Author Archives: Andrea Mustine

The Supermarket Phenomenon and Its Effect on Industrial Mixers

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Andrea Mustine

Going out to pick up some groceries is no longer a quick and easy trip to the corner market like it was fifty years ago, when there were five types of breakfast cereal instead of eighty and milk came in jars filled hours before at the local dairy farm. Times have changed, and the change has birthed a phenomenon known as the supermarket, which has altered the food and beverage industry significantly. Not only does processed food now dominate the aisles of grocery stores across the nation, but the expanded options for every food group, from canned meats to cheese to chips to granola bars, can be overwhelming for the average consumer. However, setting aside the possible panic attacks experienced by individuals who CANNOT decide what kind of pasta brand to buy, this growth has increased the number of thriving food and beverage companies and therefore jobs in our difficult economic climate. In turn, this has benefited the industrial manufacturers who provide the food companies with their equipment, such as industrial mixer manufacturers. Continue reading →

Posted in IQS Directory, Process Equipment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Elegance of Spin Forming and Chandeliers

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Andrea Mustine

Creating an environment of old world elegance and grace can be easily achieved with an artfully crafted chandelier, which inevitably takes center stage in any residential or commercial venue that seeks to dazzle those who enter it. Lighting up rooms that vary from theatres to libraries to homes of individuals, chandeliers are a sure fire way of making a lasting impression. These light fixtures have been around for centuries, morphing with the times by replacing candles with light bulbs while retaining the grandeur and charm of soft but thorough lighting and fine craftsmanship. The way chandeliers are produced in our modern age has also evolved. No longer are the metallic elements that make up chandeliers hand carved, but they are developed by way of methods like spin forming, a process that shapes round or hollowed out objects withdimensions that are even and precise. Whether this process is applied with a manually run metal spinning machine are a CNC machining system, the result is always the same; perfection. Continue reading →

Posted in General Industry Articles, Metals & Materials | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Relationship between Cosmetics and Aluminum Powdered Parts

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Andrea Mustine

The funny thing about industrial materials is that they can be utilized in ways the average consumer would never think possible. Thankfully, it is not average consumers but innovative industrial minds that are constantly stretching the boundaries of applications for various products, creating new forms for materials that will benefit new markets. Not only does this mean more jobs and financial security for certain material industries, such as powdered metal, but it also means that technological advancements are never neglected but always being pursued. This developmental phenomenon can sometimes take shape in extremely unexpected business arenas. For example, aluminum powder parts, which are an innovation in and of themselves, are being utilized within the cosmetic industry as well as the manufacturing of metal parts for automotives, electronics and medical instruments, among other products. Continue reading →

Posted in IQS Directory, Metals & Materials | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Futuristic Novelty of Laser Guided Vehicles

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Andrea Mustine

Few things utilized in industrial settings can be called “novel” because most of the equipment is practical, lacking the frills that would place it in the novelty category. However, some of the technological advancements in modern machinery have led to the crafting and operating of things most people would only recognize from science fiction books, films and television shows. An example of equipment with an undeniable futuristic novelty is laser guided vehicles. Like something out of The Jetsons, these AGV (automated guided vehicles) are designed to operate without any human assistance, going from one place to another with preprogrammed instructions. In addition, the lasers that enable the vehicles to get from here to there are also able to recognize obstacles in the preprogrammed path and alter the course to avoid the obstacle and then get right back on the original path. Acting like intelligent life forms but without demanding higher pay or talking back, laser guided vehicles benefit the industrial companies that utilize them in many ways while retaining an element of novelty for all those who work with them. Continue reading →

Posted in IQS Directory, Plant & Facility | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

IQS Newsroom Featured Profile: Dexmet Corporation

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Andrea Mustine

The current economic climate is bogging down most industrial progress, which is why companies that take innovation seriously, like Dexmet Corporation, continue to do well despite the lag in manufacturing. Dexmet has been in the expanded metals industry since 1948 and has always embraced growth and exploration within their field of precision expanded materials. Continue reading →

Posted in IQS Directory, Metals & Materials | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

IQS Newsroom Featured Profile: Associated Bag Company

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Andrea Mustine

Providing excellent customer service has been the focus at Associated Bag Company since the business began in 1938, selling burlap bags from the back of a horse-drawn wagon in Milwaukee. Since this humble beginning, the business has grown into the national company it is today because of its continuing emphasis on customer satisfaction. And while it still sells burlap bags, its current line of products has expanded into thousands of hard-to-find packaging products and shipping supplies… plastic bags, poly liners, poly bags, boxes, tape, nylon ties, vinyl envelopes, mailers, shrink and stretch wrap, foam, bubble, safety equipment, tools, janitorial supplies and much, much more. Providing a wide variety of top-notch products is just the first of many ways that Associated Bag Company ensures that their customers are fully satisfied. Continue reading →

Posted in IQS Directory, Plastic & Rubber | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Michigan business to be featured on “World’s Greatest” television show!

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Andrea Mustine

Robinson Industries will be featured on an upcoming segment of World’s Greatest on the ION cable network. Gordon Freeman, the Executive Producer of the show says, “Robinson Industries is one of those companies that we like to feature on World’s Greatest. They are a 4th generation, family owned, women owned, Michigan company started by the very innovative Fred Robinson who was a pioneer in the plastics field. His early techniques of thermoforming, while made better over time, are still used today, along with the Robinson Industries injection molding processes. We think their story will be meaningful to our viewers.” Continue reading →

Posted in Press Releases | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

IQS Newsroom Featured Profile: Brogan Manufacturing, Inc.

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Andrea Mustine

A quality plastic product must be engineered by competent minds and manufactured by capable hands. The knowledge and skill required for this excellent plastic fabrication is exactly what a customer will receive when they go to Brogan Manufacturing, Inc. for their plastic machining needs. Since the beginning of Brogan Manufacturing in 1985, a birth that took place in the garage of owner Mike Brogan, the priority has always been to attain the highest quality of workmanship possible. As the company has grown into a space of 10,000 square ft. and the staff has expanded to 22 employees, this priority has remained. It is accompanied by first-rate customer service and a family-friendly work environment that has developed a happy and hard-working machining team. Continue reading →

Posted in IQS Directory, Plastic & Rubber | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hurst Boiler Introduces New High Efficiency Integrated Control Systems for All Hurst Product Lines

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Andrea Mustine

A family-owned business serving the global market, Coolidge, GA-based Hurst Boiler & Welding Co. has developed and manufactured coal, solid waste, wood, biomass, and hybrid fuel-fired steam and hot water boilers and packaged systems from 6 to 2,500 bhp and pressures to 650 psi since 1967. Hurst Boiler is proudly introducing their comprehensive line of high efficiency integrated boiler control systems featuring graphical visualization and information collection to facilitate easier and better operational management of boilers and supporting peripherals. Each integrated control system provides cutting edge PLC control, variable frequency drives and HMI interfaces devices. Continue reading →

Posted in Press Releases | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

IQS Newsroom Featured Profile: WEIMA America, Inc.

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Andrea Mustine

Solid old-fashioned values have propelled WEIMA America, Inc. into one of the most popular arenas of modern society, recycling. WEIMA is a company devoted to the designing and manufacturing of shredders and briquettes, both machines that transform waste materials into useable goods or alternative forms of energy. Constantly seeking new applications for their equipment to further the recycling phenomenon within the industrial and commercial contexts, WEIMA is also concerned with providing precise and efficient production machines and services. WEIMA America, Inc. was founded in 1999, a branch of the German based WEIMA manufacturers of shredders and briquettes founded 11 years prior. In the last 25 years, WEIMA America, Inc. has been providing the North American market with eco-friendly and cost-efficient technologies that they strive to improve on a daily basis. Continue reading →

Posted in IQS Directory, Process Equipment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

IQS Newsroom Featured Profile: Cincinnati Test Systems, Inc.

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Andrea Mustine

A company that designs and manufactures an abundance of standard leak detection instruments and custom leak and assembly verification test systems is a company that likes a challenge. Cincinnati Test Systems (CTS) thrives on the tough product test applications ranging from a variety of industries including: medical, transportation, energy, military, commercial and other consumer markets. Staffed with a team of experienced and knowledgeable employees on every level of operation, CTS is able to provide customers with a professional and friendly sales force, innovative and knowledgeable engineers, and expert application and service support. Continue reading →

Posted in IQS Directory, Plant & Facility | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Natural Progression of Rubber Molding

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Andrea Mustine

Rubber is by no means a new substance, dating back to 1500 B.C., although it is one that has evolved significantly in the last 140 years. This evolution has come from chemical alterations being applied to natural rubber in its molten state, creating specialized versions known as synthetic rubbers. How rubber is formed and manufactured is a parallel evolution, as more efficient and detail oriented techniques, such as rubber molding, are now equally as popular as the rubber extrusion techniques that have been around longer. Technological advancements are changing the face of our world in wonderful ways, including the natural progression occurring with materials such as synthetic rubber and the processes that turn it into useful products, such as rubber molding. However, this evolution does not mean that the older die casting methods and the original substances like natural rubber are forgotten. In this case progression does not wipe out the competition; it only dominates it. Continue reading →

Posted in IQS Directory, Plastic & Rubber | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

IQS Newsroom Featured Profile: MOCAP, Inc.

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Andrea Mustine

The growth that has taken place at MOCAP, Inc. since 1982, when they first opened their vinyl, rubber and plastic manufacturing doors, has been astounding. One factory in St. Louis Missouri has expanded to include numerous facilities in Missouri as well as international locations in the United Kingdom, Latin America and China. The team at MOCAP is constantly stretching itself to ensure that its #1 priority, the customer, has the best possible product quality, customer-service and pricing available in the industry today. Experts in a number of rubber and plastic molding processes, MOCAP is proud to offer dip molding, plastic and rubber extrusions, injection molded plastics, compression molding and transfer molding services to create the perfect product for each individual customer. Continue reading →

Posted in IQS Directory, Plastic & Rubber | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

IQS Newsroom Featured Profile: KALIBURN Inc. – KALIBURN® and Burny®

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Andrea Mustine

A division of the globally reaching ITT Corporation, KALIBURN Inc. provides industrial control and automation solutions to the motion and flow control market sector. Comprised of complementary product lines BURNY® and KALIBURN®, KALIBURN Inc. has more than 50 years of experience in the field of precision CNC machining, plasma shape cutting and motion control with products such as servo motors, linear actuators, motion controllers and load cells. Originally founded in 1958 as Cleveland Machine Controls Inc., the company acquired the BURNY® metal cutting brand and continued to grow in the metal cutting industry until being purchased by ITT in 2007. KALIBURN®, founded in 1985, was purchased by ITT in 2008. Today, the cohesive group continues to push the boundaries of shape cutting technology by providing its customers with exceptional cut quality and precise motion control. Continue reading →

Posted in IQS Directory, Metals & Materials | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Versatility of Scales: Measuring Everything From A to Z

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Andrea Mustine

I don’t know how much experience you have with scales, but I know women might have an aversion to stepping on one of the household bathroom varieties. I don’t own a scale, and only check my weight if I think of it when I’m at a friend or family member’s home. The only other times I encounter scales are when I’m weighing the produce I’m purchasing at the grocery store. Most all of us are familiar with these consumer uses for scales, but so many industries use scales to ensure workers’ safety and the accuracy of goods sold by weight. Scales prevent both worker and machine overload as well as promote fair business practices. Continue reading →

Posted in IQS Directory, Plant & Facility | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

IQS Newsroom Featured Profile: Quail Electronics, Inc.

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Andrea Mustine

Quail Electronics, Inc. is a world leader in the power cord industry for a reason. In fact, more then one reason has kept Quail at the top of the domestic and international power cord market. First and foremost is their foundation of knowledge and expertise in the industry. Quail Electronics has been manufacturing and supplying power cords for over 25 years. Providing the best in product quality, service, price and delivery ensures that those purchasing power cords from Quail get exactly what they desire. Whether by phone or by way of their easy-to-navigate and informative website, the team at Quail is devoted to assist every customer with excellence. Continue reading →

Posted in Electrical & Electronic, IQS Directory | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

IQS Newsroom Featured Profile: UNEX Manufacturing, Inc.

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Andrea Mustine

From integrated gravity conveyor systems to storage racks to shelving solutions, UNEX Manufacturing, Inc. is an undisputed leader in the innovation and development of gravity flow products. The core of this ISO certified company is found in its superior carton flow solutions and the progressive developments the company has brought to this sector of manufacturing over the last five decades, including developing workstations for parts and assembly picking and complete solutions for material handling needs. The family owned business is committed to the excellence of its full line of gravity conveyor systems and components, offering a seven year Platinum Warranty on its “Platinum Products”. Durability, flexibility and guaranteed quality are the standards by which UNEX manufactures each of its products, ensuring customers are able to find what they are looking for. Continue reading →

Posted in IQS Directory, Plant & Facility | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

IQS Newsroom Featured Profile: Electron Energy Corporation

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Andrea Mustine

The rare earth magnet industry is one in which excellence must be achieved on numerous levels, and Electron Energy Corporation does so for each and every one. A fully integrated innovator, designer and manufacturer of rare earth magnets such as samarium cobalt, Electron Energy also specializes in both simple and complex magnet assemblies. The founder of Electron Energy Corporation, as well as a pioneer in the rare earth magnet industry, Marlin S. Walmer saw the potential in utilizing magnets in high power industries and began EEC in 1970. Because of his innovation and dedication, researchers and engineers from around the world gathered at EEC headquarters to develop break-through magnet materials and new applications for them. This progressive attitude towards the magnet and magnet assembly industry has continued to thrive at Electron Energy, as is clear through exploration of their research and design approaches, as well as the applications and industries that benefit from their work. Continue reading →

Posted in IQS Directory, Plant & Facility | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

IQS Newsroom Featured Profile: Argos Corporation

Posted on November 21, 2011 by Andrea Mustine

“Argos Corporation will strive to provide each customer with the feeling that they are our only customer.” The opening line of the mission statement of Argos sums up the principles and core values of day-to-day operations at the company. While innovation and quality are important focuses for the them, working closely with customers from the earliest stages of design, material considerations, process techniques and even up to product packaging is what sets Argos above the masses in the plastic tubing field. The company itself is owned and operated by qualified plastic engineers who bring years of experience and hands-on knowledge to Argos’ custom tubing processes. High quality raw materials, state-of-the-art equipment, as well the practical expertise to back it up are just a few of the numerous benefits that come from working with this reputable manufacturer. Continue reading →

Posted in IQS Directory, Plastic & Rubber | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Plastic Bags Go “Green”

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Andrea Mustine

I don’t know if you’ve heard, but we are killing the earth, one non-recyclable item at a time. Fixing the damage that has been done to our planet since the dawn of the industrial age is no simple task, nor is preventing further destruction when we continue to create products that will sit in landfills for centuries instead of decomposing back into the natural cycle of life. However, in recent years society has caught on to the environmentally friendly attitude that is turning non-recyclable items into recyclable ones, and manufacturers of a variety of products are following suit. One such example is plastic bags, products that are abundant in our shopping nation. The retail industry utilizes plastic bags in every type of store, including grocery, hardware, home furnishing, clothing and toys, to name a few. Versions of these bags are also used in the medical and shipping industry, and they are also used for storage and movement of parts within manufacturing companies of all sorts. With so many uses, most of which require more then one bag at a time, it is no surprise that the creation and utilization of recyclable plastic bags should be a priority. Continue reading →

Posted in IQS Directory, Plastic & Rubber | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment