Your Competitive Advantage for Hydraulic Replacement Cylinders and Parts

Aggressive Hydraulics Inc.

If frequent cylinder failures and long lead times from your suppliers are costing you thousands of dollars in lost production, let Aggressive Hydraulics re-engineer and manufacture replacement cylinders for your application. Our replacement cylinders and parts have been solving problems for our customers for years. Call 866-406-4100 today.

Despite Global Economy, Valve Market Booms

Years ago, "plastics" was the hot investment area (according to the movies). But today, even with depressed economies in many places, "hydraulic valves" might be the place to invest. Take Sun Hydraulics for example. The company is booming, even in the U.S., with valves designed for oil rigs, bucket trucks, and mining equipment. Internationally, "we can't pull metals and ores and gases out of the earth fast enough," says Rich Arter, Sun spokesman, "hydraulics are used in all this stuff." Sun sees hydraulic valves as a $3.5 billion global industry, likely to grow at a single-digit rate along with gross domestic product (GDP).

The Field Narrows Further

Healthy competition keeps a company on its proverbial toes. Competitors can show you product features or customer services that you don't offer and nudge you to more accurately determine customer needs and establish a fair price. A major merger narrows the competitive field. One or both vendors may benefit, but what about the customers? The recently announced merger of Credence and LTX — two long-time participants in the test industry — will bring up just such questions. Although the two companies do not overlap in every market segment, the me

Anticipate the Unexpected

Software testing attempts to identify two families of bugs: those resulting from design flaws and those from unanticipated user actions. Minimizing the number of bugs that reach customers requires test procedures that address both families, as well as the inevitable: unexpected user actions that also reveal design flaws.

There's No 'I' in Safety

A collaborative safety effort between multiple departments can help minimize risks in the laboratory. Risk management can be accomplished in the lab through three processes: Hazard identification, risk assessment, and risk control. Additionally, each department working with the laboratory should implement certain staple policies — accountability, safety manuals, waste disposal, safety strategies — that can ensure the safety of employees, students, and visitors.

Preventing Injury to a Horse, of Course

The world of thoroughbred horse racing has been struck with major tragedies in the last few years, most recently involving Kentucky Derby runner-up Eight Belles. But a newly-developed monitoring system may help to prevent such injuries in horses and humans alike. The system uses technology similar to that used by earthquake seismologists to detect tiny cracks in bones. Researchers can detect micro-cracks in the bone structure by recording acoustic emission data, allowing the person or horse to terminate strenuous activity and allow the bone to heal.

Mosquito Modification May End Malaria

Could genetic modification be the answer to stopping the spread of diseases such as malaria? Scientists in London are hoping this might be a new weapon in a losing battle. They are attempting to produce genetically modified mosquitoes that are resistant to the disease. These mutant bugs could in turn break the transmission cycle with humans. Their efforts are based on a 2005 study that showed genetic modification was possible in a mosquito by inserting a gene that glowed fluorescent green in males. Skepticism abounds, however…

UPG Offers Flexible and Adaptable Product Solutions

UPG (AMEX:UPGI) offers custom concept-to-market product development solutions including battery pack assembly and design, engineering modification and technical support, packaging and marketing concepts and ideas, and strategic supply chain distribution and value-added services. For flexible product and logistical options and a turn-key approach, contact UPG today.

A Touching Solution

Basic touch screen technologies include capacitive, resistive, and infrared. Capacitive touch switches are one of the least expensive options, and this design note details how to use these switches with no external components. The touch sensor employs an 8 mm diameter sensing pad on the PCB using the solder mask as a dielectric.

MEMS Top 10

Market researchers Yole Development list the Top 10 MEMS foundry firms in an EETimes article. Growth in 2007 was strong, but 2008 is expected to slow to a still healthy 25 to 30%. Leader ST Microelectronics garnered most of its revenue from ink jet heads, and its microfluidic foundry services are popular for new applications.

Expediting Nano Tech Transfer

New MEMS components and technologies are being announced almost daily, but transforming technology into commercial products is fraught with difficulties. This Small Times article says Nano tech transfer presents particular challenges because it involves many disciplines. The article suggests using closed-loop feedback during development.