Tustin, CA – July, 2010 – Fluid Research Corporation (FRC), a leading innovator and manufacturer of precision dispensing systems, has launched the FlexiMeter™ , a positive displacement, single component dispensing system that uses a progressing cavity pump to ensure dosing with the strictest accuracy, repeatability and dependability. [Continue Reading Article]

In an age of the latest and greatest in cooking technology, many chefs are making a surprising switch to one of the oldest cooking materials in the books. Cast iron pots, pans, skillets, kettles and more are often preferred to new specially formulated instruments in professional kitchens. Often more economical in the long run, durable cast iron cookware even add an extra something to every dish they help prepare. Chefs, food critics and researchers alike have long noted the benefits of this versatile material in the arenas of both health and taste. The advantages do not end at the dinner table, however, as is evidenced by the continued use of grey iron castings in the industrial sector for an ever expanding line of products. [Continue Reading Article]

“Kitchen automation” has little to do with robots, conveyor belts or self-assembling food, contrary to the images that pop up in my head immediately upon hearing the phrase. We live in an electronic-filled world with new gadgets being developed all the time. It only makes sense that technology would eventually make it to the kitchen. Linear actuators are the devices mainly responsible for the introduction of popup spice racks or fold-down televisions. Though appliances such as microwaves, refrigerators and dishwashers have drastically improved through new technologies, kitchen automation is the newest development. Disappearing cabinets, sliding tabletops and rising counters may sound like pure imagination but they are becoming a reality through these useful devices. [Continue Reading Article]

If anything, Michigan summers are hot, humid and brief. During the few months sans cold and snow most here and in neighboring states relish the use of fans and air conditioners as opposed to the near continuous operation of household furnaces needed in the winter. While this period of heater dormancy is welcomed by many consumers, furnaces continue to play an important role in day to day life, finding use in a number of industrial applications throughout the year. These uses require not household appliances, but industrial furnaces. Large or small, these are carefully calibrated mechanisms which allow for the study, creation and manipulation of materials and components in summer, fall, winter or spring. [Continue Reading Article]

Ever stop and think how that delightful cappuccino gets from the machine and into your cup without making a huge mess? It’s the little dispensing pump that controls the amount of the delicious liquid ejected from the nozzle each time. This small metering pump comes in handy, especially if you’re like me and ignore the “Fill until ¾ full” sign, pushing the button for short bursts after my cup’s almost full so I’m satisfied with how much I have. The same kind of controlled-volume liquid transfer devices are used in soda fountain pumps. Obviously, the activation for these electronic metering pumps is the push-button switch that we employ when we want our favorite hot or cold drinks. [Continue Reading Article]

As the only girl in a family of boys, I often had to forgo my toys of choice if I wanted some company during playtime. Certain playthings, however, appealed across gender lines. One such example for me was a toy that looked like a semi truck or sports car but could transform into a robot action figure if you knew how to slide out the wheels, snap open the chassis and flip up the robot’s head. Once transformed, these disguised robots could do things that a normal toy car could not such as fly or shoot lasers. Electric transformers are devices that share very little in common with the toys of the same name except for their ability to change. Electric transformers either increase or decrease the voltage of an electric current. They transform the flow of electricity from one voltage level to another which is a very important undertaking. A current traveling from a generator to a residence must have enough power to make it the physical distance to the building where it should then be reduced to a suitable power level for the internal circuitry. Just like how the planet and all its inhabitants would be in mortal danger in the absence of the transforming robots I used to play with, so too would everyday electronics be in danger of improper and safe function without electric transformers. [Continue Reading Article]

Dozens of studies by dozens of scientists and research facilities alike boldly profess the human need to feel connected to someone or something in this world. While the reasons have been largely debated, some site emotion and others physiology, the modern era makes this fact all the more clear. It has become a rarity to experience even the slightest bit of disconnect with the world unless one truly makes an effort to do so. Computers, phones and even cars have become faster and more advanced allowing for human interaction on a regular if not constant basis throughout much of the world. Despite the comfort provided by such connectivity, it is not uncommon to bemoan the electronic connectors that make it possible. These are the twisted tangles of cords and plugs that seem to engulf so many computers, telephones and even entire offices. These are what keep the world connected. [Continue Reading Article]

Everyone knows the sound of a heart beat. Children often describe it as making a “thump thump” sound while science teachers and medical professionals use the onomatopoeia “lub dub.” Another possible sound is a whistling or swishing which indicates a possible heart murmur, the result of a heart valve not operating properly. Because the heart beats over 2.5 billion times in an average lifespan, heart murmurs are not uncommon. A heart valve is essentially a check valve, a device that opens and closes to allow the flow of a fluid—in this case, blood—in one direction. Though heart valves are the most critical check valve on earth, these helpful little devices have many uses outside the body. [Continue Reading Article]

Often times the phrase ‘modular building’ conjures up images of stark white, windowless boxes thrown down seemingly haphazardly at a construction site near a row of portable toilets. Unbeknownst to many, however, the world of pre-engineered building has drastically expanded its parameters to include some rather spectacular structures. While some applications still require only those small steel buildings which closely resemble the boxcars of a cargo train, modular manufacturers have attracted a much larger clientele. Building everything from guard houses to modular mansions, the industry of prefabricated construction continues to boast significant savings in time and money as compared to traditional on-site building, but is now also infused with a bit of style and an air of class. [Continue Reading Article]

In a world of ever advancing technology it seems that even something as routine as a trip to the dentist yields the discovery of new and improved instrumentation. Bi-annual check-ups for teeth seem also to mean bi-annual updates on dentistry. In recent years one of the most exciting new pieces of equipment has been the ultrasonic cleaner used to clean, protect and inspect teeth. Though relatively simple in design, these devices not only promote the health and safety of patients, but that of the dentists and hygienists that use them as they allow for the fast and efficient cleaning of both teeth and instruments. Far from a dental phenomenon, however, this technology has actually been around since the early 1950’s and has proven useful in a number of different industrial, commercial and even residential applications. [Continue Reading Article]

When I was younger, I had mixed feelings about Saturday mornings. Despite the appeal of cartoons and pancakes, I also knew there would be a list of chores waiting for me. And on that list would be my least favorite task: vacuuming. I always put it off until the very end and then went about it with a half-hearted effort. We had a number of vacuum cleaners that we used for different parts of the house and for different reasons. Thankfully, all of our vacuums were residential vacuums which are relatively lightweight, quiet and efficient as compared to commercial vacuums that are used by professionals. I think an industrial vacuum cleaner would have been overkill because that kind of vacuum can suction up everything from sawdust to oil spills. [Continue Reading Article]

Recently, a proposal has been made to alter and modify the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Adopted by 42 states within the U.S. alone, the code is designed to encourage energy conservation and limit the use of inefficient products and resources so as to preserve resources and provide economic stability and viability for all energy applications. While annual revisions allow the code to develop along with ever evolving technology, this particular change takes a step back. Though the intention may be to conserve energy and promote stability and safety in commercial, industrial and even residential settings, this particular proposal may actually eliminate a quiet, environmentally friendly and highly efficient source of heating, namely electrical resistance heating. [Continue Reading Article]

In the past decade the number of cellular phones and mobile devices, as well as personal computers and laptops in use around the world has sky rocketed. With more access to and acceptance of the internet than ever before, online advertising has become a crucial component of most industries. The success of these campaigns has been relatively easy to determine. Track the destination URLs resulting from these specific ads to see how many result in request for quote form submissions or inquiries for information. In fact, up to 84% of online marketers do just that, looking at an ad’s click through rate to track the success of a Web-based campaign. While this information is valuable, it leaves many companies unaware of one of the largest areas for generating leads based on internet advertisements. Not even e-mail or request for quote submission forms can match the successful sales generated by one of the oldest means of customer service: the in-bound phone call. Leading Pay-Per-Click companies specializing in online marketing, such as ReachLocal and Top Spot, state that over 60% of internet leads are generated by phone, but still this avenue for revenue is too often overlooked. [Continue Reading Article]

When Rafael Nadal won the French Open in early June, he reclaimed his spot as the number one men’s singles player in the world. Like many other professional tennis players, Nadal played with a small rubber vibration absorber on his strings to minimize vibrations when the racket and ball made contact. Some believe these accessories lessen the risk of developing tennis elbow while others count on them as their good luck charm. In reality, the only difference is the perceived reduction of string vibration and sound. Vibration absorbers are used far beyond tennis courts, however, and they play an important role in protecting machinery and equipment from noisy and damaging vibrations. [Continue Reading Article]

Less than a week away from the official start of the season, the signs of summer are abundant throughout the state of Michigan. Schools are letting out, water parks are filled with loyal patrons waiting in long lines for the cool relief offered by the oversized slides, both motorcycles and bicycles line the streets and sidewalks and the most popular camping sites are just about at capacity. As Michiganders slosh down giant water filled tubes at high speed, balance precariously on the framework of a bike or wrestle with unruly canopy and tent frames; it’s unlikely that most will consider the industrial processes that make each of these pastimes possible. More than just a summer commodity, tubes and tube fabrication play an important role in recreation and daily life throughout the year. [Continue Reading Article]

In many contexts the word steel has become synonymous with strength and durability, qualities illustrated by its use in such arduous industries as automotive, aerospace, construction, electronics and even shipbuilding. While it seems clear from these many uses, many are unaware of the incredible diversity of the material. Rather than one specific iron alloy, the steel family includes hundreds of permutations of the element, each precision designed for optimal performance in variable conditions. On top of this, finishing treatments and processing are commonly used to bolster the capabilities and capacities of steel products such as steel plates, strip and tubing. As much as 30% of all industrial steel products and 45% of specialty steel undergo some type of pre-processing before moving into full scale production. Most of this work is performed by the highly skilled professionals of steel service centers across the nation. [Continue Reading Article]

In 1966, James Brown began a ballad with the assertion that “this is a man’s world.” The song goes on telling that men built the cars, trains and other essential elements of modern infrastructure. While this was true at the beginning of the industrial revolution in the late 18th Century, by Brown’s time women played an important role in the industrial workforce. Though much later than the initial movement, the women’s industrial revolution came about at the beginning of WWII. Up until this point the positions suited to the fragile female form were domestic or clerical. With men leaving for war, however, this changed drastically as is demonstrated by one of the most iconic figures of the time: Rosie the Riveter. Depicted as a strong, but womanly sheet metal worker this figure inspired many women of the time to fill industrial vacancies and help to build countless planes, bombshells and other metal components needed in the war effort. Despite demands that they return to domestic roles at the end of the war, the presence of women in the industrial sector has risen steadily ever since. While men may still make up a larger percentage of the workforce in the field of sheet metal fabrication, an increasing number of modern women follow in the footprints of Rosie. [Continue Reading Article]

While this evening and tomorrow promise a brief break in the rainy weather Michigan has enjoyed of late, this morning provided yet another wonderful opportunity for a perfectly soggy commute. In anticipation of the cold and wet walk to work, even just from the car to the front door, most will arm themselves with raincoats, galoshes and perhaps an umbrella. All of this impeccable and impermeable protection is graciously afforded by polyurethane molding, the invention of which oddly enough was sparked by the need to protect aircraft and military personnel during WWII. In the spirit of those times, this material has continued to be a force to reckon with, hard at work in both domestic and industrial settings around the country and around the world. [Continue Reading Article]

In the summer of 2008 I made my first trip across the pond to intern at a gallery in the United Kingdom. Having met my now fiancé there, I have since made several Trans-Atlantic trips, each one a learning experience. One aspect of international travel I thankfully learned early on in my first trip two years ago was the importance of frequency converters. These seemingly less than convenient little items actually provide a much more important service than many know, unless of course they have had the unfortunate experience of not using them, the consequences of which generally include some sparks, a bit of smoke and a completely fried appliance. This is because in the UK, like many other countries, outlets provide electricity at a voltage between 220 and 250 V while the main current in the United States operates in a range of 110 to 127 V. Although very necessary in using foreign appliances, converters and transformers are also commonly required for applications in the same country and even factory. This allows the optimal operation of several different machines and appliances, with several different electrical requirements, off of the same standardized power supply. [Continue Reading Article]

Tuesday marked the official start of hurricane season 2010. While there are no major storms on radar just yet, scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey and independent agencies alike have no doubt already begun to deploy advanced equipment to help them better track, predict, gauge and understand these tropical surges. From a safe distance pressure transducers attached to powerful and precise sensors can send real-time information back to researchers. This information is invaluable as a storm approaches. Employing devices such as pressure transmitters to relay this data in past decades has provided a wealth of information on hurricanes, tornados and other natural disasters that allow emergency services to better prepare for and restore order after a storm. [Continue Reading Article]

This summer the price of a gallon of gas is expected to reach up into the $3.00 to 3.50 range. While this pales in comparison to the over $4.00 per gallon prices of last summer, it is still a significant increase that keeps fuel-economy at the forefront of the average car owner’s mind. To save on gas, many turn to public transportation. With city budgets dwindling, however, fuel-economy and vehicle efficiency is still of the utmost importance. Engineers and researchers have designed numerous studies and projects around this point and come up with several methods to improve the efficiency of mass transit and domestic vehicles alike. One of the simplest and most practical solutions is the introduction and installation of advanced hydraulic valves into new and pre-existing internal combustion engines popular in both gasoline and diesel vehicles. [Continue Reading Article]

This morning, much like any other morning, the first thing I did was look at my clock, groan and push the snooze button. After the second alarm I got up, put on my glasses and took a look out the window to try and guess at the weather for the day. After getting myself around, I had a glass of water, took one final look in the mirror and headed out to my car. The windshield needed washing, but soon enough I was arriving at my desk here at IQS and looking at my computer screen wondering what to write about this morning. While I realize that my weekday routine may be of little to no interest to most, what I hope to point out is that already this morning I’ve used or encountered glass seven times, eight if you count the glass door I used to enter the building. While environmental concerns often point out the pervasiveness of plastics, glass is one of the most commonly encountered and still overlooked materials. While this, like my routine may seem an insignificant fact, the glass cutting industry is crucial not only to our daily lives, but to our daily safety as well. [Continue Reading Article]

While the first crude models were developed in the mid 1800’s, it was not until the mid 1990’s that the electric car was introduced into mainstream modern America. Running completely off of electric motors, these cars provided pollution free, low impact transportation and a smooth quiet ride to boot. By 2003, however, these cars had all but disappeared from the roadways, seemingly consumed by the gasoline engine yet again. While many focus on this unfortunate loss of technology, there is reason to celebrate once more. This year at auto-shows across the country and around the world, several of the nations leading automakers introduced new lines of the electric car which are already backlogged for delivery. While this revisited application for the electric motor is met with great fanfare, the devices are actually exceedingly diverse instruments common to the everyday life of the average American. [Continue Reading Article]

The phrase ‘cooling tower’ often conjures up iconic images of the grandiose hyperbolic cooling towers most closely associated with nuclear power plants. While this may seem to be the opposite of environmental friendliness, cooling towers are actually used in a number of industries and provide enormous possibilities for green processing. Also known as heat rejection devices, water flowing through any given tower may encounter several different kinds of harmful chemicals before being exhausted into the atmosphere or even nearby lakes and streams. Fewer chemicals, better design and hardier material construction are all simple changes that reduce the environmental impact of these often large cooling systems. Going green, however, is not just about reducing harmful emissions; it’s about improving efficiency, the bottom line for most industry. [Continue Reading Article]

Having graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology, I have grown accustomed to the fact that some of the things that I find most fascinating in this world may be a little bland to those around me. Conversations about ancient plant residue, migration theory, bones and ritual oddly enough do not always seem to pan out unless speaking with a professor or classmate. One area of cultural study that reaches beyond this limited group, however, is ceramic manufacturing. Museums around the world cater to public interest showcasing beautiful pots and figurines made of this inorganic, non-metal mineral compound which was first used as long ago as 24,000 BC. Though vast and impressive, our fascination with the material is not limited to its elegant history. The present and prospective future of ceramics introduces as much if not more intrigue than it’s well documented past. [Continue Reading Article]