michigan-based manufacturer of the first green-built portable-modular trade show exhibit system in the nation developed with environmentally and socially responsible materials. Eco-Systems Sustainable Exhibit line is benchmarked to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System of the U.S. Green Building Council.

“E&E Exhibit Solutions recognizes the growing need—and in some cases requirements—of our clients to seek out green marketing ideas, such as eco-friendly manufactured products, in the production of their exhibit materials,” said President Daniel Chaddock. “Our relationship with Eco-Systems is the first step in our goals to partner with eco-friendly manufacturers to offer our clients a variety of quality, green exhibit products.”

Eco-Systems Sustainable Exhibits are built using a variety of materials including rapidly renewable materials, materials derived from recycled content, and recyclable materials with a legitimate after-market application. These include aluminum, bamboo plywood, sorghum board, cork and PET board (created from 100-percent recycled post-consumer soda bottles). Eco-Systems Sustainable Exhibits feature bamboo cabinets, recyclable aluminum extrusion, LED lighting systems, eco-graphics, and recycled plastic shipping cases.

About E&E Exhibit Solutions

Founded in 1995, E&E Exhibit Solutions is a trade show display company that provides complete solutions for exhibits, events and environments. The company specializes in custom portable and modular displays, including large island exhibits and double-deck booths, trade show booth graphics, trade show rentals, display storage, shipping and show-site installation services. For more information, visit www.exhibitsusa.com.

About Eco-Systems

Exhibit Design Consultants, Inc. (the parent of Eco-Systems), established in 1989, is a leading display designer and producer committed to the advancement of sustainable principles. Eco-Systems Sustainable Exhibits won the “Buyer's Choice” Award at EXHIBITOR 2007 and 1st Place “Best of the Best” Award at 2007’s TS2 Show. For more information, visit www.ecosystemsdisplays.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:26 AM | Comments (0)

Automated Rental Management (ARM) Software Announces Integration With ASG Cypress Document Management Solution

Rental management software from BCS ProSoft now integrates directly with leading document management solution from ASG Cypress.

San Antonio, TX (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- BCS ProSoft, a National Partner for Sage Software, and publisher of ARM (Automated Rental Management) for Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 ERP today announced the integration of ARM with ASG Cypress Document Management, an electronic document classification, storage, retrieval, and routing system that operates directly from within ARM.

An informative Webcast is being held to showcase the integration on Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at 12:00 PM CST. To register, visit www.bcsprosoft.com/webcasts.

Integration between the two solutions means that users can electronically store and access all documents related to a rental or sales contract, including the signed contract, invoices and signed delivery/pick-up receipts. Users may elect to save every subsequent version of a customer contract, providing a unique and valuable way to track changes.

"We all have the goal of operating leaner and more efficiently, and ARM and Cypress together helps companies achieve that goal by streamlining the management of the everyday documents they rely on," said Clark Haley, president of BCS ProSoft. "The rental business has always been paper intensive, and this integration allows companies not just to reduce paper, but to efficiently organize, store, and retrieve the vital documents they need to run their rental businesses."

ARM is a full-featured rental management and accounting system that enables rental companies to access timely, accurate financial information and maximize staff productivity. Its development is the culmination of years of experience, and the input and suggestions of rental professionals. ARM builds on the award-winning Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 ERP accounting software for core accounting needs, adding several rental-specific modules and deep rental functionality. ARM is a comprehensive rental solution with features like customizable screens and reporting, graphical delivery/service routes, and periodic equipment maintenance tracking.

Highlights of Cypress Document Management

Expedite search and retrieval by classifying documents by various fields (e.g., vendor number, document type, purchase order number, contract number, check number, etc.)
Retrieve documents instantly with powerful, high-speed search capabilities
E-mail as a PDF attachment or fax retrieved documents instantly
Automatically route in-bound fax documents to the correct recipient
Use electronic notes and stamps to improve document history and facilitate the routing/approval process
Integrate with e-mail applications to alert users of documents awaiting approval or review

About BCS ProSoft, Inc.
BCS/ProSoft, Inc. is a leading, full service provider of business management technology solutions to small and medium sized businesses throughout North America with offices in San Antonio, Denver, Houston, and Phoenix. In business since 1986, and with more than 1,000 successful implementations, BCS ProSoft has gained a tremendous amount of experience, which they leverage in each new project. As a National Partner with Sage, BCS ProSoft is an Industry Leader with a proven reputation. For more information go to www.bcsprosoft.com or call (800) 882-6705.

About ASG
ASG's business is to partner with clients to improve productivity and significantly enhance performance through the intelligent use of technology. Founded in 1986, ASG is a privately held global enterprise software and professional services firm that provides a full range of software solutions in the Metadata Management, Applications Management, Operations Management, Content Management, Performance Management, Security Management, and Infrastructure Management arenas. ASG is headquartered in Naples, Florida, USA, with more than 45 offices serving the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia/Pacific. Inc. magazine recognized ASG as one of the fastest growing companies in the United States, with a three-year growth rate of 394%. Visit ASG on the Web at www.asg.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:25 AM | Comments (0)

Shelf Impact!'s Package Design Workshops Educate Professionals about Trends and Strategies

Summit Publishing Company's package design one-day training sessions offer insight into retail trends, such as private label products and sustainable considerations, and strategies for designers, brand and marketing managers, and package development professionals.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- Summit Publishing Company announces the launch of a new series of workshops focused on package design and produced by the editorial team that created Shelf Impact! digital newsletters. Shelf Impact!'s Package Design Workshops will be held in six cities across the country during the spring and summer of 2008.

The one-day educational programs will cover retail trends in packaging, the latest intelligence on consumer preferences, and a discussion of strategies that designers and brand managers can employ to create packaging that sells. Shelf Impact! Editor in Chief Jim George will facilitate the workshops and believes they'll offer an ideal agenda for package designers. "Our workshops are perfect for the busy professional who may not have the time or resources to attend a multi-day conference. Each workshop offers a hands-on learning environment, where professionals will discover current trends, plus methods for assessing their own package designs, as well as tips for managing the creative process."

Comments Shelf Impact! Publisher and co-presenter Jim Chrzan: "Information about package design continues to be one of the most popular searches on Packworld.com, the companion Website to our flagship magazine, Packaging World. We see this new series as an excellent way for designers, and other professionals involved in package development, to tap into the intelligence we've collected from our contacts within the package design community. Jim is an experienced, sought after speaker who brings a depth of knowledge to his presentation, ensuring top value for workshop attendees."

Online registration for the Shelf Impact!'s Package Design Workshops is open now at http://www.shelfimpact.com/pdw. For additional information, please contact Ms. Jurate Zelba at zelba@packworld.com or 312-222-1010, ext. 135.

About Summit Publishing Company:
Chicago-based Summit Publishing Company is an integrated media publisher offering business information for packaging professionals. Print magazines include flagship monthly Packaging World (www.packworld.com); PACK EXPO Showcase; Healthcare Packaging and Contract Packaging. In addition to packaging e-newsletters, Summit Publishing Company also produces Webcasts and a variety of conferences and workshops for packaging professionals.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:24 AM | Comments (0)

Symbology, Inc. Joins Respected Coupon Industry Group, the Association of Coupon Professionals

As a leading supplier of the new DataBar Coupon Codes and a new easy, accurate data validation system, Symbology has joined the ACP as a new member in this respected coupon oriented association.

Minneapolis, Minnesota (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- With the implementation of the new GS1 DataBar™ Coupon Bar Code beginning January 1, the industry demand for up-to-date coupon code knowledge and technical tools has skyrocketed.

As a leading provider of digital ISO-compliant GS1 DataBar™ code files, as well as the groundbreaking online Coupon ValidatorSM Service, Symbology has become a new member of the foremost coupon industry association, the ACP (Association of Coupon Professionals). The ACP stated mission is: "To provide a forum for industry issues in the development, distribution and redemption of coupons; ensuring their viability as a sales and marketing tool through leadership and education."

Through its participation in workshops, conferences and task forces, Symbology hopes to help shape the development of coupon technologies and expand the reach and function of coupons themselves.

Further information about Symbology, Inc.'s coupon products and services can be found on their web site www.symbology.com . Or contact Customer Service 800.328.2612.

About Us:
Symbology, Incorporated, established in 1980, is a custom manufacturer of sequentially numbered bar code labels. Featured are High Performance security and harsh environment labels as well as library and blood industry product lines. An ISO 9001 certified company, they are also the largest provider of DigiCode® bar code files, and offer a complete line of inspection equipment. Customers around the globe choose Symbology for top quality products, technological expertise, and unsurpassed customer service. Offices are located in Maple Grove, Minnesota. Web address: www.symbology.com.

Inquiries may be directed to Judy Dodson at Symbology, Incorporated, 7351 Kirkwood Lane North, Suite 126, Maple Grove, MN, 55369. Phone 763.315.8056.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:23 AM | Comments (0)

USCCG Elevates Senior Executives to Partners

Ted Buckles to Executive Partner; Joe Politoske to partner.

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- USC Consulting Group, LLC (USCCG) Vice President and Assistant Director of Operations Ted Buckles, 45, has been named an executive partner, and Senior Operations Manager Joseph Politoske, 48, has been named a partner at the operations management consulting firm.

Mr. Buckles began his operations career with USCCG in 1988. After rising through the ranks from project consultant to senior operations manager, he was made a partner in 2005. In his current role, he is responsible for planning, staffing, and managing USCCG's product and service delivery for every client engagement. Mr. Buckles is based in St. Peters, MO.

Mr. Politoske has been with the firm since 1986. He has held progressively more responsible positions, leading quality improvement initiatives across a diverse mix of business sectors ranging from defense and power generation to industrial manufacturing and food processing. He earned a Bachelors degree in business administration from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Politoske resides in Jacksonville, FL.

In announcing these promotions, Senior Partner and Director of Operations Louis E. Schmitt, said, "Ted Buckles and Joe Politoske drive exceptional value for our clients with their experience, initiative, and leadership skills. They are two of the cornerstones of our delivery team."

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 02:21 AM | Comments (0)

Los Angeles Signal Management Manufacturer Untangles the Complexity of AV Access Requirements

ALTINEX, Inc. announced today the success of their under table interconnect AV series -- The Edge (TM).

Brea CA (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- ALTINEX, Inc. announced today the success of their under table interconnect AV series -- The Edge (TM). The Edge UT240 series of products provides unparalleled ease of use and flexibility for connecting laptops to network and video displays. The low-profile, under table design allows easy access to power, AV and network connections without table cutouts.

Key features include:

Elegant, low profile design
Easy access to display, audio, network and power
Table cutouts are not required
Simple to install and use
Available in U.S. and international versions
Multiple configurations (DVI, VGA, computer audio, network and power connections)

"I am excited about the success of The Edge products," states Jack Gershfeld, President and CEO of ALTINEX, Inc. "We designed the UT240 series to be easy to install, use and maintain, and the overwhelming acceptance from professional AV installers further solidifies that we are committed to produce innovative products the AV industry wants," Mr. Gershfeld says in conclusion.

ALTINEX continues to stay ahead of the competition by researching and developing audiovisual products that are innovative, flexible, easy to install and maintain, and are aesthetically pleasing.

"In the past the only way to provide AV connectivity at a conference table or a lectern was to cut the table, and feed the wires, or to have wires laying on the ground." Mr. Gershfeld continues, "With the introduction of The Edge series, there is a better alternative."

About Altinex, Inc.
As a 15 year strong company founded in 1993, ALTINEX, Inc. is the leading manufacturer of modular audiovisual signal management solutions™. They offer a complete line of computer video interfaces, distribution amplifiers, switchers, matrix switchers, special application products, and a large variety of furniture connectivity products. ALTINEX is a privately owned, ISO 9001:2000 certified corporation that conducts all R&D, design, manufacturing, marketing and sales from its corporate headquarters in Brea, California, USA. More information can be found on their website: www.ALTINEX.com, or by contacting them directly at 1.800.ALTINEX.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:18 AM | Comments (0)

Six Common Obstacles to an IC Design Teams Victory

Intense time to revenue pressure demands compression of development cycle time for semiconductor projects, yet many product design teams are not experiencing the triumph in meeting that essential industry expectation. IC design teams are frequently struggling with achieving a victory on their design projects, even though the teams passion, emphasis and focus are on achieving success. In recognition of IC design teams passionate efforts in supporting business cycle time demands, Jorvig Consulting has compiled six common obstacles that teams should consider in the quest for recurring project victories.

Chandler, AZ (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- IC design teams are typically giving projects maximum effort, with the best information and practices available at the time. Nevertheless teams exhibiting great passion and energy are not necessarily destined to meet the business objective for product design cycle times. Certain teams are inherently more productive and consistent than others in meeting timeline commitments to the business.

Jeff Jorvig, President of Jorvig Consulting says, "The differences in team performance are found to be in the practices of the team, how they approach a project." Jorvig continues "Teams that broaden focus beyond tools by including a greater emphasis on process and procedure have been found to attain a higher level of productivity, while more predictably meeting goals." In recognition of IC design teams passionate efforts in supporting business cycle time demands, Jorvig Consulting has compiled six common obstacles that teams should consider in the quest for recurring project victories.

1) Lack of Best Practices - Design team practices are the "how" of a team's path to production release of a product; typically known as "Best Practices" due to a misplaced intention of being the absolute best approaches. Of far more importance than being "best" is that practices are the same across all team members. Everyone on the team performs identical activities, delivers the items in the same format, captures the design the same way, uses the same verification strategies and so on. If the "same" practices are done effectively, no work will ever need to be redone. The level of rework on a project is an excellent litmus test for the quality of team's practices.

2) Lack of Scope Control - Product features change throughout development and they always will. A team must continuously take steps to be in control of any feature or requirement that will change the span of a project. Scope control must also include keeping a watchful eye on the NPD team itself, as they may affect a localized feature change that is driven by risk, testability, cycle time or simply because it's deemed better. Changes may come up on a project and are declared a no-brainer, thus grandfathered into the project scope with minimal fanfare, if any at all. It is rare that a no-brainer change does not end up causing some problem downstream in the project due to lack of proper assessment and communication. On any project it is unusual that a change is ever free.

3) Lack of Requirements Closure Management - Requirements closure can take longer than the design project itself, when not managed well. Even worse, project execution may get kicked off prior to requirements closure due to a sense of urgency, allowing the team to go down a dead end, return and then go down another path or two; wasting precious time and pushing out the product revenue stream. If the shortest possible amount of time is a project objective then an early focus on requirements closure is essential. Capturing schematics, designing layout and running simulations feels like progress, however it's only real progress when it does not need to be redone later.

4) Lack of Design Breakdown Requirements - The chip level requirements must be broken down into engineering requirements at the sub-block level. The design is a system that must formally spawn the lower level block requirements. Lower level engineering requirements include electrical specs, functional specs, verification plans and test plans/modes. Design Guide templates work well as the engineering information containers for the lower level requirements as well as guiding a team through the creation of the essential and agreed upon information for each sub-block.
More about Design Guides

5) Lack of a Plan - Statements such as "it will take about 6 months", or "it is needed in 6 months" do not constitute a plan and will never work for a team that must be consistent and predictable. Plan out how the team will meet the objectives; identify each of the tasks and task owners. Recognize the risks and the risk mitigation strategies. Once this groundwork is completed identify the task lengths and build up the plan in a formal project plan tool. Once the project is entered into a planning tool the what-if tradeoffs should be completed to identify how resource balancing or product de-featuring can improve things. Do the homework and then commit to the plan only when there is a means to get there. The finalized plan becomes the Plan of Record for the project. Change anything about requirements or resources and the plan must be updated to create a new Plan of Record.

6) Lack of Full NPD Team Participation - CAD, TE, PE, packaging, customer, PM, Business Operations and marketing are all part of the New Product Development team and must be assigned at project kickoff. Don't pull the product and test people into the project a month before tapeout; engage them at the project start for essential input on design requirements for test and production worthiness. Without early project engagement of test and product members the project is likely to have a silicon spin purely to support production issues; again several months delay and lost revenue. Include a program manager that knows the design process and can manage the design related details, asking the tough questions. Queries that will pull the design team into the planning process. Also include CAD/CAE/DA resources as part of the project from the project launch. If there are weaknesses in the tool flow, fixes must be a part of the project and they must be tracked just like any other project task.

About Jorvig Consulting, Inc.:
Jorvig Consulting provides consulting and coaching services that target compression of time to revenue for New Product Development efforts. The solutions jointly developed with our clients enable NPD teams to experience a newfound freedom from surprises during project execution, thus compressing time to revenue via productive and predictable project execution. http://www.jorvigconsulting.com

Contact Information:
Jeff Jorvig
480-895-0478

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:16 AM | Comments (0)

USCCG Elevates Senior Executives to Partners

Ted Buckles to Executive Partner; Joe Politoske to partner.

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- USC Consulting Group, LLC (USCCG) Vice President and Assistant Director of Operations Ted Buckles, 45, has been named an executive partner, and Senior Operations Manager Joseph Politoske, 48, has been named a partner at the operations management consulting firm.

Mr. Buckles began his operations career with USCCG in 1988. After rising through the ranks from project consultant to senior operations manager, he was made a partner in 2005. In his current role, he is responsible for planning, staffing, and managing USCCG's product and service delivery for every client engagement. Mr. Buckles is based in St. Peters, MO.

Mr. Politoske has been with the firm since 1986. He has held progressively more responsible positions, leading quality improvement initiatives across a diverse mix of business sectors ranging from defense and power generation to industrial manufacturing and food processing. He earned a Bachelors degree in business administration from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Politoske resides in Jacksonville, FL.

In announcing these promotions, Senior Partner and Director of Operations Louis E. Schmitt, said, "Ted Buckles and Joe Politoske drive exceptional value for our clients with their experience, initiative, and leadership skills. They are two of the cornerstones of our delivery team."

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 02:16 AM | Comments (0)

New Workshops on Best Practices in Distribution Center Design, Operations and Management to Be Held in April in Dallas, Chicago

First Set of these Interactive, Hands-On Events will be Led by Logistics Guru Ken Miesemer, Sponsored by Supply Chain Digest

Dayton, OH (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- Supply Chain Digest, the supply chain and logistics industry's most informative online publication and web site, announced this week that it is launching a new event in its Professional Education Series focused on improving distribution center management. Ken Miesemer, Senior Consultant at St. Onge and former Director of Distribution and International Logistics for Hershey Foods, will lead these two events on "Best Practices in Distribution Center Design, Operations and Management" in Dallas April 8-9 and Chicago April 15-16, 2008.

These hands-on, practical training sessions are a lot more than just outstanding education. They will offer a dynamic, interactive experience that will challenge the attendees' thinking and enable them to interact with their professional peers and the instructor throughout the events. The course and materials include a number of tools and templates for use in distribution analysis and decision-making that are worth the cost of the course by themselves -- and which attendees can put to work right away in their operations. There is nothing else quite like these Workshops available in the logistics and distribution industry today.

Notes Miesemer, author of the acclaimed book Start-Up of a World Class DC, "These Workshops use outstanding materials that have been extremely well received by logistic professionals, and deliver concepts and insight that aren't just theory but which have been proven in real-world distribution environments."

Says Dan Gilmore, Supply Chain Digest's Editor-in-Chief, "I am confident attendees to these Workshops will find this a unique and highly valuable experience that will enable them to better meet the tremendous challenges of today's logistics and distribution environment."

"Best Practices in Distribution Center Design, Operations and Management" will be held in Dallas April 8-9 at the Doubletree Galleria, and near Chicago April 15-16, 2008 at the conference center at Northern Illinois University Hoffman Estates. Hotel accommodations are available for those that need them.

For more information, including a detailed course outline, conference venue and hotel information, fees and how to register, visit: http://www.scdigest.com/DC_seminars.php.

About Supply Chain Digest
Supply Chain Digest™ is the industry's premier interactive knowledge source, providing timely, relevant, in-context information. Reaching tens of thousands of supply chain and logistics decision-makers each week, our flagship publications -- Supply Chain Digest and SCDigest On-Target -- and web site (http://www.scdigest.com) deliver news, opinions and information to help end users improve supply chain processes and find technology solutions.

About Ken Meisemer
Ken Miesemer is a senior consultant at St. Onge, former Director of Distribution for Hershey Foods, and author of the acclaimed book, Start-up of a World Class DC: A Roadmap to Success. He also sits on the Board of Directors of the Warehouse Education and Research Council as President.

About St. Onge Company
St. Onge is a world renowned supply chain and engineering consulting firm. Established in 1983, its core disciplines include supply chain network and inventory strategy and optimization, world class distribution center design, lean six sigma manufacturing facility design, supply chain execution systems consulting, 3PL strategy development and provider selection, and a range of other operational support services including simulation and workforce training. St Onge has executed over 3,000 projects for a prestigious list of more that 500 corporations, spanning six continents. http://www.stonge.com

For more information, contact Supply Chain Digest at:
937-350-7915
http://www.scdigest.com
email: info@scdigest.com
Contact Information
Connie Venema
cvenema@scdigest.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:14 AM | Comments (0)

Homax Group Case Study Shows Applying a Reliable Master Data Management (MDM) Strategy Can Rescue Your Company From The Perils of Low-Quality Product Data

Xtalks.com and TIE Commerce are hosting, on March 11th, 2008 from 1:00-2:00pm EST a complimentary webinar aimed directly to organizational Supply Chain leaders. Titled "Making Your Supply Chain Virtual", this event will expose the TIE Commerce's case study on Implementing Data Synchronization at Homax Group. Dick Raman, CEO - TIE Commerce and Ray Mazur, Vice President, IT - Homax Group discuss and moderate this event live on Xtalks.com/virtualsupplychain.ashx .

Toronto, Canada (PRWEB) February 10, 2008 -- Xtalks.com and TIE Commerce are hosting, on March 11th, 2008 from 1:00-2:00pm EST a complimentary webinar aimed directly to organizational Supply Chain leaders. Titled "Making Your Supply Chain Virtual", this event will expose the TIE Commerce's case study on Implementing Data Synchronization at Homax Group. Dick Raman, CEO - TIE Commerce and Ray Mazur, Vice President, IT - Homax Group discuss and moderate this event live on www.Xtalks.com/virtualsupplychain.ashx .

Master Data Management has become the most important activity for any company that wants to optimize their relationships with their partners in the supply chain. Creating your 'single source of truth' with all your address and product information is the prerequisite to doing business electronically. The global eBusiness standards development organization UN/CEFACT explained how Master Data Management (MDM) is the key to simplifying transactions in the supply chain and will help companies in making their Supply Chain Virtual.

Case Study:
Implementing Data Synchronization at Homax Group.
In this webinar learn how applying a reliable Master Data Management (MDM) strategy can rescue your company from the perils of low-quality product data. With Master Data Management you can:

Achieve internal and external product information alignment
Eliminate many inefficient and costly product data errors
Speed time to market and merchandising for new products
Ease logistics headaches while freeing valuable resources
Meet quality standards and Data Synchronization demands

This program is intended for:
Supply Chain Professionals
Professionals in jobs relating to Information Technology, Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), Bar Codes, Data Synchronization, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Compliance, Supply Chain Management, Customer Relations, Sales, Marketing, Logistics, Operations, Inventory Control, Packaging, Product Management, Business Analysts.

Register Here: www.Xtalks.com/virtualsupplychain.ashx

About TIE Commerce
TIE Commerce is a leading provider of B2B eCommerce software that bridges the gap between online and traditional business, enabling companies of all sizes to automate the exchange of business information electronically. TIE Commerce delivers TIE Kinetixä, a powerful electronic framework for business collaboration with software solutions for business-to-business integration, master data management, supply chain collaboration, digital channel communications, financial reporting and analytics. With over two decades of experience in electronic commerce, TIE Commerce today remains a key contributor to the development and implementation of global eBusiness standards. TIE Commerce corporate office is in Burlington, Mass. with additional offices in St. Paul, MN, the Netherlands and France.

About Xtalks.com
Xtalks brings industry experts to executives' desktops around the world in a web-based information network that provides insight into breaking business issues through interactive digital web conferences. Xtalks web conferences allow anyone with interest in a particular topic to participate in a web meeting by synchronizing their desktop computer and phone alongside industry experts. Xtalks is part of The Honeycomb Worldwide Group of Companies.

Honeycomb Worldwide creates peer-to-peer business-oriented social networking communities, connecting senior level executives by delivering content through new and established media channels. www.honeycombworldwide.com

Join Xtalks to reduce your carbon footprint.

For more information on this conference or Xtalks in general, or to enquire about speaking opportunities or sponsoring future events, visit www.Xtalks.com or contact Caullyn D. Godfrey at 416-977-6555 x 374.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:13 AM | Comments (0)

American Tire Corporation Decides Not to Increase OTR Tire Price

U.S. Department of Commerce will collect anti-dumping customs duties against Chinese OTR tires. ATC and all other US tire manufacturers will benefit from these measures. US OTR tire users will experience even more acute supply shortages than 2007. While other US tire manufacturers have increased or are planning to increase their prices from the beginning of 2008, American Tire Corporation (ATC) has decided to maintain its OTR tire prices at current levels.

Chino, California (PRWEB) February 10, 2008 -- American Tire Corporation (ATC) has decided to maintain its OTR tire prices at current levels while other US tire manufacturers have increased or are planning to increase their prices from the beginning of 2008.

ATC expresses its support of the announcement of the U.S. Department of Commerce that it will collect anti-dumping customs duties against Chinese OTR tires. ATC and all the US tire manufacturers will benefit from these measures.

Meanwhile, due to the recent rapid changes of the exchange rate between the Chinese currency and US dollars, the actual costs of Chinese OTR tires have increased dramatically. This increased tire cost is not justified by the performance of most to Chinese OTR tires. Accordingly, Chinese OTR tires are becoming increasingly non-competitive - not only in the USA, but also throughout the world.

It is foreseeable that Chinese OTR tires will lose market, sooner or later, in the USA as US OTR tire dealers and users will veer away from most Chinese OTR tires, which had flooded the market in 2007 and before.

As a consequence of the above-mentioned factors and limited tire availability in the US market, the following will most likely occur:
1. Increasing numbers of Chinese companies will have stopped OTR tire production and try to sell their production lines (equipment). They will exit the OTR tire business permanently.
2. Most US OTR tire manufacturers will increase their price by a large percentage and will definitely continue to increase prices in the near future to take advantage of the decreased competitiveness of Chinese tires.
3. US OTR tire users will experience even more acute supply shortages than 2007.

As a response to the above changes, ATC, a reliable US OTR tire manufacturer, is doing something different from others - no price increase will take place this year.

Meanwhile, ATC is working to ensure it maintains sufficient supplies and on-time deliveries as usual. It is also working to reduce its manufacturing cost by improving its tire's design, construction and performance to keep its OTR tires more competitive than ever before. In addition, ATC also provides users onsite engineering service, free of charge, to help users attain maximum performance and usage from their tires.

With its stated objective to become the largest and best manufacturer for 63" and 57" tires, American Tire Corporation is a well-established US OTR tire manufacturer which has had several "firsts" in the OTR tire industry. For more information, please check its website http://www.americantire.us.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:12 AM | Comments (0)

Get Ready for Spring with a New Selection of Dump Trailers, Equipment Trailers And Landscape Trailers at All Pro West

All Pro's new 2008 Model Dump, Equipment and Landscape Trailers have now arrived at their Trailer Superstore located in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

Mechanicsburg, PA (PRWEB) February 9, 2008 -- All Pro Trailer Superstore offers a broad range of trailers for sale to fit everyone's vehicle and budget. With their new spring line of dump trailers, equipment trailers and landscape trailers just in, All Pro is gearing up for season and offering pre-spring discount pricing on trailers and trailer financing with deferred payments until Spring 2008.

All Pro carries a full line of Cam Superline and Diamond C equipment trailers, gooseneck equipment trailers and heavy duty construction trailers for sale ranging from deck between and deck over trailers to deck between styles including full-tilt and split-tilt equipment trailers.

Hydraulic dump trailers are available in light duty and heavy duty capacities and include low profile, heavy duty, gooseneck and deck over dump trailers by Cam Superline and light duty 5 x 8 to 6 x 12 dump trailers by Tilman.

All Pro stocks a variety of trailers in different colors than the usual black, white or silver. "Our customers enjoy having a selection of trailers to choose from in colors such as Kubota Orange, Ford Blue, CAT Yellow, International Red and many more." remarks Ty Wagner, General Manager for All Pro "The Cam Superline Kubota Orange and Ford Blue equipment and dump trailers are very impressive and certainly make a statement rolling down the road."

If your in the market for a multi-use landscape utility trailer, All Pro also stocks a variety of Diamond C utility trailers and Carry-On landscaping trailers for sale with options such as high sides, split gate functions and their best selling multi-functional ATV utility trailers with bi-fold rear and side ramps at affordable prices. Diamond C landscape utility trailers are a more heavy duty type trailer available with bi-fold, mesh or steel ramps, rear and side gates and come in a variety of colors with their trademark "Texas Flare."

"We also offer a full line of aluminum utility trailers with removable sides, aluminum ramps, aluminum rails and floors or pressure treated wood decking." states Wagner "As well as galvanized tilt utility trailers and ATV utility carts."

All Pro Trailer Superstore stocks a full line of trailer accessories for open and enclosed trailers. "With our Rack'Em trailer organizing rack systems, your trailer can become the safe, clean organized space it should be." replies Wagner "We can customize your landscape, dump or equipment trailer with trailer tongue boxes, floor tie down systems, trailer jacks and spare tires while you wait or trailer delivery is available right to your home or business."

To find out more about All Pro West you can visit them online at www.allprowest.com or call 800-622-7003 for more information on Pre-Spring Pricing or Trailer Financing on all Landscape, Equipment and Dump Trailers at their Trailer Superstore.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:11 AM | Comments (0)

Gazillion Bubble BBQ iParenting Award Winner

Funrise Toy Corporation is proud to announce that the Gazillion™ Bubble BBQ has been honored as a recipient of an iParenting Media Award!

Van Nuys, CA (PRWEB) February 9, 2008 -- Funrise Toy Corporation is proud to announce that our Gazillion™ Bubble BBQ has been honored as a recipient of an iParenting Media Award! This award reinforces our commitment to creating the best and most respected bubble brand on the market today, the One and Only, Gazillion Bubbles. The Gazillion Bubble BBQ is a portable bubble barbeque that comes with all the necessary grilling accessories so you can grill up bubble fun anytime and become the ultimate bubble chef!

Funrise has elevated the world of bubbles with The One and Only, Gazillion® Bubbles - a line of bubble toys bursting with a one-of-a-kind bubble solution and great bubble blowing accessories. Bubbling over with success, Gazillion Bubbles is a 'top secret' solution that enables the bubbles to float higher, longer and reflect light around them. The result? Gazillions of colorful bubbles - more bubbles than any other solution on the market - and kids just can't get enough of them. Every bottle of Gazillion Bubbles solution provides hours of enchanting, colorful bubble play! Kids love blowing Gazillion Bubbles and parents do too since the non-toxic bubble solution doesn't stain their clothing or the furniture.

About Funrise
Founded in 1987, Funrise (www.funrise.com) is an adventurous innovator of superior toys and an industry leader in the manufacturing and distribution of the most popular children's toys. Simply put…we create fun! Funrise's core property portfolio includes Gazillion® Bubbles, ZOOOOS™, Nylint®, HEADBANGERS™, Home Arcade, Tub Town®, Play 'n Pretty® and Shelcore® with leading licensed power brands such as Tonka®, Disney©, Sesame Street©, Marvel©, NASCAR© and more, making our product offerings diverse and full of fun for kids of all ages! Funrise Toy Corporation is owned by Matrix Holdings Limited. Funrise U.S. headquarters are located in Van Nuys, CA, with offices in Hong Kong, United Kingdom, and France and with additional showrooms in New York City and Bentonville, AR. Funrise is operated by Arnie Rubin, vice chairman of Matrix and president of Funrise who also serves as Chairman of the Toy Industry Foundation (T.I.F.) and past Chair of the Toy Industry Association (T.I.A.). Funrise's success results from its commitment to quality manufacturing, progressive marketing and a values-based corporate culture.

Visit us at NY Toy Fair - Booth 1545

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:10 AM | Comments (0)

Connecticut Spring and Stamping Website Redesign

The new website of Connecticut Spring and Stamping is part of an overall marketing campaign to provide a striking new look for the business; with the ultimate goal of enhancing the processes from ordering through delivery.

Farmington, CT (PRWEB) February 9, 2008 -- Connecticut Spring and Stamping (CSS) is proud to announce the re-design and re-launch of their website, http://www.ctspringandstamping.com.

The new website is part of an overall marketing campaign to provide a striking new look for the business. An extensive collection of on line product photography helps paint the picture of their technical capability to produce a wide variety of custom precision springs and stampings. The website provides an online and print option to request a quote and request information. With this information or a phone call the Connecticut Spring and Stamping sales support team can gather information and provide a fast turn around.

Connecticut Spring and Stamping focuses on providing extensive engineering support to their customers during product design and development. The engineering team designs and builds all types of short run or high speed progressive tools to support production from prototyping through short run requirements to mature high volume parts.

Connecticut Spring and Stamping has been a family owned business since 1939. The company was one of the first ISO certified spring manufacturers in 1993. CSS has also focused on lean initiatives since that time. A devoted senior management level position, Director of Lean, works with all product line managers to achieve continual savings and eliminate waste. The 150,000 square foot manufacturing facility in the United States currently ships products world wide with a focus on the Medical, Aerospace, Firearms & Defense industries. Allied with Chinese manufacturing capability and warehousing in Puerto Rico, Singapore and Mexico, just in time options are available for all scheduled inventory shipments.

The management team has continually grown the business by developing new technologies and services as client requirements change. This focus and devotion to solving engineering challenges with their customers has led to their continued success.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:09 AM | Comments (0)

Ansell "U Challenge" Interactive Safety Game Educates, Entertains

Hardcore gaming enthusiasts and amateurs alike will want to take the Ansell U Challenge, an interactive cut protection selection game available to play for free at www.ansellu.com. During the month of February, safety industry professionals who register and play the Ansell U Challenge online are eligible to win a free Nintendo® Wii* gaming system in March.

Red Bank, NJ (PRWEB) February 8, 2008 -- Hardcore gaming enthusiasts and amateurs alike will want to take the Ansell U Challenge, an interactive cut protection selection game available to play for free at AnsellU.com During the month of February, safety industry professionals who register and play the Ansell U Challenge online are eligible to win a free Nintendo® Wii* gaming system in March.

U Challenge advances players through an automotive plant scenario where the user must select a glove and then see how many pieces of metal the virtual worker can stamp without experiencing an injury. Players may select from a variety of gloves and have the option to use bare hands. Each glove option is accompanied by cut protection levels and ratings indicating dexterity, abrasion and puncture resistance, and dry and oil grip.

"The U Challenge employs the hottest gaming technology to help players understand the importance of selecting the proper cut protection for every situation," said Keitha Kessler, Marketing Manager, Ergo Products. "Players will find the game challenging and interesting as they work through the scenario."

Ansell introduced the U Challenge during the National Safety Congress & Expo (NSC) in Chicago in October 2007, with hundreds trying their hand at achieving the top score and vying to win a Wii* gaming system.

"While we want players to enjoy the U Challenge, we also want them to realize the serious threat posed by cut hazards," Kessler said. "It's a great way to underscore how selecting the right gloves can contribute to worker productivity."

In addition to launching the U Challenge game at NSC, Ansell recently introduced three new innovative hand protection products, including Vantage® glove series with Ansell Cut Protection Technology, HyFlex® 11-920 gloves for optimal control in slippery situations, and HyFlex 11-624 gloves for exceptional comfort and ANSI Level 2 cut protection.

For more information about Ansell's line of protective gloves and apparel, visit Ansell online or call Customer Service at 800.800.0444.

About Ansell:
Celebrating more than 100 years, Ansell Limited has long been recognized for the innovations and leadership it has provided the hand protection and safety apparel industry. Besides high quality products, the company offers a comprehensive business solutions approach to help manufacturers achieve their cost reduction mandates. Ansell personal protective clothing (PPC) specialists work directly with corporate and plant representatives to develop highly effective programs with quantifiable results.

With its regional headquarters for its operations in the Americas located in Red Bank, New Jersey and with operations in Canada, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Australia, Ansell serves a wide range of industries, including chemical manufacturing and refining, automotive, food processing, general industrial, pharmaceutical, paper, white goods, semiconductor and electronics manufacturing, and primary metals.

Vantage® and HyFlex® are registered trademarks owned by Ansell Limited, or one of its affiliates. ©2007 Ansell Limited All Rights Reserved.

Nintendo® and Nintendo® Wii are trademarks owned by Nintendo Co., Ltd. based in Kyoto, Japan. Reference to such in connection with this contest does not imply any endorsement or sponsorship.

For more information, contact:
Lara Kretler
Fahlgren Mortine Public Relations for Ansell
614.825.1762

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

Who Will Be Left Holding the Bag -- Green Living Web Site Calls Out Major U.S. Super Markets

GreenEggsandPlanet.com generates e-petition for national distribution, demanding that all major U.S. super markets take an environmental stand and abolish the use of all disposable plastic grocery bags.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) February 8, 2008 -- GreenEggsandPlanet.com, a blog about green living, has initiated a challenge for all U.S. grocery retailers to take responsibility in their respective communities and to help protect the welfare of the planet. The source is a nationally distributed e-petition to eliminate the use of all disposable plastic grocery bags.

"Despite efforts to reuse and recycle, studies have shown that plastic bags are consistently among the twelve items of debris most often found in coastal countries," said Matty Byloos, co-founder of GreenEggsandPlanet.com. "Although re-using plastic bags is a vital contribution and recycling should be mandatory, the reality is that only a miniscule amount of plastic bags actually gets recycled in comparison to how many get created each year, never to fully break down in the landfills into which they are discarded."

The impetus for the e-petition stems from a Jan. 22 announcement by Whole Foods, the global leader in the natural and organic foods market space to permanently end the use of all plastic disposable grocery store bags. This decision affects 270 stores and is set for completion by April 22.

"We don't believe it should only be the province of the environmentally aware, eco-friendly 'organic' or 'health' food store," Byloos said. "Those of us who have awoken to the reality of the planet's state, rather unfortunately, still represent only a growing minority."

Whole Foods estimates that from May to Dec., they will be preventing 100 million disposable plastic bags from entering the environment.

"The goal is to confront all other CEOs of major grocery store chains with this evidence, and with our voices -- a demand for change and a new collective policy toward the environment," said Byloos.

According to Byloos, Green Eggs and Planet will be collecting signatures online for the e-petition in an ongoing campaign set to last "only as long as is necessary." Those who sign the e-petition also have the option to paste the link into emails and then pass it onto friends.

Upon receiving a significant amount of signatures (ideally numbering in the thousands), Green Eggs and Planet plans to take their results to all major U.S. grocery store CEOs and leadership in formal, open letters to be sent directly to corporate headquarters, as well as published in GreenEggsandPlanet.com.

Byloos referred to the e-petition as not so much a 'public shaming' as a call for complete transparency and immediate action. The site will chart the campaign's progress online at www.greeneggsandplanet.com/blog/issues/petition-signing-eliminate-plastic-grocery-store-bags/

For more information or to sign the e-petition, visit www.ipetitions.com/petition/eliminate_plasticbags/index.html or contact Byloos directly at 310.706.6909.

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

Updated YieldPlus™ Debone/Trim Management System Improves Poultry Yield, Throughput and Quality

The YieldPlus™ Debone/Trim Management System from Gainco helps poultry processors get “more out of their meat” and deliver additional profits to the bottom line.

Gainesville, Ga. (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 8, 2008 -- The updated YieldPlus™ Debone/Trim Management System from Gainco helps poultry processors get “more out of their meat” and deliver additional profits to the bottom line. Poultry processors can significantly reduce their labor requirements in dark meat deboning and breast trimming operations, while also achieving measurable improvements in portion control consistency, product yields, throughput and quality.

For example, with the YieldPlus™ system, users typically can achieve up to 3% or more in improved boneless dark meat yields, giving processors a very rapid return on their investment.

YieldPlus™ brings together advanced product distribution and data collection systems from Gainco with the yield improving and labor-saving technologies of Bettcher Industries’ Whizard® Series II Trimmers and AirShirz® air-powered scissors. Incoming product is automatically weighed and distributed to each operator for further processing (dark meat deboning, fillets, tenders or nuggets) and tracked by individual operator station, thereby allowing poultry processors to hold their employees accountable for individual performance in the areas of yield, portion control consistency, quality and productivity. Robust and precision system controls mean that batch integrity and proper operator accountability is maintained throughout the entire process, with results posted for each workstation in real time.

The YieldPlus™ system allows for maximum flexibility as well as consistency in processing products to varying specs (e.g., size, shape and weight), while the user-friendly interface makes pre-programming of orders and QC activities easier than ever. With the YieldPlus™ system in place on the processing floor, meat quality is improved by eliminating the incidence of bone fragments or cartilage at the system’s built-in quality control stations.

For breast trimming and portioning applications, the YieldPlus™ system incorporates Gainco’s rugged DuraWeigh® bench scales featuring IP69K-rated Gainco Infiniti™ weight indicators for the ultimate in protection from harsh chemical washdowns, water ingress and condensation. The system’s ingenious open-frame construction eliminates water puddling and guards against corrosion and the buildup of bacteria, thereby enhancing food product safety.

In addition to its precision-weighing capabilities, the YieldPlus™ system delivers information reports and summaries instantly, including highly valuable comparative reporting per operator station – perfect for operator supervision, training and incentive pay programs. Data generation has never been faster or easier, and all data can be archived for historical tracking and analysis. The system is also network-interface capable for remote access and monitoring. RF transmission of data eliminates hard-wiring requirements, thereby allowing for flexible set-up and preservation of the integrity of the system’s “smart” operating elements.

The modular design of the YieldPlus™ Debone/Trim Management System allows Gainco to meet the individual needs of different processors. For example, the system can be constructed with single or dual-sided operator stations – all the way up to 28 operator stations per system.

For more information on the YieldPlus™ Debone/Trim Management System, including viewing short video clips of key system operations, visit www.GaincoYieldPlus.com. You may also contact Russ Williams at (770) 534-0703.

YieldPlus™ systems are engineered and manufactured by Gainco, Inc., a leading supplier of weighing, sizing, sorting and distribution systems for the meat, poultry and seafood processing industries. Gainco offers design engineering, equipment manufacturing and systems delivery/installation for poultry processing facilities nationwide and outside the U.S. It also offers comprehensive service contracts through its Blue Ribbon Service unit.

Gainco is a subsidiary of Bettcher Industries, Inc.

Contact Information:
Russ Williams
770-534-0703
russwilliams @ gainco.com

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

LenSec IP Video Surveillance Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary with Historic Sales Growth

IP Video Surveillance Leader LenSec Achieves Record 2007 Sales Year, Maintains High Expectations for 2008 and Beyond as Company Celebrates 10th Anniversary

HOUSTON (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) February 8, 2008 -- LenSec, the leading provider of IP-based video surveillance solutions to cities, school districts, and universities, is pleased to announce that 2007 has been recorded as the company's best sales year ever as they celebrate their ten year anniversary in 2008.

“We're thrilled to mark our 10 year anniversary in 2008 by concluding 2007 with unprecedented growth in both revenue and in our customer base,” said Keith Drummond, LenSec Chief Executive Officer. “This is the direct result of our focus on innovation, reputation for great customer service, and the immense talent we retain at LenSec. On this special year for LenSec, we would like to express our sincere appreciation to our customers, staff, suppliers and stakeholders for their continuing support as partners in our growth. We are convinced the next 10 years should be the best years ever for LenSec."

LenSec has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1998. Today, LenSec is nationally recognized for its tailored solutions and customer service excellence. In fact, much of LenSec's business is derived from highly satisfied customer referrals. And as IP-based video surveillance systems continue to take precedence over analog CCTV systems, LenSec expects to enjoy continuous and substantial year-over-year growth.

According to Donna Kraker, Vice President of Service, “We're more excited than ever about the opportunities ahead. With our 10-year heritage of delivering highly innovative and custom-fit solutions, we're in a great position to provide our existing and future customers with the IP video surveillance products and services they need to achieve their vision for a more safe and secure environment.”

About LenSec

LenSec is a premier provider of IP-based video surveillance solutions to local government and educational institutions across the United States. With over 3,000 installations in 30 states nationwide, LenSec offers complete turnkey surveillance solutions to manage personnel and facilities at any location by integrating cameras, access control and other security and operational applications. For more information on LenSec's IP-based video surveillance solutions, visit www.lensec.com.

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

Ash Stevens, INC. Invests In Riverview Facility

ASI installed a new Bruker Biospin 400 MHz Avance III nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) instrument as well as a third Rosenmund filter-dryer. The NMR will enable the company's chemists to rapidly obtain detailed analytical and structural information. The filter-dryer will be equipped with glove-box technology for handling potent and air sensitive cGMP APIs in a contained environment.

Detroit, MI (PRWEB) February 8, 2008 -- Ash Stevens Inc.™ (ASI), a developer of high quality, small-molecule Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), upgraded its Riverview, Mich. manufacturing facility with new state-of-the-art equipment.

ASI installed a new Bruker Biospin 400 MHz Avance III nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) instrument. Equipped with a dual proton/carbon-13 probe, the NMR will enable the company's chemists to rapidly obtain detailed analytical and structural information. In addition, ASI will place its third Rosenmund filter-dryer online in 2008. The filter-dryer will be equipped with glove-box technology for handling potent and air sensitive cGMP APIs in a contained environment.

"These investments in our Riverview facility will help us maintain our high standards and satisfy increasingly robust manufacturing demand," said Dr. Stephen Munk, President and CEO, ASI. "With more than 45 years of experience and 11 FDA approvals to manufacture innovator APIs, Ash Stevens has earned a reputation as the premier provider of quality contract pharmaceutical manufacturing services for specialized APIs."

Headquartered in Detroit, Ash Stevens was founded in 1962 to service the chemical research needs of the federal government. The company has since expanded in scope, becoming a leading chemical research organization and provider of specialized APIs to both the federal government and the commercial pharmaceutical industry. Today, ASI has expertise in high potency compounds and holds a variety of patents in medicinal and process chemistry. The company maintains research laboratories in Detroit and a state-of-the art, cGMP compliant manufacturing plant in Riverview, Mich. with total reactor capacity of 1,500 gallons.

About Ash Stevens, Inc.
Headquartered in Detroit, Ash Stevens, Inc. (ASI) was founded in 1962 to service the chemical research needs of the Federal Government. ASI has a total of 11 FDA approved drug substances in its portfolio. The company has more than 50 employees and holds patents in both medicinal and process chemistry. For more information, visit www.ashstevens.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:03 AM | Comments (0)

New Book Lead Like a Pirate! is a Big Hit with Big Business

Organizations of all sizes, including some of the world's biggest, have found an exciting new training resource in the old world saga of tall ships and tall tales that make up Christopher Novak's buccaneer book, Lead Like a Pirate!

(PRWEB) February 8, 2008 -- One of the most advanced corporations in the world is turning the clock back a few hundred years to share professional development secrets from the golden age of pirates with its modern-day leadership team. Boeing, the world's leading aerospace company, recently bought more than 500 copies of Christopher Novak's new book, Lead Like a Pirate!, joining a rapidly growing list of organizations that are embracing this creative twist on professional development.

Novak is a former human resources executive at Cornell University, the author of three books and a professional speaker (www.ConqueringAdversity-speaker.com) whose signature keynote, "Conquering Adversity", has inspired thousands.

Lead Like a Pirate! is a definite winner with a wide range of organizations including the Tulsa School District, Safeway, J&J, Bridgestone Firestone, The Computer Merchant, Siemens Power Generation, Hawaii Carpenters Union, Outback Steakhouse, Taco Bell, Seton Medical Center, government agencies and non-profit organizations; all of whom set sail with Novak's new book.

Since its November release by Dallas-based Cornerstone Leadership Institute (www.CornerStoneLeadership.com), the fictitious Captain Tiger Eye Taylor and the Crew of the Ebony Ghost have become professional development staples for many teams as business leaders look for innovative approaches to train frontline supervisors and managers. Who said learning had to be boring? Pirates are popular and that immediately makes the book appealing to employees.

Indeed, readers discover something very different from traditional business books in this 88-page, quick-read paperback. Novak cleverly disguised classic team leadership principles inside a series of fast-paced, illustrated buccaneer adventures that capture the attention of even the most stoic landlubbers. With its tall ships and tall tales, Lead Like a Pirate! is a learning instrument that people actually enjoy and that alone makes it unique in the world of professional development.

"Lead Like a Pirate! is not entertainment," the author says. "It's themed-learning which means I take relevant professional skills that leaders needs to master and present them in a setting where learning those skills is almost an unconscious result of being drawn into the storyline." Individually, a reader can sharpen their leadership skills with this book but its most significant impact is as a catalyst for groups or teams to discuss key leadership characteristics and techniques.

Novak was asked recently in a 30 minute interview on Canadian radio's, Holder Tonight, with host, Peter Anthony Holder, which airs in Montreal and Toronto, whether this was a book for leaders or followers. Novak replied that it's a book for both, noting the entire team, in fact the entire organization, can benefit from the book's key learning points.

With a hint of old English and a thread of historical truth, the book shares Tiger Eye's 5 Secrets of turning diversity into strength, speed into advantage and heart into leadership. His 5 Secrets -- the Captain, the Crew, the Mission, the Strategy and the Treasure -- are revealed through a series of illustrated high seas adventures. Each adventure ends with a challenge to evaluate a specific situation and select the best course of action from among several options. Doubloons are awarded based on the appropriateness of the answer. The last chapters examine the choices offered in each dilemma and explain the rationale for each preferred answer. Also included are concrete suggestions on how to apply the book's key learning points within the workplace.

Lead Like a Pirate! is the kind of book that business leaders are drawn to because it respects their time while sharpening their skills. "Leaders today, especially frontline supervisors and managers, don't have time to read lengthy, academic-style dissertations on leadership theory," Novak says. "But these leaders will make time for common sense professional development that is creative, quick and meaningful. That's why this book is so exciting."

So while Boeing may be one of the latest corporations to set sail with Captain Tiger Eye Taylor, they certainly will not be the last. Expect to hear more about Lead Like a Pirate! as companies make it part of their leadership development strategy.

Lead Like a Pirate! ($14.95 +s/h) is available online from the publisher at www.CornerstoneLeadership.com, or 888-789-5323; which also offers a do-it-yourself, downloadable training package for the buccaneer book complete with Power Point™ slides and a Facilitator's Guide. The author also offers live webinars on Lead Like a Pirate through My Place to Learn (www.CornerstoneLeadershipOnline.com) with the next one scheduled for February 21st.

About Christopher Novak
Christopher Novak is the author of Conquering Adversity (Cornerstone Leadership Institute; 2004; $14.95), and 4 Circles of Good Business (Core Concepts Inc.; 2006; $12.95). Both are available online at www.Amazon.com.

A highly sought-after keynote speaker for conferences, retreats and special events, Novak has inspired thousands of professionals with his high impact "Conquering Adversity" message. His speaking invitations include national and regional appearances for organizations like SHRM, CUPA-HR, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Florida Hospital Association, Colgate University and many more. In 2001, Novak, a former director of human resources at Cornell University, started, The Summit Team (www.Summit-Team.com), specializing in leadership training and executive coaching. His clients include Syracuse University, Ithaca College, Lane Construction, Hess Corporation and Galaxy Communications.

For information on the author or his services, visit www.ConqueringAdversity-speaker.com, call their office at (315) 673-1323 or email them at info @ summit-team.com.

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

Marotta Controls on Newly Commissioned USS Dewey, DDG 105

Marotta Controls is proud to announce that its valves and manifolds have been designed into various systems on the newly commissioned USS Dewey, the newest of the Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers.

(PRWEB) February 8, 2008 -- Marotta Controls is proud to announce that its valves and manifolds have been designed into various systems on the newly commissioned USS Dewey, the newest of the Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers.

Marotta's relief valves, manifolds, quick closing valves and solenoid valves serve in various systems throughout the Dewey, from low-pressure pneumatic systems, gas turbine fuel supply, water deluge tank pressurization for the vertical launch system and chilled water systems for electronics cooling, to mission-critical combat systems.

This new destroyer, named in honor of Admiral George Dewey who commanded the Asiatic Station, will serve a vital role in the defense of the American people. Deployed around the globe in support of U.S. interests and commitments, Dewey will be able to conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power protection. Dewey will be capable of fighting air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously and contains a myriad of offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense.

"For more than 60 years we have contributed to every surface combatant and submarine in our nation's fleet, building trust and credibility by providing a broad array of the highest quality products," said Michael Leahan, VP and Chief Sales Officer of Marotta. "We are proud to continue this tradition with our contributions to the USS Dewey."

About Marotta Controls
Marotta Controls, Inc. has more than 60 years of leadership in providing customers with a broad array of high-performance products including high-pressure pneumatics, high-pressure pure air generators, pneumatic weapon ejection, electronic controllers, valve controllers, pressure reducers and manifolds, relief valves and check valves.

Marotta is a contributor to today's most significant military, marine, commercial aerospace and space programs, including the, LHA-6 Assault Carrier, CVN-68 Nimitz Class Carrier, LPD-17 Amphibious Transport Dock Ship, SSN-774 Attack Submarine, F-35 Lightning II, F-22 Raptor, F/A-18 Hornet and P-8A Poseidon, as well as several international commercial programs. In addition, Marotta offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors including Electronic Control Systems, Satellite Propulsion Systems, Surface and Undersea Warfare Systems, Composite Systems and Pneumatic Weapon Ejection Systems.

Marotta is headquartered in New Jersey with divisions in Cheltenham, UK and Dublin, Ireland. For more information please visit the company's website at www.marotta.com.

Contact:
Tara J. Castorina
Marotta Controls, Inc.
973-334-7800 x506

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:00 AM | Comments (0)

DBRS Awards BBB Rating for Axis Capital Funding

DBRS Awards BBB Rating for Axis Capital Funding. DBRS has today rated the $100 million Maximum Facility Amount issued by Axis Capital Funding, LLC (ACF) at BBB. The transaction closed in February 2007 and is currently funded on WestLB AG's balance sheet. Credit enhancement is 11.0% and is composed of overcollateralization and a reserve account.

(PRWEB) February 8, 2008 -- DBRS has today rated the $100 million Maximum Facility Amount issued by Axis Capital Funding, LLC (ACF) at BBB. The transaction closed in February 2007 and is currently funded on WestLB AG's balance sheet. Credit enhancement is 11.0% and is composed of overcollateralization and a reserve account. The DBRS rating incorporates the following factors:

STRENGTHS

(1) Net-loss levels have been conservatively sized.

(2) Credit enhancement can support net losses under various scenarios with multiples that are well within the BBB range.

(3) The funding is actively managed by WestLB (rated A (high)/R-1 (middle) by DBRS).

(4) WestLB is the swap provider in the transaction.

(5) The facility does not fund residuals. This is a small part of the company's business to date, but even if it were to start originating true leases, the facility would not give any credit to the residual.

(6) Facility concentration limits ensure diversification is maintained. There are concentration levels that address single obligors, the top obligors, equipment types, vendors and business lines.

(7) Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the backup servicer for this facility and is an experienced servicer in the equipment sector.

(8) Leases are generated through two channels: direct and indirect leases. The indirect, or brokered, business channel is subject to the same level of stringent credit guidelines as those leases that are originated via direct means.

(9) Performance triggers are included in the facility. These triggers are designed to stop funding and or increase the credit enhancement.

CONCERNS AND MITIGANTS

(1) Axis Capital Inc. is a private entity that originates leases that are eligible for the facility. The company has been in the equipment-leasing business for nearly 12 years.

(2) The obligors in the secured facility are the businesses and/or the owners of the small businesses. These obligors are always subject to macroeconomic trends. Axis Capital Inc.'s credit process is designed to credit score each applicant, and for larger ticket sizes, it will also apply additional underwriting criteria.

Note:

All figures are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.

For more information on this credit or on this industry, visit www.dbrs.com or contact us at info @ dbrs.com.

© 2008 DBRS. View page optimized for: Small Screens | Large Screens

Issuer Debt Rated Rating Action Rating Trend Notes Latest Event

Axis Capital Funding, LLC Maximum Facility Amount New Rating BBB -- Jan 29, 2008

Chris O'Connell

Senior Vice President - U.S. Structured Finance RMBS/ABS

+1 212 806 3253

coconnell @ dbrs.com

Issuers in This

Axis Capital Funding, LLC

http://www.dbrs.com/intnlweb/jsp/content/document.faces 2/1/2008

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:00 AM | Comments (0)

February 07, 2008

nCode Announces Significant New Adoption of ICE-flow Software Suite

nCode International announced that the ICE-flow software suite has had a successful 2007; being adopted by a variety of companies and industries. ICE-flow customers now include automotive OEMs, aircraft, defense, rail, heavy engineering and component designers across Europe, the US and Asia.

Southfield, MI (PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- nCode International, a leading developer of data analysis software, data acquisition systems and durability solutions, today announced that the ICE-flow software suite has had a successful 2007; being adopted by a variety of companies and industries. ICE-flow customers now include automotive OEMs, aircraft, defense, rail, heavy engineering and component designers across Europe, the US and Asia.

"The ICE-flow family of products, which includes GlyphWorks, DesignLife, and Library, is providing productivity gains to a wide range of engineering applications. The response from the global market and our customers has been very positive," stated Jon Aldred, ICE-flow GlyphWorks Product Manager.

ICE-flow GlyphWorks data analysis software provides a graphical, process-oriented environment that enables engineers to rapidly extract useful information from vast amounts of measured data. Complete multi-step analysis processes can be easily created. GlyphWorks is widely used for applications such as data processing for durability and fatigue life prediction, noise and vibration analysis and accelerated testing.

ICE-flow DesignLife is the latest technology from nCode for finite element based fatigue and durability analysis - delivering virtual fatigue analysis. Built upon GlyphWorks, DesignLife provides a unique environment for integrating both test and CAE data. It delivers a broad range of fatigue technologies and applications including multi-axial strain-life, spot weld and seam weld analysis as well as vibration shaker test simulation.

ICE-flow Library is a web-based data management and automated analysis system for engineering test data. Library can store, manipulate and analyze terabytes of data. Library has been rapidly deployed in a wide range of applications in test departments, structural labs, engine test cell as well as corporate Road Load Data Systems and customer correlation applications. Library provides an environment where users can automate the analysis and collaborate seamlessly in the preparation, control and distribution of data, increasing the value of the data now and in the future.

"We have seen real time savings in performing random vibration tests by using GlyphWorks Accelerated Testing and will now look forward to promoting the method both internally and in our supplier base," said Dr. Yung-Li Lee, Senior Specialist, Stress Lab & Durability Chrysler LLC.

"Using GlyphWorks Accelerated Testing has enabled us to directly compare the fatigue damage and shock content of different vibration tests in a quantitative fashion. Furthermore, we can use it to clearly determine the safety margins between sign-off certification and installation on the production helicopter," said Trevor Walton, Principal Engineer for Dynamics, AgustaWestland.

"nCode's ICE-flow Library is well-suited to what we were looking for. It was easy to set-up and get going, and has made our work so much easier. For the last few months we've been processing the airframe data just as we hoped," said John Nelson, Aviation Management Specialist, U.S. Forest Service.

"nCode's software provides PSA Peugeot Citroën with an easy-to-use, standard solution powerful enough to process and manage over 800 gigabytes of data," said Jacques Mercier, Manager, Customer Usage
Synthesis Department, PSA Peugeot Citroen.

Other companies investing in nCode's ICE-flow software suite in 2007 include: Bombardier Transportation, Chengdu Aero Instruments, Ford Motor Company, GE Medical Systems Information Technologies, Honeywell, INSYS (Lockheed Martin UK), Lubrizol, Mercedes-Benz, Modine, Northrop Grumman, Opel, QinetiQ, Renault, SAIC , Siemens VAI, Tenneco, Tesla Motors, ThyssenKrupp, Toyota, Trelleborg, and ZF.

The next release of the software suite, ICE-flow 5.0, is planned for later this year. A preview of the software will be available at nCode's booth at the Automotive Testing Expo Europe - Stuttgart in May.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:13 AM | Comments (0)

Papamarkou Asset Management Finds an Edge In Emerging Markets Investing

Proactive investors should be taking advantage of improving fundamentals found in emerging markets.

New York, NY (PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- "Proactive investors should be taking advantage of improving fundamentals found in emerging markets", explains Thorne Perkin, Vice President, Papamarkou Asset Management.

"The current abundance of developing market investment vehicles offer investors more options and better access. As clients have begun to comprehend and appreciate these markets, they see that portfolio exposure here makes consummate sense", says Perkin.

With such high growth prospects, classic emerging markets have evolved into a more traditional allocation in the sophisticated investor's portfolio.

"At Papamarkou Asset Management we've been leveraging our international network as we've increased our portfolio exposure to emerging market economies. Half of Papamarkou's clients are not US based, so we've always paid attention to opportunities overseas, but the fundamentals we're seeing now build a stronger case for investments in these markets.", explains Perkin.

"In the private equity space Papamarkou is investing in India's infrastructure boom. In the hedge fund and long-only arena we're increasing our commodities stake in Brazil. We're purchasing commercial real estate in Slovakia" says Perkin.

"By increasing market liquidity and broadening its export base, Brazil has become increasingly resilient in a time of slowing worldwide economic growth", Perkin says. Indeed Brazil's GDP rate grew in 2007 to over 4% and is forecasted to remain strong in 2008. Brazil's expanding economy has resulted in lower interest rates, a stronger currency and better credit ratings. Markets have reacted; Brazil's overall market capitalization has rapidly increased since 2002 to over $1.3 Trillion today.

"Risk exists and additional policy reform is necessary - continued economic progress depends on a stimulative government. But sharp demand for Brazil's natural resources and a flourishing manufacturing sector will create opportunities. Investors should take advantage of entry points" says Perkin, "and now is the time".

India's economy, also on the heels of large scale structural policy reforms, is poised for terrific growth. With explosive local capital markets, subsidized infrastructure projects and massive foreign investment, the framework for expansion is set.

"India's economy will need to adapt", explains Perkin, "privatization, fiscal consolidation and labor market deregulation are just a few of the issues that need to be addressed". But some economists, based on an analysis of India's recent meteoric growth process vis-à-vis other Asian "miracle economies", project that India's growth could accelerate from recent levels and achieve a GDP rate near 10% as we look to years ahead.

As emerging market economies progress, price dislocations materialize and astute investors can find relative bargains. "Investors should be well advised, understanding the environment and volatility involved" says Perkin. "The positive financial signals are difficult to ignore and the sophisticated investor should capitalize on improved access to developing markets and the remarkable potential to bolster portfolio returns."

Thorne Perkin is a Vice President for Papamarkou Asset Management , an independent SEC registered investment advisor based in New York, NY. Papamarkou Asset Management, founded in 1982, advises the management of several billion dollars for its high net worth US and International client base.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:12 AM | Comments (0)

Stealth Wins "Engineers Choice Award" from Control Engineering Magazine for their Powerful Mini Computer

Stealth Computer Corporation, a market leader in the industrial computer and peripherals market won Control Engineering's 2007 Engineers Choice Award for its LPC-450 small form factor computer. Control Engineering is a Chicago based trade publication that gives only 15 awards to makers of hundreds of products covered in the publication each year. The award was officially announced February 4th, 2008 based on the 2007 year in review.

Toronto, Canada (PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- Stealth Computer Corporation, a market leader in the industrial computer and peripherals market won Control Engineering's 2007 Engineers Choice Award for its LPC-450 small form factor computer. Control Engineering is a Chicago based trade publication that gives only 15 awards to makers of hundreds of products covered in the publication each year. The award was officially announced February 4th, 2008 based on the 2007 year in review.

Winning products were selected by Control Engineering subscribed readers who are responsible for or influence technology purchases, or have hands-on day-to-day interaction with the technologies in each respective area. Control Engineering will publish a special supplement with the February issue where the winners will be announced. Photographs of the winning products, as well as the brief product descriptions submitted as part of the nomination process, will be printed.

The Stealth LPC-450 Little PC utilizes Intel's latest Core 2 Duo processor technology delivering the ultimate in mini pc performance. Housed in a rugged aluminum enclosure this powerful & versatile machine measures out at 5.7" (W) x 9.9"(D) x 1.65"(H) or about the size of a hard cover novel yet surpasses the performance of most desktop and notebook PCs available today.

"The Stealth Model: LPC-450 is the most powerful small form Little PC we have ever offered. This full featured machine utilizes the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processor technology and we believe it offers the most processing power per square inch of any personal computer available today." stated Ed Boutilier, President & CEO of Stealth Computer Corporation.

About Control Engineering (Reed Business):
Control Engineering is a magazine for engineers in all industries who buy, specify, design and maintain automation, control and instrumentation devices, networks, systems, and software for automated process, manufacturing, and hybrid solutions. Additional content is also published daily on the web and weekly in electronic newsletters. www.controleng.com

About Stealth:
Founded in 1990 Stealth Computer Corporation, is a leading manufacturer of specialized Computers and Peripherals. The company is ISO 9001 registered and continually develops innovative products designed to meet the exact needs of their clients. For almost two decades Stealth has provided thousands of proven reliable product solutions that have assisted clients with a myriad of applications. Our impressive customer base includes a wide range of customers from single man operations to Fortune 500 companies, Military installations and Governments worldwide. www.stealth.com

For more information, press only:
Andrew Pakula, Stealth Computer Corporation, PH: 905-264-9000 ext #243

For high quality digital images of Stealth's products (300 DPI) www.stealth.com/images.htm
Stealth's main website and corporate information is available at: www.stealth.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:11 AM | Comments (0)

LabelLiquidators.com Launches Primera-Compatible Labels

LabelLiquidators.com, a leading Internet-based source for high-quality, low-cost labels, today announced the availability of its Primera-compatible labels, saving Primera users 25% -40% on label media purchases.

Tampa, FL (PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- LabelLiquidators.com, a leading Internet-based source for high-quality, low-cost labels, today announced the availability of its Primera-compatible labels, the latest in the online retailer's collection of labeling solutions.

The LabelLiquidator.com brand labels are the perfect, low-cost alternative for businesses using Primera lx 400 and 800 series color label printers.

"Label Liquidator brand Primera compatible labels can save LX 400 and LX 810 users 25 to 40 percent over Primera brand labels without compromising quality," said Dee Churchill, LabelLiquidators.com sales manager. "LabelLiquidators.com fully guarantees and stands behind the quality of all labels they manufacture."

The rigorously tested, high-gloss labels are available in 22 styles and can be made in virtually any size to produce on-demand labels with a professional edge.

LabelLiquidators.com is a leading Internet-based retailer and manufacturer of labels specializing in labels for desktop printers including Zebra and Primera. LabelLiquidators.com provides fast and flexible service to customers worldwide from its manufacturing headquarters located in Tampa, Fla.

For more information about LabelLiquidators brand products, please visit www.LabelLiquidators.com or call the LabelLiquidators.com Service Center at 1-877-617-9608.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:10 AM | Comments (0)

Video Surveillance Trailer Provides Law Enforcement Vital Visual Backup

Law enforcement agencies across the country can now rapidly deploy a live remote mobile surveillance trailer in high risk locations. Russell Turner, Vice-President of Sales for NetVision Mobile, states that "Law enforcement professionals at the National Association of Police Chiefs Annual Conference remarked on how the NetVision Remote Surveillance System 'will help protect personnel and property during large public gatherings, covert operations and in high risk situations.'"

Greenville, SC (PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- Law enforcement agencies across the country can now rapidly deploy a live remote mobile surveillance trailer in high risk locations. Russell Turner, Vice-President of Sales for NetVision Mobile, states that "Law enforcement professionals at the National Association of Police Chiefs Annual Conference remarked on how the NetVision Remote Surveillance System 'will help protect personnel and property during large public gatherings, covert operations and in high risk situations.'"

From a security stand point, the cameras are viewed live remotely and the trailer offers many theft deterrents. Officers can view the cameras from within their vehicles. Monitoring companies, such as Securitas, can automatically dispatch EMS resources to the exact location while providing vital real-time information for effective planning & preparation. Should priorities change; the entire system can be taken down in five minutes, rapidly deployed at another location, and set up in five minutes.

Originally designed to remotely monitor & record equipment theft at construction sites, the self-contained mobile surveillance trailer suspends two weatherproof Pan/Tilt/Zoom (PTZ) security cameras 30 feet above the ground providing a full 360° visual range.

Turner said "The construction industry is losing millions of dollars from equipment theft & vandalism at construction sites and this mobile surveillance trailer provides a 24/7 cost effective solution." Turner went on to say "...these PTZ cameras can be elevated to a great vantage point and be set to auto-track & record any relevant activity day and night."

Encased in a tamper resistant housing, the onboard video server features 32 GBs of solid state storage capacity for up to 30 days of recording time. The surveillance trailer uses 12V batteries to provide 1,000 amp hours. Solar panels provide an environmentally friendly renewable power source to assist the batteries to power the system for up to 17 days, depending on usage.

Turner said that "the NetVision Mobile Security Surveillance Trailer is just skimming the surface with Law Enforcement & the Construction Industry because this mobile security solution will be used by many other types of businesses that need an 'Eye in the Sky' for their piece of mind."

For more information on the Netvision Surveillance Trailer, visit http://www.dmsusa.net/mobile/index.php

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:09 AM | Comments (0)

Vespera Communities Retains the Bokka Group Interactive Agency of Record

The Bokka Group has been retained to provide full-service interactive marketing to Vespera Investments and all its residential developments scattered throughout the Northeastern United States.

Denver, CO (PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- The Bokka Group has been retained to provide full-service interactive marketing to Vespera Investments and all its residential developments scattered throughout the Northeastern United States.

"We knew a CRM would be a critical piece in the long-term development of Vespera's core site and diverse community micro sites," says Paula Huggett, VP/Client Services Director, the Bokka Group. "We implemented a solution, which provides eMarketing tools for increasing Web traffic, acquiring sales leads and converting prospects into customers."

All of Vespera's sites are managed from the same login console, but each have their own distinct brand voice and presentation.

About Vespera Investments
With progressive real estate development comes the responsibility of historical landscape preservation, Vespera believes. They are committed to improving the quality of life within the communities they develop and provide funds that allow acquisitions of open space for the communities' enjoyment. For more information,

About The Bokka Group, Inc
Headquartered in Denver, CO, the Bokka Group is a leading interactive marketing company that provides technology solutions for master planned communities, home builders and land developers across North America.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 02:08 AM | Comments (0)

Inspirtech.com Begins Selling Web-Based SolidWorks Training Courses

Inspirtech.com begins selling web-based SolidWorks training rich with examples and exercises for new SolidWorks users.

Bakersfield, CA (PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- Inspirtech.com announces the launch of their new web-based training solution for learning SolidWorks 2008.

The Inspirtech Training Bundle combines the knowledge of SolidWorks Certified Professionals and qualified teachers to create a structured training solution, rich with examples and exercises. Course material is structured in such a way that each topic can be either thoroughly examined or quickly understood, based on the student's aptitude.

"Teaching a world class MCAD program application like SolidWorks, is made easier when lessons are taught slowly and distinctively. Perhaps no system of learning is perfect but the lesson plans that I have tried are as close as you might ever get to that." -- Richard Williams, MCAD reviewer

Inspirtech lessons are conveniently delivered via a hybrid of downloadable and streaming formats to the students PC. Starting point files, examples and exercises can be downloaded directly into the SolidWorks design library for instant access throughout lessons. Course content is then delivered though a web-based learning management system which allows users to review the training at any web access PC.
The training bundle includes all the introductory lessons that would be required to harness the design power of SolidWorks. As an alternative, lesson can be individually purchased in customized training bundles. Furthermore, companies and schools that are looking to train multiple employees can purchase credits for tracking student progress.
Inspirtech looks forward to providing SolidWorks users with the tools required to inspire their design creativity.

For additional information visit Inspirtech.com for SolidWorks training courses

Contact:
Albert Whatmough
Inspirtech - Inspirational Training Technologies
SolidWorks training courses

661) 310 - 0251
http://www.inspirtech.com

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

A Growing Number of Companies Move to Guided Selling and Configuration Software in 2007

TDCI, Inc. (TDCI), the leading provider of configurator-based software solutions, announced today that the company added 23 new customers for TDCI's BuyDesign Guided Selling and Configuration software in 2007.

Columbus, Ohio (PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- TDCI, Inc. (TDCI), the leading provider of configurator-based software solutions, announced today that the company added 23 new customers for TDCI's BuyDesign Guided Selling and Configuration software in 2007. Companies selecting and deploying BuyDesign in 2007 were manufacturers in a wide range of industries: from building products such as windows, commercial and residential doors, kitchen cabinets, partitions, and pre-built staircases; to custom furniture, recreational boats and yachts, custom vans, HVAC equipment, pumps, imprinted apparel, and various types of equipment and machinery.

BuyDesign is a comprehensive guided selling and configuration solution developed to streamline the sales process for customized products. BuyDesign helps companies that manufacture products with a wide range of features, options, and dimensions increase sales by becoming 'easy to do business with' while at the same time helping them improve profitability by reducing order processing time, cost, and errors.

"We're seeing a growing number of companies across many different industries adopting the concept of product configurator-based guided selling," said TDCI President Dan DeMuth. "With today's convergence of advanced software and Internet technologies, there are many different ways to leverage guided selling, from initial end-customer interest creation, to generation of intelligent design blocks for CAD designers, to guided product selection, configuration, and quoting for sales people. The same core technology can also be used to automate generation of configuration-specific drawings, documents, and manufacturing information. And as manufacturers add more and more product variety, these types of capabilities are becoming more and more important."

TDCI's BuyDesign solution suite includes configurator-based applications for direct sales quoting and ordering, multi-level dealer/distributor quoting and ordering, consumer-oriented website applications, configurable product catalogs for use by professional designers and architects within CAD applications, and more. BuyDesign solutions can provide dynamic 2D, 3D, or fully render photos of configured products, and most BuyDesign applications can be implemented online via the web, on distributed laptops and desktop PCs, in workgroups, or in any combination - all centrally managed and synchronized via the Internet. Examples of the variety of ways companies are using BuyDesign guided selling and configuration software include:

Kolbe & Kolbe Millworks, a leading manufacturer of high quality residential windows and patio doors is using BuyDesign Channel Sales to provide over 1600 sales people within their dealer network with fast, easy quoting and ordering of the company's highly customizable products.

Therma-Tru Doors, the nation's leading manufacturer of entry door systems, is using BuyDesign Build-Your-Own to enable homeowners to select, customize, and visualize various Therma-Tru door systems in a home much like their own, then find a local dealer who will use BuyDesign Channel Sales to quote and order their design.

Merillat, one of North America's largest kitchen and bathroom cabinet manufacturers, is using BuyDesign Spec-In to deliver a product catalog that enables designers to easily select and insert Merillat cabinets directly into their AutoCAD™ designs.

Four-Winns, one of America's most popular brands of recreational boats, is using BuyDesign Configurator to configure boat features, options, and colors as part of the order entry process within their Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.

The Gorman-Rupp Company, a leading manufacturer of pumps and pumping systems, is using BuyDesign to provide web-based selection and ordering of pumps and repair parts to the company's 1000+ world-wide distributors.

TDCI is currently working with customers to develop additional configurator-based solutions ranging from automated generation of product variant data for new product introductions, to collaborative design, quoting, and ordering of complex equipment among engineers, building contractors, manufacturers' reps, and the manufacturer.

"There's no question the world is continuing to move down the road to mass customization in just about all types of products. That's definitely changing the way companies do business, and therefore changing the types of tools they need. If TDCI's growth is any indication, we're going to be seeing even more companies adopt product configuration technology and configurator-based applications such as guided selling in order to manage both the complexity and opportunity of mass customization," summarized DeMuth.

About TDCI and BuyDesign
TDCI (www.tdci.com) is an enterprise solution provider that specializes in helping manufacturers and their distributors streamline the buying process for customized products. TDCI's BuyDesign® software is a comprehensive guided selling and configuration solution developed to help companies increase sales by becoming 'easy to do business with' while improving profitability by reducing order processing time, cost, and errors. BuyDesign provides modular components for guided product selection and configuration, product visualization, quoting and ordering, drawing generation, and status inquiry. It also includes applications for front-end specification capture from within popular design products such as AutoCAD and others.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:56 AM | Comments (0)

Altico Advisors Announces Microsoft Dynamics GP Trial CD Offer

Altico Advisors (www.AlticoAdvisors.com), a Microsoft Certified Partner headquartered in Massachusetts, announced today the availability of free Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains) trial CDs. While supplies last, companies that want a hands-on experience with Microsoft's most popular business and financial management software can order a free 90-day trial CD from the home page of the Altico Advisors Web site.

Marlborough, MA (PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- Altico Advisors, a Microsoft Certified Partner headquartered in Massachusetts, announced today the availability of free Microsoft Dynamics GP (Great Plains) trial CDs. While supplies last, companies that want a hands-on experience with Microsoft's most popular business and financial management software can order a free 90-day trial CD from the home page of the Altico Advisors Web site.

The newest release, Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 is better than ever. It's a user-friendly, flexible, scalable financial and business management system for growing and mid-market firms. Microsoft Dynamics GP integrates the back office and financial reports to manufacturing and distribution operations, inventory, order processing, and more.

Microsoft Dynamics GP is a business management solution that provides complete and scalable financial and operational functionality, such as advanced consolidation, robust business intelligence, rich reporting, forecasting, and budgeting. Because this functionality is available right out-of-the-box, companies can integrate and automate their financial and operational processes more rapidly. Microsoft Dynamics GP offers long-term stability. It's a solution that will support the business-critical needs of growing organizations, today and in the future. Microsoft Dynamics GP allows firms to get up and running quickly, maximizing productivity and providing a solution that adapts to changing business needs.

"The ability to actually use the application before making a purchase decision is key for many people, and understandably so. It's like test driving a car before you buy it," explains Altico Advisors' Director of Marketing, Marcia Doron. "Business and financial management software is a major purchase decision. With the free trial CD, that decision becomes more informed and can be made with greater confidence."

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

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:56 AM | Comments (0)

Testing Machines Inc. Releases the SL-10 Hot Tack Tester & Seal Tester

Lako Tool's SL-10 Hot Tack Tester & Seal Tester, is the most precise and consistent heat seal tester in the packaging industry. Testing capabilities include: heat sealing, heat-seal testing and hot-tack testing. The SL-10 provides critical information needed to determine ideal sealing conditions for packaging films.

(PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- The newly released SL-10 Hot Tack Tester & Seal Tester's touch-screen computer allows the operator to quickly change key parameters such as pressure, temperature and dwell time. The built-in dual-load cells measure the actual force applied to the film. The computer controlled temperature is assured to ± 1.1°C (± 2°F) across the entire width of the film sample.

The SL-10 Hot Tack Tester & Seal Tester is equipped with a full-capacity computer that automatically compiles and graphs test results. The operator can easily recall and view stored test results. Printer and data ports allow the user to create reports and communicate information quickly and accurately.

Some important features of this tester include:

Conforms to ASTM F 1921-98 for hot-tack seal testing
Direct-touch color screen
Computer controlled pressure, temperature and dwell time
Ethernet port, Printer Port, 2 USB Ports, PS/2 Keyboard Port, VGA Monitor Port
Independent upper & lower sealing temperatures
Dual-load cells for consistent sealing surface pressure
Measures actual dwell time on the sealing sample
Safety guards and switches for safe operation

Optional Features

Quick-Change Seal Jaw Inserts with any seal pattern
Manual Sample Loading Tray
Automatic Sample-Loading Tray (recommended to eliminate potential operator inconsistencies while inserting film samples)
Hot-tack / Automatic seal-puller
Phenolic seal-jaw tray
Footswitch
Anti-trip foot pedal

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

Testing Machines Inc. acquired Lako Tool in October 2007. With more than 30 years of experience, Lako Tool serves the film packaging machinery industry with Sealing, Cutting and Punching Solutions. The company also produces Hot Tack and Heat Sealing instruments for laboratory use.

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

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

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:55 AM | Comments (0)

Michael T. Donovan New Business Development Executive at USC Consulting Group

Responsible for Midwestern Region

Tampa, FL, (PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- Michael T. Donovan, 51, has joined USC Consulting Group, LLC (USCCG) as business development executive responsible for the firm's Midwestern region.

Mr. Donovan has invested most of his career in the high-technology software industry, where he began as a programmer and grew into executive sales positions. He has served as vice president, area director, regional manager, and individual contributor in growing sales revenues for over 25 years. He has worked with electronic commerce, enterprise computer security, web application development, and database tools companies from Silicon Valley to Washington, D.C. He began his career as a management intern at Chrysler Corporation in Detroit, MI, where he solidified his experience in manufacturing.

Most recently, Mr. Donovan was executive sales consultant with SalesMercenaries.net, a Naperville, IL-based professional sales development company. Earlier he was vice president of sales with the software and professional services firms TriCoron Networks, Inc, in Capitola, CA, and Solutionary, Inc., based in Omaha, NE. Prior to that, Mr. Donovan held executive sales leadership positions with Saqqara Systems Inc, San Jose, CA; Axent Technologies, Inc., Rockville, MD; Wall Data, Inc., Des Plaines, IL; and Michaels, Ross & Cole Limited, Lombard, IL.

According to David Riggs, a USCCG partner and vice president/senior regional manager, who made the announcement, "Mike Donovan brings the kind of energy, expertise, and IT knowledge to our company that will make a very important impact for our clients. And his proven track record in both the Midwest and on the West Coast is a real plus for USCCG."

Mr. Donovan earned his BS degree in economics and business from the University of Michigan. He holds certification in management training and motivation from the American Management Association. He has completed the Dale Carnegie Sales Courses and Solution Selling Program, as well as training in Selling Dynamics Sales Management and Sales Mastery.

Mr. Donovan will be based in Naperville, IL.

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 01:54 AM | Comments (0)

State Mix Ltd. Announces Release of New Vortex Mixer VM-200

State Mix Ltd., pioneers in cast polyurethane systems since 1969, announced today the release of their new VM-200 VortexMixTM by State Mix. A smaller version of their popular line of vortex mixers, the VM-200 provides the same centrifugal force and high speed precision mixing as it counter-part, but for significantly smaller quantities.

Winnipeg, Manitoba (PRWEB) February 7, 2008 -- State Mix Ltd., pioneers in cast polyurethane systems since 1969, announced today the release of their new VM-200 VortexMixTM by State Mix. A smaller version of their popular line of vortex mixers, the VM-200 provides the same centrifugal force and high speed precision mixing as it counter-part, but for significantly smaller quantities.

Taking the expertise they gained providing products to organizations like Chemtura (formerly Uniroyal), Prothane and Molded Dimensions, StateMix has created a product for smaller applications.

"We have been making polyurethane for 45 years now and the Vortex Mixer has been by far the best purchase we have ever made," said Vice President of Prothane, Shawn McTear. "We can now produce better quality, more consistent product in less time."

While the original VortexMixTM was designed for larger production facilities with mixing demands up to 2,500 grams at a time, this new product is ideal for batches ranging from 5 to 200 grams. Extremely versatile, the high speed VM-200 can be used in a variety of test labs, mixing silicones, polymers, epoxies, waxes, pigments and powered additives. In addition, this new tabletop instrument is ideally suited for the rigorous demands of dental labs. Average mixing times range from 5 - 30 seconds.

With trial units already installed in test labs, this product will be available for sale in the first quarter.

About StateMix Ltd.: StateMix Ltd. has been a pioneer in the development of a variety of machines in the cast polymer industry.
The vortex mixer is the latest innovation from a design team with more than 35 years experience in the trade.

For more information about the VM- 200 Vortex Mix visit www.statemix.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:52 AM | Comments (0)

Rainmaker: The Fourth-Annual Model N Revenue Management Summit Kicks Off Today in Scottsdale

Sold-out event gathers life science and high tech leaders as revenue management adoption accelerates in an uncertain economy

Redwood Shores, CA (PRWEB) February 6, 2008 -- Rainmaker: The Model N Revenue Management Summit 2008 opens today at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona to a sellout crowd of leading Life Science and High Tech companies. This year's Summit promises to be the premier gathering for industry innovators in the rapidly growing revenue management community to learn, share, and network.

Rainmaker 2008 offers attendees the unprecedented opportunity to receive insight on emerging trends from industry experts; learn about successful implementations from Model N customers; preview the Revenue Management roadmap and explore solution and performance enhancements from the Model N staff; and network with industry peers. In addition, the Summit coincides with Model N's semi-annual Customer Advisory Board Meetings and inaugural Executive Advisory Board Meeting. Featured sessions at this year's event include:

Revenue Management Strategies in Uncertain Times, Bruce Richardson, Chief Research Officer, AMR Research
CFO Imperative: What Every CFO Should Know About Government Pricing Programs, Joel Winterton, Owner, S.E.T. Enterprises
Impact of Consumer Electronics Trends on Pricing, Chris Abess, Principal, Deloitte Consulting
Price Strategy and Segmentation Practices, Sarvajna Kazi, Partner, Accenture
How Distributors Can Help Manage Transfer Business, Christopher Breslin, Vice President, Supplier Marketing, North American Components, Arrow Electronics

"As top-line growth slows in this uncertain economy, eliminating revenue leakage and reducing regulatory risk is critical to delivering superior financial results," said Zack Rinat, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Model N. "With Revenue Management becoming a strategic imperative for executives seeking to improve financial performance, Model N's continued growth reflects the success it is having in building a robust Revenue Management community. We are excited about collaborating with our customers, partners, and industry experts at Rainmaker to strengthen relationships, exchange ideas, and continue shaping the roadmap for Revenue Management."

Event Sponsors

Rainmaker 2008 features a sponsor exhibit hall featuring many of Model N's leading implementation and technology partners. Sponsors include:

Accenture (Double Platinum)
IMS Health (Platinum)
CSC and HighPoint Solutions (Gold)
Sierra Atlantic and Akamai Technologies (Bronze)

Summit Highlights Company Momentum

Rainmaker 2008 comes on the heels of several important developments at Model N as the company continues to leverage its first-mover advantage in becoming the leading provider of Revenue Management solutions for life science and high tech industries. Recent company highlights include:

Accenture and Model N extend their North American partnership by announcing a Global Alliance Agreement for the Life Sciences and the High Tech industries that will deliver unparalleled value to customers worldwide
Astellas Pharma US, Inc., the North American affiliate of top-twenty pharmaceutical manufacturer Astellas Pharma Inc., deploys Model N's Managed Care, Medicaid Claims, Contracts, Admin Fees, and Chargebacks applications
Leading semiconductor manufacturer PMC-Sierra, Inc. implements Model N High Tech POS and Commissions applications
Technology implementation firm Levementum becomes an official Model N High Tech reseller

About Model N

Model N is a leader in Revenue Management solutions, offering an integrated suite of applications for analytics, pricing strategy and execution, contracts, compliance, rebates, fees and charge-backs optimized for the industry practices of Life Sciences 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 01:52 AM | Comments (0)

Study Finds Private Label Merchandise Plagued by Quality Concerns

RSR's most recent benchmark report: "PLM Squared: Product Lifecycle Management Powers Private Label Merchandise" reveals that as brand managers step up collaboration with suppliers on product design, two opposing consequences emerge: they can bring new products to market faster, but at a cost - control over the quality of that merchandise. Post-production audits and improved and consistent vendor scorecarding are critical to overcoming this potentially devastating situation.

Miami, FL (PRWEB) February 6, 2008 -- Retailers are increasing their reliance on private label merchandise sourced from low cost sourcing countries. This reliance has driven improved gross margin, but also created new risks - last year saw a record number of high profile product recalls, mostly on imported goods. The reason: On the one hand retailers create long term contracts with trusted suppliers and collaborate with those suppliers on product design to improve their speed to market. On the other hand those same vendors cut corners to achieve that speed, resulting in inconsistent and sometimes fatal quality problems.

According to RSR's just released benchmark report, "PLM Squared: Product Lifecycle Management Powers Private Label Merchandise", sponsored by Eqos and Microsoft, the best performing retailers lead the pack in collaborative design processes. Over the past two years 70% of retailers whose comparable store sales outperform the average have increased the percentage of merchandise they design in concert with suppliers versus only 33% of poor performers. Eighty percent of these retail winners have enjoyed improvements in gross margin over the same period vs. only 56% of laggards.

"Outsourced manufacturing is a double-edged sword", said Paula Rosenblum, Managing Director and author of the report. "Retailers are getting faster, but their products are not necessarily getting better. A comprehensive program of supplier management is critical to insure standards are met consistently".

RSR's new study provides recommendations for controlling merchandise quality, and outlines the technologies used to support these initiatives.

To obtain a complimentary copy of the report, click:
/www.retailsystemsresearch.com/_document/summary/420

About Retail Systems Research
Retail Systems Research ("RSR") is the only research company run by retailers for the retail industry. RSR provides insight into business and technology challenges facing the extended retail industry, and thought leadership and advice on navigating these challenges for specific companies and the industry at large. To learn more about RSR, visit www.rsrresearch.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:51 AM | Comments (0)

Meet Your Chocolate Soulmate at Chuao Chocolatier

This Valentine's Day, Chuao Chocolatier can help you find your perfect chocolate match with their unusual, unexpected and delicious chocolate creations.

Carlsbad, CA (PRWEB) February 6, 2008 -- Do you remember your first time? Your first kiss? Your first love? Your first true taste of chocolate? San Diego's premier artisan chocolatier, Chuao Chocolatier, can make Valentine's Day an unforgettable experience.

Throughout February, you are invited to visit Chuao Chocolatier chocolate cafes and their chocolate matchmaking experts will help you find the perfect chocolate soulmate for you or your loved one. Their unusual, unexpected and delicious chocolates are sure to please any discerning romantic. It doesn't matter if you are sweet or spicy, bold or shy, fruity or nutty -- they have a companion for everyone.

Meet some of the candidates:

Don Juan -- The Ultimate Charmer
He's one layer of pepita praline and one sweet layer of banana ganache made with Valrhona's 100% Alpaco Chocolate from Ecuador, all drenched with dark rum and enrobed with Venezuelan 60% dark chocolate. Don Juan will transport you into a world of romance and Spanish folklore.

Firecracker -- The Spark
This boisterous bonbon ignites every romance. A sweet ball of fun, Firecracker is filled with a chipotle chile caramel fudge and a dash of salt, enrobed in a layer of popping candy and dark chocolate. He delivers an explosion for your senses every time.

Mi Carino -- My Dear
Parchita, Cacique, Maraca, Modena and all of their friends. These hand-painted heart shaped bonbons are filled with delectable flavor combinations like spicy cabernet caramel, spicy macadamia praline and passion fruit caramel. A beautiful red or pink polka dot heart shaped box caresses each heart while they await you to indulge in them all.

Duo -- The Perfect Wine & Chocolate Pairing
Duo is the ultimate wine and chocolate pairing. Each prepackaged Duo has been selected by Master Chef and Chocolatier Michael Antonorsi to arouse your senses with the ultimate partnership of wine and chocolate. Wrapped and ready to carry home for your love or your own discrete indulgence. Choose from a red Syrah, a rose champagne, a sweet, lively white or a bold fortified dessert wine.

Tease, Treat, Enjoy -- When You Can't Commit
When you can't make up your mind, and find yourself attracted to more than one, choose to Tease, Treat or Enjoy. Fill a 9, 16, or 25 piece box with exotic and unique chocolates that are sure to please even the most finicky chocolate lover.

If you can't make it to the Chuao Chocolatier chocolate cafes, shop online at www.chuaochocolatier.com or contact their chocolate matchmaking experts at fallinlove@chuaochocolatier.com. Chocolate selections range from $2 to over $100. Chuao Chocolatier chocolates are also available at select specialty stores around the country.

This Valentine's Day, remember your first time. Fall in love with Chuao Chocolatier.

About Chuao Chocolatier
Chuao Chocolatier, located in Carlsbad, California, is committed to arousing your senses through unusual, unexpected and delicious all-natural confections made with Venezuelan chocolate and fresh, natural ingredients. The first Venezuelan chocolatier based in the United States, the company was founded in 2002 by Master Chef Michael Antonorsi and his brother Richard. The company currently owns and operates five Chuao Chocolatier Chocolate Cafes in Southern California and has a boutique in Coral Gables, FL. Their chocolate bars, hot chocolate and other gourmet chocolate confections are also available at fine retailers nationwide including select Whole Foods, Crate & Barrel and Safeway as well as five star hotels including Omni Hotels, La Costa Resort & Spa, Four Seasons and Hard Rock Hotel San Diego.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:50 AM | Comments (0)

"Get Noticed: How to Use Public Relations to Survive in Tough Times" North Star Marketing Offers Teleconference on Hot Topic

Surviving in tough times is challenging. But it is a tremendous opportunity for sales and marketing professionals to get their brands out in the market and generate tremendous awareness and market share because everyone else is being conservative and cutting back budgets. North Star Marketing is offering a free, one-hour teleconference on how to use Public Relations to capitalize on a slower economy.

Lancaster, PA (PRWEB) February 6, 2008 -- Every business downturn has its silver lining and this "quasi-recession" is no exception. North Star Marketing is helping sales and marketing professionals learn how to take advantage of this "silver lining" in a one-hour, free teleconference on February 19, 2008. Learn how to use public relations to increase brand value at a time when most companies are reigning in their marketing budgets.

"When businesses start making cutbacks in their budgets," says Mary Anne Piccirillo, Public Relations Director at the Lancaster, PA-based marketing and branding firm, "it's a golden opportunity to use PR to gain greater awareness of your brands and products. There are fewer people knocking on an editor's door and it gives us the opportunity to be heard -- to stand out more because the competition is taking a defensive position."

Piccirillo has been through several business cycles and has seen the impact that public relations can create in a down market. She will share her expertise and experience in using PR to create greater visibility for products and brands, to drive web site traffic, to start relationships with the media and to use Web PR and Web 2.0 tactics to get valuable exposure.

Participants in the teleconference will learn how to:
- Use positioning so editors will pick up the story
- Use back issues to predict future coverage
- Create an attention-grabbing headline
- Develop an eye for photography that will make an editor pay attention
- Work with professionals to develop the best message
- Use Web 2.0 and Web PR to gain additional coverage

North Star Marketing will offer three industry specific teleconferences on February 19th that will give information unique to each industry. The teleconferences will be held at the following times:
- Manufacturing 1:00 p.m. EST
- Food 2:30 p.m. EST
- Lifestyle/Design Products 4:00 p.m. EST

Anyone interested in registering for the free, one-hour teleconference can go to www.northstar-m.com and click on the Teleconference button.

North Star Marketing is a leading marketing and branding company helping companies build stronger, more competitive brands. More information on the company can be found at North Star Marketing or by calling 717-392-6982.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:49 AM | Comments (0)

TRICOR's New Model 921B Displacement Force Test Station

Accurate, fast, repeatable testing of displacement and force parameters typically reducing test time by 50% or more.

Elgin, IL (PRWEB) February 6, 2008 -- TRICOR Systems Inc. is proud to introduce the New Model 921B Displacement Force Test Station. The Model 921B is ideal for force displacement, testing of springs, membrane switches, pogo pins and much more. The Electrical Resistance mode makes the Model 921B and excellent switch tester.

The 921B may operate in a standalone mode for production line testing. The operator is presented with a pass/fail indication for the devices being tested. The Model 921B may also communicate with a PC and provide data for analysis and storage. The analysis includes numerical (tabular) results as well as graphical display of the tested parameters. This line of displacement-force switch test stations has a positional resolution of 0.0025 mm (0.0001 inches). Your test department will appreciate the high accuracy readings provided over the complete travel range.

The Model 921B Displacement Force Test Station data can be saved in a reduced content set of results with only the tested parameters stored. This Excel format file can be the combined total of all the tests performed on a production lot. Each new test is appended to the specified file. The storage is optional and at the operators discretion.

A more complete test record can be generated by storing the complete displacement/force/resistance measurements over the travel distance. An Excel format file again is used, but the data in this file is the total measurement collected for a single test. Included in the files are links to each of the associated files. The PC provides coordinates the retrieval and viewing of these independent files. Also available is the test configuration setup in the Model 921B, the test results and the actual measurement data. Used on the production line the data file is not typically saved, but if required the Model 921B and application software is fast enough to store all the collected information.

Interchangeable force sensors with ranges up to 22.7 kg (50 lb.) are available. The Model 921B also permits the user to change the probe tip. The test station performs a calibration on the complete test fixture. This calibration removes the deflection and compression effects that can reduce reading accuracy. The calibration is performed over the range of forces specified for the specifically configured setup.

Invaluable as a test tool for qualifying first article product, audit testing, engineering investigation and life study tests, the Model 921B can also be used in automated production areas. When integrated with an automatic feed or an x-y positioner, the Model 921B functions as a cost-effective automated test station ideal for a wide variety of production applications.

The 921B is provided with a user friendly application software that runs on Microsoft Windows based PCs. The output data is all in Microsoft Excel format files that can be opened by other application supporting this format and allows easy import of data for statistical process control (SPC).

The New Model 921B Displacement Force Test Station is one of the most versatile, accurate and cost-effective test stations of its kind. It features accuracy levels equal to or exceeding those of much more expensive, dedicated systems.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:48 AM | Comments (0)

Elma High Capacity Ultrasonic Cleaners for Industrial Cleaning

Elma Ultrasonic Cleaners handle the widest range of cleaning tasks across manufacturing, maintenance, and research. High capacity models are available with adjustable power and variable frequency.

South Orange, NJ (PRWEB) February 6, 2008 -- Tovatech LLC announces the high-capacity Elma Ultrasonic Cleaning Equipment for heavy-duty manufacturing and industrial applications. The Elmasonic Ultrasonic Cleaner line consisting of the Transsonic TI-H and new Elmasonic S are available in volumes up to 180 liters (47.6 gal) to handle scientific and pharmaceutical production equipment, aerospace and automotive parts, and medical and dental devices among other manufacturing and laboratory cleaning chores.

Major pharmaceutical companies employ large TI-H ultrasonic baths to clean stainless steel, Delrin®, and Teflon® plastic parts from tablet and capsule manufacturing equipment between batches. In addition to cleaning validation, Elma ultrasonic cleaning equipment is used by drug companies for solvent degassing and sample preparation. Typical automotive uses include labor-free cleaning of carburetors, fuel injectors, and pistons.

The new Elmasonic S Ultrasonic Cleaning line offers industrial sizes with 45-liter (11.9 gal) and 90-liter (23.8 gal) tanks, which include the same features that make them indispensable bench top units for laboratory applications. These units offer unsurpassed versatility with three different ultrasonic modes: Sweep for common cleaning tasks, Degas, and Normal.

In Normal mode, the Elmasonic ultrasonic cleaners produce a stabilized frequency field, forcing the liquid to circulate and mix. Mixing, dispersing, emulsifying, and dissolving samples is most efficiently accomplished in this mode. In Sweep mode, frequencies are shifted continuously to ensure that cavitation occurs uniformly throughout the tank. Glass, metal, gem, jewelry and plastic surfaces are most thoroughly cleaned in Sweep mode. Dissolved gas in the cleaning liquid can suppress cavitation; Degas is used to remove entrained air thereby assuring the most efficient cleaning.

The Elma Transsonic TI-H cleaners are heavy-duty multi-frequency units in several capacities up to 180 liters (47.6 gal). Expanded utility is obtained with dual frequencies (25/45 kHz or 35/130 kHz) in a single unit. The lowest frequency is used for coarse particle removal; 35 and 45 kHz are used to clean grease and oils from hard surfaces. The 130 kHz is used for gentle cleaning of sensitive surfaces such as jewelry and electronic parts. All TI-H units are fully power adjustable.

With high capacity cleaning tanks, selectable modes, and multiple frequencies, these ultrasonic units provide solutions for diverse cleaning needs from pharmaceutical equipment to printed circuit boards to automotive equipment and aerospace parts.

About Tovatech LLC:
Information about Tovatech's laboratory equipment is available here. Click on the following links for information about our analytical balance and digital scales offering. Tovatech LLC is a distributor of laboratory equipment to the US, Canada, and Mexico. Tovatech is staffed entirely by scientists who seek to aid other scientists in selecting the right laboratory instruments for their work.

Contact:
Rachel Kohn
Director
Tovatech LLC
Telephone: 973-913-9735
E-mail: rskohn(at)tovatech.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:46 AM | Comments (0)

Blue Sage Naturals Announces NOP Certification for Sea Buckthorn Oils

Blue Sage Naturals, first in the US and abroad to offer NOP certified organic Sea Buckthorn [SBT Seed and Berry oils. Highly touted oils for use in formulations for skin care, SBT oils are higher in essential fatty acids, beta-carotenes and tocotrienols than any other oil.

Phoenix, Ariz. (PRWEB) February 6, 2008 -- Natural herbal cosmetics company Blue Sage Naturals today announced it is the leading US supplier of National Organic Program (NOP) NOP Certified Organic CO2 Sea Buckthorn Seed and Berry Oil, juice powder and capsules. Sea Buckthorn, a breakthrough natural skin care ingredient, is a full spectrum plant extract that contains high levels of essential fatty acids and vitamins that are helpful with all kinds of skin conditions, including rosacea, inflammation and eczema.

"SBT seed and berry CO2 oils are added to cosmetics because they soothe dryness and inflammation, and may even speed up healing of scar tissue from cuts, scrapes and burns," said Janine Phariss, president of Blue Sage Naturals. "For several months, we have been anxiously anticipating final NOP certification of the Sea Buckthorn products we have been carrying for years. Now, with NOP certification, our U.S. based customers are assured of the highest quality Sea Buckthorn oil for use in the cosmetics they manufacture."

Trends in natural and organic cosmetics are going the same way as the organic food market, with sales of organic cosmetics increasing at a rapid pace. Consumer concern about harmful chemicals in cosmetics is widely believed to be driving the interest in certified organic cosmetic ingredients. The demand for higher quality cosmetics is helping them to become more widely available, and Blue Sage Naturals plays a critical role by offering manufacturers Sea Buckthorn oils, an effective skin care ingredient that is also NOP Certified Organic.

As the first and only distributor of NOP certified organic CO2 Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil, Blue Sage Naturals is helping its customers respond to their customers' demands with an oil that addresses the skin conditions in the most healthful way possible -- organically. Our NOP Certified Organic products have met stringent federal organic regulations.

Blue Sage Naturals NOP Certified Organic Sea Buckthorn is available in 4 forms:

Organic Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil (first and only US distributor)
Organic Sea Buckthorn Berry Oil
Organic Sea Buckthorn Juice Powder
Organic Sea Buckthorn Capsules

NOP certified organic Sea Buckthorn is also an ingredient in Blue Sage Naturals' branded line of cosmetics, including soaps, facial serums and skin balms, all made with natural and organic ingredients.

"For years, Blue Sage Naturals has been committed to distributing products that help people take care of their skin naturally," said Phariss. "The addition of the NOP Certificate for the Organic Sea Buckthorn to our line of ingredients means more people will enjoy healthy, organic skin care. It's 100% pure, 100% organic and 100% good."

Blue Sage Naturals

Blue Sage Naturals is the leading distributor of NOP certified organic CO2 sea buckthorn berry and seed oils, and manufacturer of salves used for eczema, inflammation and rosacea. From Seabuckthorn Soap to Sea Buckthorn shampoo that encourages hair growth, Blue Sage Naturals uses quality ingredients with no chemicals other than the tiny quantities needed to preserve lotions and shampoos. More information is available here: http://www.BlueSageNaturals.com/seabuckthorn.php

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:44 AM | Comments (0)

Corvest Second Expansion Phase Begins

It's All Greek To Me in the process of joining other Corvest subsidiaries in 250,000-square-foot facility.

Largo, FL (PRWEB) February 6, 2008 -- It's All Greek To Me, a subsidiary of Corvest, has begun their relocation from Simi Valley, California to Corvest's brand new 250,000-square-foot facility in Largo, Florida. Corvest, a top 20 promotional products supplier, is the parent company of Adva-Lite, Toppers and It's All Greek to Me. The relocation of It's All Greek To Me follows that of Toppers from Thorofare, New Jersey in December 2007. Already located in Largo, Florida, Adva-Lite will soon join Toppers and It's All Greek To Me in the new facility.

The move is the second stage of a multi-tiered expansion plan to allow all of Corvest's subsidiaries an increased capacity and greater inventory space. Corvest is building an additional 44,000 square feet of warehouse space in preparation for the arrival It's All Greek To Me and their inventory of plush animals, personal comfort items, games and novelties. With additional machines and more team members, the Corvest family is now able to process large orders even more quickly and efficiently. The high-tech, bar-coded inventory management system improves workflow and overall operating effectiveness.

Samuel F. Rossa, President and CEO of Corvest, says, "Having It's All Greek To Me under the same roof as Adva-Lite and Toppers is going to enable us to provide deeper inventory, more competitive pricing, and greater flexibility for our valued customers." He adds that, "Our customer service is going to excel to new heights and our customers are going to see a huge increase in their buying power."

Corvest is a Counselor Top 40 Supplier, holding the number 18 position. It's All Greek To Me won the 2008 Distributor Choice Award for best toy supplier, while Adva-Lite consistently wins customer service awards, as well as awards for best-in-class processes.

About Corvest

Award-winning, multi-million dollar promotional products supplier Corvest SPV, LLC, located in beautiful, sunny central Florida, owns and operates three highly successful operating units - Adva-Lite, Toppers and It's All Greek To Me. Each unit has been in operation for nearly 50 years, and the company as a whole employs over 300 talented associates in the brand new, state-of-the-art, 250-thousand square foot facility. Owned by one of the world's leading private investment firms, Corvest remains a top 20 wholesale supplier for the promotional product industry. For more information, please visit www.toppersllc.com, www.advalite.com, or www.iagtm.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:43 AM | Comments (0)

Central and Eastern European Logistics Set for €7.3 Billion Growth

Charting growth trends in contract logistics markets to 2010 - In its latest published research, Central and Eastern European Logistics 2008, Analytiqa forecasts impressive growth for logistics expenditure. Spending on logistics set to increase by €7.3 billion over three years; contract logistics set to grow by 89%.

London, UK (PRWEB) February 6, 2008 -- Analytiqa’s latest research, “Central and Eastern European Logistics 2008” (https://www.analytiqa.com/reports.aspx?ReportId=287) reveals that spending on contract logistics services across six key markets is set to increase by almost €7.3 billion over the next three years as the size of outsourced contract logistics market grows by 89%.

Whilst it is all to easy to focus on the negative aspects of developing an immature logistics industry across Central and Eastern Europe, such as the poor quality of the regions’ transport infrastructure, or a chronic shortage of adequately trained logistics employees, the region nonetheless presents an enormous opportunity for the sustained growth of contract logistics activity.

Although growing from a relatively small base makes it somewhat easier to reach ‘headline’ making growth, the figures are nonetheless impressive. Between 2005 and 2007, the largest individual market for logistics in the region, Poland, grew by 33%. Looking ahead, Analytiqa forecasts that smaller, less developed logistics markets such as Bulgaria and Romania are set for explosive growth rates. Logistics markets in Bulgaria are set for 82% growth by 2010, as Romanian markets grow by more than 22% per year... with 3PLs set to capture a significant share of this growth.

A growing market presents its own challenges

Analytiqa’s report also focuses upon the challenges faced by logistics professionals in the Central and Eastern European region, identifying the obstacles and hurdles that will have to be overcome by 3PLs if they are to take a share of the massive growth that is set to be realised. Not least of these are problems associated with transport and warehouse infrastructure, technology and supply chain visibility, or the lack of established professional qualifications available for logistics people in what are very immature markets.

Another key area for concern is the labour drain, as many local logistics professionals from these countries continue to migrate to the West, creating a further set of dynamics surrounding the value of, and return received, of training, together with the rising incomes and costs of logistics professionals, which is slowly narrowing the differential between Central and Eastern European markets and more developed markets in the West.

As the likes of Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary are no longer the extreme low cost production centres that they once were, significant cost differentials nonetheless remain. As such costs rise in time, Analytiqa expects manufacturers to find even cheaper locations in Bulgaria and Romania, or even in the Ukraine and Russia, where they would also be able to target the expanding domestic markets in these countries. Logistics dynamics will also develop in tandem as regions of the Czech Republic, Hungary and even Bulgaria become logistics ‘hubs’ and the cross-docking stations of the future, enlarged, Central and Eastern European region.

Multinational 3PLs: a cautious approach

Within the Central and Eastern European region itself, a common feature of service provider activity has seen road transport companies expanding their service portfolio to offer more traditional 3PL operations. A number of the larger established transport companies, trading in freight forwarding and groupage operations, are extending their range of services to include contract logistics.

Whilst many Western European 3PLs follow their customers into Central and Eastern European markets, domestic service providers are much more likely and willing to take risks in the development of speculative warehouse facilities and will seek to benefit from prime locations in forthcoming years.

That said, it is increasingly likely that it will be the local subsidiaries of Western-based 3PLs that bring improvements in technology with them into Central and Eastern European markets which will ‘raise the bar’ in terms of acceptable standards of practice.

Mark O’Bornick, Research Director, Analytiqa commented:

“The next few years promise to be exciting and dynamic time for the Central and Eastern European logistics industry. The improving economic stability of the region is reflected in the unprecedented levels of foreign investment into the region which is driving growth in manufacturing activity.

Logistics providers face significant challenges if they are to succeed in the region and tap into the huge potential that Eastern Europe offers. Having researched the market with the help of Europe’s leading 3PLs, they are acutely aware of the opportunities, but until now, have not been able to quantify the size of the prize.

Demand for logistics will be sustained by expanding markets, with contract logistics services in particular, being driven by both ends of the supply chain. Along with the rapid growth in manufacturing activity, higher disposable incomes and increasing affluent consumers are demanding greater quantity and more variety of products, from food and drinks, through to pharmaceuticals, consumer electronics, telecoms and even cars and motorcycles.”

More Information / Contact Details:

Analytiqa’s report, Central and Eastern European Logistics 2008 reflects the results of an extensive primary research process which saw Analytiqa’s Analysts contact logistics professionals across Central and Eastern Europe to conduct in-depth interviews to assess market sizes, performance and the operational issues facing the region. The report provides 301 pages of unique insight, including 139 tables and 71 charts, all of which can be downloaded into your own reports and presentations courtesy of Analytiqa Interactive. For additional illustrations, charts and data tables to support your requirements, please contact Analytiqa.

To discuss the issues raised in this article, or any of the products and services offered by Analytiqa please call Robert Sharp on +44 (0) 1707 37 22 11 or Email: info @ analytiqa.com

Analytiqa
Gate House
Fretherne Road
Welwyn Garden City
UK
Tel: 44 (0)1707 37 22 11
www.analytiqa.com
www.analytiqa-interactive.com

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

Tornado Creates Storm

Mecmesin, manufacturer of force and torque testing equipment, has announced the launch of the Tornado, a unique new digital torque tester.

(PRWEB) February 6, 2008 -- Mecmesin, manufacturer of force and torque testing equipment, has announced the launch of the Tornado, a unique new digital torque tester. The Tornado is designed to assess the low-level torques associated with small rotating components, from packaging closures to electrical controls, and building hardware to medical devices.

Representing a major step forward in portable torque testing, the Tornado boasts an array of advanced capabilities, including pass/fail alerting with five programmable memory settings, a facility to characterise the two torque peaks associated with tamper-evident closures, an onboard memory of up to 500 readings and a bi-directional data interface for easy export of results.

A reliable method of measuring torque is essential in the development and production of small rotary components. It enables designers to perfect the 'feel' of their products and allows manufacturers to guarantee quality in production.

Equally at home in the laboratory or at the point of production, the compact and portable Tornado features a tough, water-resistant casing (rated to IP54), fabricated in non-painted polypropylene, making it suitable for use in pharmaceutical environments. Four capacity models are available, ranging from the 1.5N.m option for delicate assessments, to the 3N.m, 6N.m and 10N.m capacity models for increasingly robust applications.

The Tornado's digital torque capture electronics provide a far greater level of accuracy over traditional mechanical torque testers, and clear, intuitive controls ensure the unit is just as easy to use. An adjustable mounting plate grips the base of a sample, presenting it for application of clockwise or counter-clockwise torque by hand. Five dedicated function keys on the tester's membrane keypad provide quick access to the most commonly used functions, whilst a lockable advanced menu navigates the Tornado's more sophisticated capabilities.

The Tornado is the successor to Mecmesin's highly popular Orbis range of torque testers. The Orbis has now been redesigned into the same robust, waterproof casing as the new Tornado, but with fewer advanced features, to offer a 6N.m capacity entry-level alternative.

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

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

American Tire Corporation Refused an Offer for Acquisition

American Tire Corporation (ATC) has just refused an offer for entire acquisition of it made by a multi-billion U.S. company.

Chino, CA (PRWEB) February 6, 2008 -- American Tire Corporation (ATC) has just refused an offer for entire acquisition of it.

ATC received a letter of intent, which was sent by a broker in East USA last week, from a multi-billion U.S. company for acquiring ATC. This letter of intent clearly expresses the investor's strong interest in ATC and its OTR tire business, in addition to its new project in Washington. Also, a big offer for entire acquisition of ATC is included.

Although this offer makes sense for both the investor and ATC from the point of view of investment, it is finally refused because it is conflict with ATC's current strategy of development.

"It is important to make money as the return of an investment," Dr. Hengyucius, ATC President, said, "but more important for us is that we are able to enjoy the success when we directly contribute to not only the U.S. economy, but also the global community, by producing sufficient quality OTR tires for mining and construction industries worldwide. It is our pleasure to have the opportunity to work for our global village."

Dr. Hengyucius added, "We welcome outside investments all the time, but such investments shall be kept in a reasonable percentage. It is not the best choice for us to sell our business."

Aiming to become the largest and best manufacturer for 63" and 57" tires, American Tire Corporation is a well-established and rapidly-growing OTR tire manufacturer which has created a few FIRST in the OTR tire industry. It has just finalized its plans for it Washington manufacturing facility. For more information, please visit ATC's website http://www.americantire.us.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:36 AM | Comments (0)

J & P Wire of Oregon Invests in Automated CNC Wire Forming and Welding

J & P Wire, a family owned business in Milwaukie, Oregon, has expanded its manufacturing capabilities with a CNC 3D wire former. This wire bending equipment incorporates a wire butt welder that transfers the materials from the bender to the welder automatically. J & P Wire is a full service wire fabricator specializing in custom wire racks, point of purchase displays, wire gaurds, and wire basket manufacturing.

Milwaukee, OR (PRWEB) February 6, 2008 -- J & P Wire, a family owned business in Milwaukie, Oregon, has been working in the wire forming and bending business for over 3 decades. This healthy legacy comes from investing in their people and manufacturing technology. The most recent addition to the Oregon facility is an automated CNC wire forming machine. Capable of creating intricate wire patterns, this CNC 3D wire former incorporates new fabrication capabilities and efficiencies. Additionally, it is equipped with a wire butt welder that transfers the materials from the bender to the welder automatically. Learn more at http://www.jpwire.com.

Being a full service wire fabricator, J & P Wire is excited to have a high precision 3D former. "Our customers appreciate the faster lead times and tighter wire forming tolerances," says Scott Ripley, production manager at J & P Wire.

Scott and/or Ryan Gibson are happy to demonstrate the rapid tempo and ease at which this wire former breezes through jobs. It straightens and forms gauges of wire starting with 11 GA (.120) on the small end through 5/16 (.3125) on the high end. 3-D wire bending yields high levels of accuracy, efficiency and versatility.

Today's competitive manufacturing environment forces companies to invest in their capital equipment. J & P Wire is one of the fortunate companies to recognize this, making them able to compete on price and quality. With a portfolio full of wire point of purchase displays, racks, wire guards, and custom wire products, it's obvious that J & P has a successful strategy.

"We offer a full suite of services to be the best outsource and manufacturing partner possible," says Scott. In addition to wire bending, they offer design services, as well as high volume tube, flat, and sheet metal forming.

About J & P Wire
Since 1971, J & P Wire Products has been designing and creating custom metal products for diverse industries nationwide. Our pursuit is to continue to develop and manufacture products for leaders in commercial, industrial and governmental agencies. The J & P Wire project portfolio includes wire point of purchase displays, custom wire baskets, wire guards, racks for industry and retail. Learn more at http://www.jpwire.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:35 AM | Comments (0)

The Ethical Jewelry Handbook Is Now Available

A brand new handbook which explains how any company can implement the FRE System. FRE empowers customers to make decisions based on a product's: F= Fair labor; R= Social Responsibility and E=Ecological impact. It's an "open source" model. Any jewelry company can make it their own.

(PRWEB) February 6, 2008 -- Reflective Images, a designer jewelry firm, announces the free Ebook for the jewelry trade entitled: The Ethical Jewelry Handbook: A Resource Guide for the jewelry sector wishing to adopt exceptional standards and radical transparency: Fair, Responsible, Ecological (FRE) System.

The book provides articles and information for those in the jewelry sector wishing to be more ecologically and socially responsible in their business practices. It is also a handbook which explains how any company can implement the http://www.celticjewelry.com/fre.php [FRE System], which offers customers a detailed insight into the supply chain, from the mine to the showroom, for all components of every finished piece of jewelry the company sells.

"FRE empowers customers to make decisions based on a product's: F= Fair labor; R= Social Responsibility and E=Ecological impact. It's an "open source" model, said Marc Choyt, President of Reflective Images and author of the work. "If the Fair Labeling Organizations (FLO) are analogous to a closed operating system, such as Microsoft, our FRE system is analogous to Linux. Any jewelry company can make it their own," continued Choyt.

Reflective Images developed the FRE system because, in the current market, terminology such as "fair trade jewelry" and "eco jewelry" are practically meaningless. Choyt, who is working on a Madison Dialog committee to develop international third party fair trade standards for jewelry manufacturing, knows that this processes take years. He has implemented the FRE system on his website, http://www.celticjewelry.com. His second commercial website, http://www.artisanweddingrings.com, will also have the FRE system up soon.

"This book is the start of a project hopefully supported by the larger community in the ethical jewelry sector. Anyone who has information, articles, or supply sources can contact me. They will be included and listed as a contributor to future versions of the book," said Choyt.

Marc Choyt writes about ethical jewelry issues at www.fairjewelry.org, the most important source in the sector for those seeking to learn the politics, sourcing and production of ethical jewelry. His seminal article on the ethical jewelry sector was recently published in Modern Jeweler.

http://modernjeweler.com/print/Modern-Jeweler/Fair-Jewlery/1$606

Reflective Images, was established in 1995. It sells jewelry through its website, from its store and to approximately 75 jewelry stores around the country. In 2006, it was named one of Santa Fe, New Mexico's most visionary businesses.

For Further Info, Contact Marc Choyt at 505-988-7393 Ex 12.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:34 AM | Comments (0)

MessageSolution™ Announces Release of Enterprise Email Archive 5.0 for GroupWise, the First Email Archiving Solution to Support All Top Three Servers in the Market - Exchange, Domino, & GroupWise

MessageSolution™, Inc., the leading innovator in email and file archiving, announces the release of Enterprise Email Archive™ for GroupWise Server, making MessageSolution Enterprise Email Archive™ the first and only archiving solution to support all three enterprise email servers dominating the market. MessageSolution CTO Jeff Liang describes the development process and outlines the benefits of this product release. Enterprise Email Archive™ is an all-in-one software solution for compliance, e-discovery, litigation support, risk management, and storage optimization.

Milpitas, CA (PRWEB) February 5, 2008 -- MessageSolution™, Inc., the leading innovator in email and file archiving, electronic discovery, information lifecycle management, compliance, litigation support and storage management, today announces the release of Enterprise Email Archive™ for GroupWise, making MessageSolution Enterprise Email Archive™ the first and only archiving solution to support all three enterprise email servers dominating the current market.

With Exchange, Domino, and Unix-based versions of Enterprise Email Archive™ already installed for organizations worldwide, Enterprise Email Archive™ for GroupWise is MessageSolution's most recent breakthrough in native server integration. However, the release benefits more than just GroupWise users -- it marks a milestone in the email archiving industry as a whole.

"With the release of Enterprise Email Archive™ for GroupWise, we provide the enterprise archiving market with the first solution that supports all of the top three sellers in the enterprise email server market -- Microsoft Exchange, IBM Domino, and Novell GroupWise," said MessageSolution's CTO Jeff Liang.

Most archiving vendors in the market support only one or two mail servers on a single OS platform, which leaves organizations using a server-specific archive locked into their current environment.

"This release will help enterprises and organizations conducting email server upgrades and cross-server migrations tremendously," Liang continued. "Enterprise Email Archive™ can also now better assist organizations implementing an archiving solution on different servers or platforms after M&A activities."

"Our product's architecture was initially designed with a highly extensible platform that allows our research and development team to expand the product to other servers and platforms much faster than other vendors," Liang explained. "The R&D team's profound knowledge and field experiences with each specific server enable MessageSolution to offer products crafted to meet the highest integration standards."

GroupWise currently holds one of the top three positions in the enterprise email server market, and its market share continues to grow. The Radicati Group reported in 2007 that GroupWise's market share had risen by about 0.7% since 2006.

Organizations using GroupWise can now turn to one price-competitive, robust, and highly scalable archiving product to overcome the joint challenges of high volume storage, compliance regulations or auditing. Enterprise Email Archive™ also arms non-regulated organizations using GroupWise with a tool to meet all electronic discovery deadlines, as required by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

With this entrance into Novell's server market for live archiving, electronic discovery, and server storage management, MessageSolution will add more revenue streams to its solid market presence in Exchange, Domino, and Unix/Linux-based server environments.

MessageSolution will launch the release of Enterprise Email Archive™ for GroupWise at Novell's BrainShare conference, which will take place in March in Salt Lake City, Utah. Company executives will be available for individual comment at MessageSolution's exhibitor booth at BrainShare's PartnerNet Showcase.

About MessageSolution, Inc.:
MessageSolution is the top provider of email, file, and instant message archiving, electronic discovery, compliance, and content storage management. MessageSolution's products enable organizations to mitigate risk, reduce costs and storage requirements, optimize server performance, and comply with industry and federal regulations. Based in Silicon Valley, California, MessageSolution maintains operations in North America, Europe, and Mainland China, along with distribution channels in Europe, South Africa, Australia, and Asia Pacific.

MessageSolution's award-winning products, Enterprise Email Archive and Enterprise File Archive, are cross-server onsite archiving software applications. Both products serve organizations across all industries, including finance, health care, education, manufacturing, government agencies and non-profit organizations worldwide. MessageSolution's products free IT administrators from daily maintenance and increase overall employee productivity. For more information, visit http://www.messagesolution.com.

MessageSolution is actively working with partners around the world to develop its worldwide business presence. Please visit our web site for more information on the Global Partner Network Program.

What Differentiates MessageSolution Products:
Customers continually emphasize MessageSolution products' excellent overall performance and ease of use, with quick implementation and sub-second data retrieval, along with the intuitiveness of the interface and ease of maintenance. MessageSolution's intelligent back-end design significantly reduces installation requirements, backup time, and the need for technical support calls.

MessageSolution Enterprise Email Archive™ deftly manages petabytes of data daily, a powerful enterprise archiving tool. Electronic discovery and litigation support are empowered by the archive's built-in search engine, which searches through millions of emails within seconds across global locations and data centers. Users can access the archive through their email client, browser, or BlackBerry.

A high in-process compression rate combined with single instance message and attachment archiving slows archive storage growth. Enterprise Email Archive™ further reduces organizations' storage costs by using only 30% of the original mail server storage space for live content archiving. MessageSolution's products support all Latin-based languages, as well as all character-based languages, such as Japanese and Chinese.

Customer and Partner Base:
While continuing to grow rapidly in the North American market, MessageSolution has established its worldwide product channel representations in strategic countries and regions. Western European countries represented include Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom; MessageSolution's international reach also includes China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Media contact: Ashley Coover
MessageSolution,Inc.
1851 McCarthy Blvd., Suite 105
Milpitas, CA 95035
Phone: (408) 383-0100
Fax: (408) 383-0222
http://www.messagesolution.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:32 AM | Comments (0)

Impact Systems Announces Record Revenues for 2007 and Looks Forward to a Strong 2008

Impact Systems Inc., (http://www.impactinfosys.com), a leading provider of enterprise content management (ECM) deployments and migrations, today announced record revenues for fiscal year 2007, generated from ECM services and sales of proprietary software tools.

Montchanin, DE (PRWEB) February 5, 2008 -- Impact Systems Inc., (www.impactinfosys.com), a leading provider of enterprise content management (ECM) deployments and migrations, today announced record revenues for fiscal year 2007, generated from ECM services and sales of proprietary software tools.

"We are very pleased with the company's performance in 2007. Impact Systems increased its net income by more than 230% over the record year we had in 2006," CEO Mangesh Honwad stated. "Additionally, the company's content migration services, a newer focus for Impact Systems, produced over one million dollars in revenue in both 2006 and 2007."

Gerry Machi, Chairman of Impact's Advisory Board went on to say, "With an estimated one in five enterprises expected to renew an existing ECM investment within the next six months, and four out of five companies expected to deploy a content management system near-term, Impact Systems is ready to help enterprises achieve their ECM goals."

Machi continued, "As an EMC® Documentum® Partner with over a decade of ECM experience, Impact Systems is committed to making ECM easier for their customers with proven, comprehensive migration and deployment processes, as well as a proprietary suite of software tools. Using this solid foundation, solutions are then tailored to meet individual business requirements and needs."

Plans for 2008 to support continued growth for Impact Systems include readiness to implement migrations to the EMC® Documentum® 6 platform. "Whether customers are seeking migration from previous Documentum versions, or are interested in migrating their content from another platform, Impact Systems is fully equipped to lead customers from the due diligence and analysis process through to a quality controlled implementation of EMC Documentum 6," stated CEO Mangesh Honwad.

A second key platform for Impact Systems' growth is the continued expansion of the company's Compliance-in-a-Box (CiB) (http://www.impactinfosys.com/compliance-solutions) offering, developed in partnership with EMC Documentum. CiB is a proprietary, turn-key compliance and control software designed for emerging life sciences companies. Compliance-in-a-Box includes EMC's Documentum software as well as installation, configuration and validation, delivered on-site for a system that is up and running in four weeks. New developments include a Compliance-in-a-Box Submission Edition that provides an eCTD publishing solution for emerging life sciences companies.

About Impact Systems, Inc.
Founded in 1996, Impact Systems focuses on the deployment and migration of Enterprise Content Management (ECM) systems. Impact Systems has developed a proven, comprehensive migration process, including an upfront Migration Analysis Assessment and a proprietary suite of migration software tools that allows for the migration of configuration, content, metadata and related templates, policies and rules across ECM (EMC Documentum, FileNet, Open Text, Lotus Notes and SharePoint) platforms. The company has delivered migration solutions to satisfied clients in the life sciences, manufacturing, technology and financial services markets. In addition, Impact Systems specializes in deploying regulatory business solutions such as Compliance-in-a-Box - via both consulting services and software tools - for clients in the life sciences (medical devices, biotech, pharmaceutical and healthcare) markets. Impact Systems is a member of the EMC2 Consulting/Select Services Team. Visit Impact Systems at http://www.impactinfosys.com or call 302-573-6864 x121.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:30 AM | Comments (0)

Maintenance Associations Gather for Reliability Centered Maintenance Forum

Reliability and Asset Management Conference supported by global maintenance and reliability associations.

Fort Myers FL (PRWEB) February 5, 2008 -- Reliabilityweb.com announced today that representatives from the new Association for Maintenance Professionals, the Vibration Association of New Zealand, Japan Institute for Plant Maintenance, the Korean Association of Plant Engineers, the Plant Engineering and Maintenance Association of Canada will all meet on March 17 in Las Vegas at RCM-2008 Reliability Centered Maintenance Managers' Forum and EAM-2008 Enterprise Asset Management Summit to discuss global cooperation for empowering maintenance and reliability professionals.

"We could not be more pleased to support the maintenance and reliability community with a meeting like this," stated conference organizer Terrence O'Hanlon "So many maintenance professionals re-invent the wheel as they begin to move to more reliability based strategies. By encouraging Professional Associations to cooperate and share knowledge, the ultimate winner is the maintenance and reliability professional."

The topics covered at the conference include Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM), considered a proactive strategy to ensure that factory assets provide the desired function at the desired output. Studies show that companies that employ Reliability Centered Maintenance enjoy a 10% cost advantage over companies that are dependant upon time based preventive maintenance.

Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) is the other focus area for this learning event as further research shows "best in class" companies use powerful integrated maintenance software solutions like EAM and Analytics not only to track equipment history, maintenance labor and material; but to collect leading key performance indicators that are shared with stakeholders across the enterprise.

"With energy and material costs rising, combined with the credit market tightening, many companies are desperately seeking new areas to increase production output while reducing operating cost." continued O'Hanlon "Reliability based asset management is an area that can reap significant returns that provide companies with a global market advantage in the efficient supply chain brought in by the flat world most compete in. This event features 50 real world case studies that prove the theory."

Seats are still available for RCM-2008 and EAM-2008 held March 17-20 in Las Vegas. Full program details and registration information is available online at MaintenanceConference.com or at Reliabilityweb.com

About Reliabilityweb.com:
Reliabilityweb.com includes a network of maintenance and reliability web sites serving over 55,000 maintenance and reliability professionals from around the world. The Reliablityweb.com also publishes Uptime Magazine a bi-monthly publication for maintenance and reliability professionals. The network serves as a resource for Senior Reliability Executives, Plant Managers, Maintenance Managers and Reliability Engineers. Online tutorials, articles, case histories and news items are updated daily.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:28 AM | Comments (0)

Sparta, NJ High School Engineering Students Build Submarine that Astounds Teachers and Race Judges Alike

Engineering students from Sussex County Technical School win 1st Place in ‘Innovation' at Int'l. Submarine Races in Maryland, with help from corporate sponsors like Control Products of East Hanover, NJ.

East Hanover, NJ (PRWEB) February 5, 2008 – The challenge for these teenage engineering students? Design and build a human-powered submarine from scratch, and then race it in a 22-foot deep, 100-meter long waterway against other submarines, most of which were built by students in college-level engineering programs.

“A high school is not supposed to be able to do this!” beamed Chris Land, teacher at Sussex County Technical School in Sparta, NJ. But a group of his engineering students did just that at the ninth International Submarine Races in Bethesda, MD last year, and went on to win first place in the Innovation category. Many other schools competed against them, including teams from Virginia Tech, the University of Michigan and even the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Now, those students (seniors on the team) have moved on to some of the top university engineering programs in the country.

"The reason we won in the Innovation category was because we were the first team ever to incorporate both the upper body strength and lower body strength of a single person," says Land, who was also the faculty project manager for the Sussex County Tech team. The students, Land says, always prove to be remarkably innovative and since 2003 have been entering the biannual race. Furthermore, they have won awards in various categories each and every time they have entered.

Several corporate sponsors donated parts for the Sussex County Tech submarine, dubbed UmptySquatch 3.2. Control Products, Inc. (CPI) of East Hanover, NJ, a manufacturer of high-quality waterproof and thermal switches, donated waterproof switches that proved to be critical for the submarine's success. CPI, which has plans to provide important components to additional submarine teams from other schools in the 2009 competition, intends to continue its support of engineering education through equipment donations.

"The International Submarine Race is a fantastic event that motivates young people to explore the field of engineering," says Mac Stuhler, vice president of CPI. "Being able to take part in something that helps to develop the engineers of the future means a great deal to us."

The engineering students at Sussex County Tech spent a whirlwind year designing, building and preparing UmptySquatch 3.2 for the contest, which also requires pilots to obtain SCUBA certification.

"I make the students take three to four weeks to convince me that they want to compete again, because it's not the kind of project I can drag them through," Land says. But Sussex County Tech students always rise to the challenge with enthusiasm and dedication. One of this year's submarine pilots, sophomore Chelsea Shupe, gave up her school softball career in order to obtain her SCUBA certification, help design and build the sub and, ultimately, compete in the race.

While most of the submarine designs used in the race have a bicycle pedal or rotary system that utilizes only the pilot's leg power, the Sparta students decided it was important to increase the power to the propeller, prompting them to study exercise machines that work the entire body. The result was their own invention of a novel propulsion system unlike anything conceived previously for a similar submarine project.

To compensate for the constant motion of the pilot's arms and legs, which compromises steering and depth control, the students designed a computer-controlled system based on sonar inputs. They also needed a manual override since they wouldn't be able to test the complex computerized system until the race. Waterproof switches from CPI, two for the rudder and two for the depth planes, were mounted on the handles that the pilot used to power the sub. If the switches, which had to withstand completely submerged conditions and constant use, proved too difficult to use or undependable, a reliable test run would not have been possible. As it turned out, the CPI waterproof switches worked flawlessly.

The total cost of building UmptySquatch 3.2 would have exceeded $62,000 had the school been required to foot the entire bill. As a result of corporate sponsors like CPI, the final cost to the school was barely more than $3,000.

School and race officials say that a project like this encourages students to consider engineering as a profession, which is always in the best interest of America's technological leadership and ingenuity. Almost every senior who has been a part of the Sussex Tech submarine team over the last few years has gone on to study engineering in college.

The International Submarine Races, sponsored by several regional and national companies and held at the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center's David Taylor Model Basin, is designed to give students a real world engineering experience. Safety is a key factor, especially since there is always an element of danger in underwater activities. With the availability of corporate sponsors, some competing teams have advantages over others. That, too, is part of the real-life experience, since many engineering companies, departments, teams and taskforces have certain advantages over others, even when in pursuit of similar goals.

About Sussex County Technical School
The Sussex County Technical School (http://www.sussex.tec.nj.us/), a school of choice, in partnership with family, community, business, industry and institutions of higher learning, empowers secondary and adult students to become self-directed learners and active participants in their community by providing a competitive advantage to pursue any career opportunity.

About Control Products, Inc.
Control Products, Inc. (www.cpi-nj.com) has been manufacturing a broad line of high quality waterproof and thermal switches since 1946. The company, known for the Precision, Efficiency, Reliability and Safety of its products, specializes in addressing OEM-specific switching challenges. In effect, the company acts as an extension of its customers' engineering departments. CPI waterproof switches are designed to operate reliably when exposed to water, oil, humidity, sand, dirt, vibration, and shock. A building block system of basic switches, mounting brackets, and actuators provides a broad array of application solutions.

For a more comprehensive story on UmptySquatch 3.2, with photos, please visit: http://www.cpi-nj.com/umptysquatch. For more information on the International Submarine Race, visit: http://www.isrsubrace.org.

Media Contact:
973-887-9400
sales@cpi-nj.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:28 AM | Comments (0)

Phoenix Polymer Compounding LLC Announces the Launch of their New Website

Provides easy navigation and comprehensive information by market and product type for nearly every existing family of thermoplastic resin.

Brighton, MI (PRWEB) February 5, 2008 -- Phoenix Polymer Compounding LLC today announced the launch of their new interactive website www.phoenixpoly.com which provides easy navigation and comprehensive information by market and product type for nearly every existing family of thermoplastic resin.

Phoenix Polymer Compounding has over 70 combined years of the industries finest expertise. With our 50,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility, we compound nearly every existing family of thermoplastic resin; from value conscious commodity polymers to high performance engineering polymers, with our environmentally responsible Resurgens® line of recycled material containing counterparts for many also available.

Our equipment, facility configuration and quality control system has been developed to support high quality, low to medium volume compounds.

By incorporating an extensive range of reinforcements, additives, modifiers and synergistic polymer alloys, a vast combination of properties can be achieved to provide our customers with a limitless range of solutions. With the large selection of polymer, reinforcement, additive and modifier families at our disposal, our engineers independently make choices in their recommendations based on your unique performance criteria, rather than trying to fit a solution into a limited range of options.

Phoenix Polymer Compounding provides the highest and most consistent quality at competitive prices to a wide variety of market applications.

GNA Marketing Group a renowned brand identity and target marketing firm www.gnamg.com is responsible for conceptualizing, designing and marketing the Phoenix Polymer Compounding website.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:27 AM | Comments (0)

IVT Powers Innovative Video Podcasting and Desktop Webcasting to Expand Dealer Education Program for NEC Unified Solutions

NEC deploys IVT Studio to record, distribute and archive the company's "employee-generated" video programming

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) February 5, 2008 - IVT, which transforms the reach and impact of companies' communications with an industrial-strength suite of rich media webcasting products, today announced that NEC Unified Solutions has initiated a dual webcasting and podcasting program using the company's IVT Studio self-service webcasting application. The initiative is an expansion of NEC Unified Solutions' four-year-old webcasting program powered by IVT MediaPlatform, the company's enterprise webcasting platform. This new phase allows individual members of NEC's North American sales force to reach the dealer network with professional quality webcasting and podcasting.

To further capitalize on the use of video and rich media for business purposes, in November 2007 NEC expanded its video webcasting program to increase the use of educational video content. Using IVT Studio, NEC's salesforce can quickly communicate with the company's North American dealer network via a self-service video webcast or podcast created from their desktop. For example, after a large (or small) dealer meeting, a sales rep can immediately send a follow up webcast with all the critical information for review. NEC is also using IVT Studio to power a new monthly webcast and podcast series, which is distributed to hundreds of dealers throughout North America.

This new initiative expands one of the Fortune 500's most creative, customer-focused training programs. Since 2003, NEC Unified Solutions has made training materials and corporate communications viewable on demand via webcasts to more than 500 North American dealers, achieving qualitative and quantitative ROI. According to research conducted by industry analyst group Interactive Media Strategies, NEC estimates that the dealers alone have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars annually by replacing in-person training sessions with interactive presentations.

"Using just a webcam, PowerPoint slides and their computers, our sales representatives have been able to quickly create and share professional-quality business presentations with hundreds of dealers at the dealers' convenience. What has really added extra value is that we can track each webcast, so we can tell which partners or team members actually view the content that we've created and how long they viewed it," said Paul Lopez, general manager of Marketing and Services for NEC Unified Solutions. "By providing our channel partners with 24-7 video presentations that include PowerPoint slides and interactive rich media integrated throughout, we have empowered each dealer to review informative, updated sales content when and how they want to. Our comprehensive webcasting program has allowed the NEC sales team to form closer, more profitable relationships with our dealers around the country."

"Companies that truly understand how to leverage new communication strategies are taking cues from the consumer-generated video explosion by applying corporate rich media solutions to communicate more effectively and measure a concrete ROI by doing so," said Phillip Whalen, President and CEO of IVT. "NEC's use of IVT Studio demonstrates that organizations can deploy self-service webcasting initiatives, in addition to traditional webcasting programs, to satisfy existing communications needs in a more effective and less costly way."

IVT Studio is a self-service desktop webcasting product designed to easily capture and synchronize video, audio, PowerPoint and other rich media to enable content specialists who are not media experts to create their own professional webcasts and podcasts with minimal-to-no training. Once IVT Studio projects are completed, they are automatically published to a content distribution network (CDN) or hosting environment. This dynamic publishing process makes IVT Studio webcasts instantaneously available to thousands, whose activity can then be tracked down to each individual viewer.

About NEC Unified Solutions, Inc. (http://www.necunified.com)
NEC Unified Solutions Inc., a global leader in VoIP and data communications for the enterprise and small-medium business, delivers the industry's most innovative suite of products, applications and services that help customers achieve business value through technology. NEC Unified Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of NEC Corporation of America, offers a complete portfolio of solutions for wireless, unified communications, voice, data and management services, and an open migration path to protect investments. NEC Unified Solutions, Inc. serves Fortune 1000 customers across the globe in vertical markets such as hospitality, education, government and healthcare. For more information, visit www.necunified.com.

About IVT (http://www.ivtweb.com/)
IVT transforms the reach and impact of companies' communications. IVT's industrial-strength suite of reliable rich media webcasting products is changing how people present, distribute and absorb ideas and information. From easy, self-service desktop applications to complete corporate webcasting solutions, IVT's products are powered by the world's most advanced, patented rich media publishing engine. Using video, PowerPoint and interactive elements, IVT's product suite allows companies of all sizes to create and share both live and pre-recorded communications. Webcasts and podcasts created with IVT software are providing content creators with immediate, detailed insight into audience behavior and message comprehension, closing the loop on modern communications. IVT is making meetings, training, communications and customer service efforts more effective, while increasing information retention and simultaneously cutting costs.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:24 AM | Comments (0)

Stemilt Growers Chooses Retail Solutions to Improve Promotion Effectiveness

Leading Produce Grower Leverages Retail Solutions to Establish Fact-Based Dialog with Key Retailer Partner

Sunnyvale, CA (PRWEB) February 5, 2008 -- Retail Solutions Inc. (formerly known as T3Ci), the leading solution provider helping consumer product goods (CPG) companies create value with retailer data, today announced that Stemilt Growers Inc., one of the leading produce growers in the US, has extended its relationship with Retail Solutions to better manage its operations with its leading retailer customer.

"We have been working with T3Ci, now Retail Solutions for over a year," said Don Stone, Account Manager, Stemilt Growers. "Over this period of time, and thanks to our joint work, we have tremendously improved our understanding on what it takes to serve our key retailer customer more effectively, especially for promotions."

Stemilt uses the Retail Solutions Trade Promotion suite to understand how to design and execute more successful promotions. By using real-time data on how stores execute events and by correlating promotion design parameters with execution and lift, Stemilt has been able to optimize its supply chain and reduce out-of-stocks.

"The learning curve in this process was astonishing," said Jared Schrieber, Vice President, Products and Services, Retail Solutions. "We realized that execution timing not only impacted the promotional event, but also affected the availability of Stemilt products in the stores following the event. In the produce industry these problems are compounded by markdowns. By giving more visibility to Stemilt, they were able to plan a more efficient supply chain and ensure they would maximize sales and availability without giving up on margin."

Stemilt has also used this project to identify stores significantly overperforming or underperforming against their peer group, and has made an effort to understand the root causes of this variance. Stemilt visited these stores to identify best practices and resolve potential issues.

"We have used the Retail Solutions project learnings to establish a fact-based dialog with our retailers down to the store level," added Bret Barnes, RFID sales analyst, Stemilt Growers. "This is of tremendous importance to us and we now know exactly on which stores and on which topics to focus. This resulted in a better, more seamless relationship with our retailer partner: which we believe is one of the long-term keys to success for suppliers."

About Retail Solutions Inc.
Retail Solutions applies science to retailer data. Formerly known as T3Ci, Retail Solutions develops and delivers a comprehensive suite of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions that turn retailer data, such as point-of-sale (POS), supply chain, merchandiser feedback and EPC data into actionable visibility into the store and onto the shelf.

Leading companies such as Bayer, Colgate-Palmolive, HP, Kao Brands, the JM Smucker's Company, Kraft, Procter & Gamble, Schering-Plough Corp., Novartis, Stemilt, Tyson Foods Inc. and Unilever trust Retail Solutions. Please visit www.retailsolutions.com for more information.

About Stemilt Growers Inc.
Stemilt Growers Inc. is a privately owned fresh tree fruit grower-packer-shipper established by current Board Chairman Tom Mathison in 1960. The Mathison family has been in the business of producing tree fruits since 1914 when the family's first orchards were established near Wenatchee on Stemilt Hill, overlooking the mighty Columbia River. Stemilt continues to be solely owned by the Mathison family, with five packing facilities in Washington and one in Stockton, Calif. Stemilt is the largest fresh cherry grower-packer-shipper in the United States, as well as a national leader in apples, pears, and organic tree fruits. Learn more about Stemilt at www.stemilt.com.

Media and Analyst Contact Information:
Victoria Sian
Marketing Communications Manager, Retail Solutions
+1 408.541.5260
victoria.sian(at)retailsolutions.com

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:23 AM | Comments (0)

Fenner Precision Introduces the FHT Class of Synchronous Belts

Polyurethane, size and customization increase benefits of high torque belts.

Manheim, PA (PRWEB) February 5, 2008 -- Synchronous belts are generally preferred for conveying applications, especially paper propulsion, because they offer higher accuracy, lower maintenance and better performance at higher speeds. Traditionally, these belts have been made of rubber or a composite which doesn't offer the level of tooth definition and precision necessary for many applications. Fenner Precision, a leader in belts, tires and pulleys, now offers the Fenner High Torque (FHT) Class of synchronous belts which are made of polyurethane.

The nature of polyurethane offers several advantages over traditional materials including a cleaner tooth profile, different grades for higher COF and temperatures, and tensil strengths exceeding 1,000 pounds.

The FHT Class of belts is available in various sizes and pitches including 1mm, 2mm, 3mm and 5mm. The FHT belts have a curvilinear tooth profile as opposed to the traditional trapezoidal profile. The curvilinear profile offers two outstanding and distinct benefits: more surface contact with the pulley and more uniformly distributed stress concentration. Other benefits of this profile include: less noise, dusting, backlash and vibration; improved positioning; better wear, accuracy, and meshing with the pulley.

The FHT Class of belts is available open ended as well as closed.

The Fenner Precision engineering staff will work with clients to customize the FHT belts to meet their unique design situation. Solutions can include tooth pitch adjusted to match stepper motor pulse rates, miniaturization of overall design, integral molded features, and custom inside members among other various unique custom features according to needs. Fenner Precision can also engineer backside customization such as lugs, cleats and fastening points.

While the FHT Class of belts are especially conducive to paper propulsion applications such as office scanners, faxes, copiers, printers, binding machines, collators and folders, the belts are also useful in medical, electronic, closed-circuit TV, camera, ATM and toy applications.

About Fenner Precision
Fenner Precision is a global leader in the design and development of belts, pulleys and tires for paper propulsion applications including consumer printers, office machines, mail handling machines and money handling equipment. The company also manufactures specialty technical coated fabrics for low friction and high temperature applications. Fenner Precision is a wholly- owned subsidiary of Fenner PLC. For more information, visit www.fennerprecision.com.

Posted by Industrial-Manufacturing at 01:22 AM | Comments (0)

All-Spec Announces O.C. White and Prolite Illuminated Magnifier and Microscope Sale

From now through the end of March, O.C. White and Prolite illuminated magnifiers and microscopes will be on sale at All-Spec.

Wilmington, NC (PRWEB) February 5, 2008 -- All-Spec Industries has announced their O.C. White and Prolite sale on microscopes and illuminated magnifiers.

Items on sale include clamp down magnifiers, video inspection systems, fume extractors, microscopes and more. Sale prices can be found at www.all-spec.com by clicking the illuminated magnifier graphic at the top of the homepage.

O.C. White has been around since 1894 and clearly has the right recipe for success which includes superior product design, the newest technology and top-of-the-line craftsmanship with the highest quality materials.

The sale will run now through the end of March.

On sale at All-Spec is O.C. White's TKDPZT-A Pro-Zoom Ultimate Digital Trinocular Microscope. This microscope offers unsurpassed image quality with a user-friendly design. Its ESD safe scope features still image capture as well as streaming video capture with audio voice over. The 1.3 megapixel camera is USB 2.0 powered and connects directly to your computer. In addition to the trinocular microscope mentioned above, All-Spec also has binocular ESD microscopes, Super Scope video inspection systems, as well as Vision Lite magnifiers and Big Eye magnifiers on sale.

Microscopes and illuminated magnifiers sold by All-Spec Industries are not just for electronic production; they can be used in a variety of environments including laboratories, schools, hospitals and medical offices, and can even be used at home for hobbies such as coin collecting.

For more information on the O.C. White and Prolite sale, contact Customer Service or visit www.all-spec.com.

Established in 1988, All-Spec Industries carries ESD materials, electronic manufacturing tools, soldering stations and irons, and telecom, field service, and test & measurement equipment. All-Spec Industries normally ships 97% of all in-house stock orders received each day. In some cases, the product will ship directly from the manufacturer or one of our other off-site warehouses.

Contact:
Customer Service
All-Spec Industries
1-800-537-0351
sales @ allspec.com
www.all-spec.com

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

New Stockwell Elastomerics Brochure Showcases Production Capabilities and Industry Expertise

Stockwell Elastomerics' new brochure highlights production capabilities and focuses on applications in the industries it supplies, such as medical diagnostic equipment, telecommunications, portable data devices, aerospace and defense. Stockwell Elastomeris' is a custom manufacturer of silicone rubber and elastomeric components for demanding requirements in the technology equipment sector, offering in-house custom molding, die cutting and water jet cutting capabilities.

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) February 5, 2008 -- Stockwell Elastomerics, Inc. announces the availability of its new Capabilities Brochure that describes production capabilities and shows the types of components produced for its core industry markets.

Stockwell Elastomerics has a broad range of on-site production and engineering capabilities to support the design and manufacturing of high technology equipment. Stockwell's in-house capabilities include application of adhesive backings on silicone and similar materials, die cutting, compression and injection molding, water jet cutting and custom fabrication. The company is well known for its design support, prototype and fast-turn initial production capabilities.

The new capabilities brochure has pages dedicated to the Analytical Instrumentation, Medical Diagnostic Equipment, Portable Data Acquisition, Telecommunications Equipment, Airflow Management and Aerospace & Defense markets.

"While the new Stockwell Elastomerics brochure describes our on-site production capabilities and materials expertise," said Bill Stockwell, President of Stockwell Elastomerics, Inc., "its focus is the way we support our customers in the many industries that we serve."

About Stockwell Elastomerics, Inc.
Stockwell Elastomerics, Inc. is ISO9001-2000 registered. The company's core competence is the fabrication and molding of silicone rubber and similar high performance elastomers that enhance the performance of the final product.

For additional information or to request a copy of the new capabilities brochure contact Stockwell Elastomerics.

Stockwell Elastomerics, Inc.
4749 Tolbut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19136
Phone: 215-335-3005
Email: service @ stockwell.com
Website: http://www.stockwell.com

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

SCHOTT Corporation and Gemtron Corporation Announce Jury Verdict of Patent Infringement Against Saint-Gobain Corporation

Gemtron refrigerator shelf patent upheld and Saint-Gobain held to infringe Gemtron's patent pending final action by court.

Elmsford, NY (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 5, 2008 -- A judgment was entered today by the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan on a verdict returned by a jury in favor of Gemtron Corporation and against Saint-Gobain Corporation. Gemtron is a joint venture between SCHOTT Corporation and AGC-Flat Glass North America, Inc. ("SCHOTT-Gemtron"). The jury found that Saint-Gobain is infringing United States Patent No. 6,679,573 ("the '573" patent"), owned by SCHOTT-Gemtron. The jury also rejected Saint-Gobain's defense that the '573 patent was invalid. The '573 patent covers refrigerator shelves that are made of a plastic frame and a glass panel that snap together. Judgment has been entered against Saint-Gobain on 35 specifically identified lines of refrigerator shelves, as well as any similarly constructed refrigerator shelves, that have been or are being imported into, used, or sold in the United States.

A trial on damages and willful infringement is scheduled to begin on April 7, 2008.

SCHOTT-Gemtron expects that certain post-trial motions will be filed by Saint-Gobain with the Court with respect to the jury's decision. In the near future, SCHOTT-Gemtron intends to ask the Court for permanent injunctive relief to prohibit Saint-Gobain continuing infringement of the patent. The decision may be appealed by Saint-Gobain to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

"We are gratified the jury found that the SCHOTT-Gemtron patent pertaining to refrigerator shelves is valid and enforceable and that Saint-Gobain's actions infringe on that patent. The verdict further demonstrates both SCHOTT-Gemtron's resolve to vigorously defend our intellectual property portfolio and the strength of SCHOTT-Gemtron's patent portfolio in the U.S. marketplace," said Dr. Hans-Joachim Konz, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SCHOTT Gemtron Corporation.

About SCHOTT:
SCHOTT is a technology-driven, international group that sees its core purpose as the improvement of how people live and work through expert solutions in specialty materials, components and systems. Its main areas of focus are special glasses and glass-ceramics for architectural applications, the household appliance industry, pharmaceutical packaging, optics and opto-electronics, information technology, consumer electronics, lighting, automotive engineering and solar energy.

SCHOTT has a presence in close proximity to its customers through highly efficient production and sales companies in all of its major markets. It has more than 17,000 employees producing worldwide sales of approximately $2 billion. In North America, SCHOTT's holding companies SCHOTT Corporation and its subsidiary SCHOTT North America, Inc. employ about 2,500 people in 16 operations.

The company's technological and economic expertise is closely linked with its social and ecological responsibilities.

Press Contact:
Brian Lynch
P: (914) 831-2287
www.us.schott.com

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

Hawker Beechcraft Reports 2007 Aircraft Deliveries

Wichita, KS (Vocus/PRWEB ) February 5, 2008 -- Hawker Beechcraft Acquisition Company, LLC (HBAC) reported 150 business and general aviation aircraft deliveries for its fourth quarter and 430 for the year 2007. Deliveries for the full year 2007 include those delivered by Raytheon Aircraft, the predecessor business to HBAC, in the first calendar quarter of the year. This information was reported as part of an industry-wide statistical accumulation of aircraft deliveries by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.

Total business and general aviation aircraft deliveries by model during the fourth quarter and for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007, were as follows:

2007 UNITS
Q4 TOTAL YEAR
Hawker 900XP 24 32
Hawker 850XP/800XP 5 35
Hawker 400XP 14 41
Premier IA 22 54
King Air 350 20 53
King Air 200/200GT 25 58
King Air C90GT/C90GTi 10 46
Baron G58 11 38
Bonanza G36 19 73
Total Business and General Aviation Aircraft Deliveries: 150 430

Hawker Beechcraft is the world’s leading business, special-mission and trainer aircraft manufacturer – designing, marketing and supporting aviation products and services for businesses, governments and individuals worldwide. The company’s headquarters and major facilities are located in Wichita, Kan., with operations in Salina, Kan.; Little Rock, Ark.; and Chester, England, U.K. The company leads the industry with a global network of over 100 factory-owned and authorized service centers. For more information, visit www.hawkerbeechcraft.com.

Statements made in this news release that state Hawker Beechcraft's or its management's intentions, beliefs, expectations, or predictions for the future constitute "forward looking statements" as defined by federal securities laws, which involve significant risks and uncertainties. Many risks and uncertainties are inherent in