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The T/CCI Climatic Wind Tunnel is featured in Automation and Controls Today magazine. The feature article, authored by industrial journalist, Thomas R. Cutler, is titled, "Climatic Wind Tunnel Replicates Real World Extreme Conditions." T/CCI is able to validate temperature control from -30C to 50C (0.5C steady state and 1.0C during transition) with proven repeatability. The climatic wind tunnel allows for the accurate simulation of extreme temperatures to ensure the desired set point is accurately established to ensure the error is zeroed out before the product reaches production and the customer.

Forecast Errors newsletter reported that CleanBayArea, excess and obsolete inventory write-offs are chronic supply chain problems costing businesses billions of dollars each year. Lean Six Sigma methods have been shown to be very effective in finding and eliminating root causes, and thus preventing arbitrary year-end reductions in inventory investment.

Hytrol Conveyor Company, Inc., manufacturers of advanced conveyor systems, controls, and solutions, provided a video demonstration how to adjust the chain tension on a drag chain conveyor. The current video is part of a monthly video series called "Ask Hytrol" focused on specific topics to help maintain conveyor systems and learn about new technologies.

Manufacturers' Pain Points newsletter reported that a recent study shows the American metals industry accounts for nearly 2.5 million jobs and the economic contribution of the industry is more than $552 billion or more than 3.5% of the nation's gross domestic product. Metals industry CEOs face myriad staffing issues today: a lack of skilled workers, concern over succession planning and "building a strong bench" so that the company can continue successfully when current management retires. MSCI saw a need for an executive education program specific to their industry that would raise up leaders and created Strategic Metals Management.

When looking to add character to both the interior and exterior of a house in just one installation, many consider bay windows. Not only do they provide a better view, but they also make the room appear larger as it adds a sense of increased depth. From the outside of the house, they are a defining feature that make the house stand out from others in the neighborhood. Helping homeowners improve their home's aesthetics, Roman and Sons is proud to now offer bay windows in Paoli. With decades of experience, customers can expect superior craftsmanship and customer service throughout the installation process.

Hytrol Conveyor Company, Inc., manufacturers of advanced conveyor systems, controls, and solutions and Integration Partner, Bastian Solutions worked together to achieve Monoprice business's goals. To keep up with strong consumer demand, Monoprice needed an automated material handling system to help increase daily throughput from roughly 300 orders per hour up to 1,000 orders per hour. Monoprice was able to increase a throughput of 4,000 orders to nearly 14,000 orders per day.

African Gold Group, Inc. (TSX V: AGG) ("AGG" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of a second non-brokered private placement offering (the "Offering"), consisting of 7,050,000 Units (the "Unit") at a price of $0.05 per Unit for gross proceeds of $352,500. Together with the first non-brokered private placement which closed on January 14, 2015 for $1,658,250, the Company has raised an aggregate of $2,010,750.

The Moller International (MLER) Skycar Volantor is a true flying car, similar to those seen in the movie "Back to the Future II" or "Fifth Element". What makes the Skycar different from other so-called flying cars is that it avoids a runway by taking off and landing vertically (VTOL). In addition to its VTOL capability, the Skycar fits in a single car garage, is designed to fly at over 300 miles per hour and can drive on the street to a nearby Vertiport (Heliport) where it will use the automated highway in the sky called HITS, now in development by the US government.

Plastic injection molding is used in production of wire spools, bottle caps, automotive parts, optics, toys, etc. It is also used to create musical instruments, one piece chairs, storage containers, small tables, mechanical parts, and other plastic products. Eco Molding Co. Ltd is a one stop solution for middle and small sized companies in mold making and injection molding services. It has well equipped new generation machines such as high speed CNC, slow wire cut and mirror EDM ones.

Certi-Pik, USA, a manufacturer of cotton harvester replacement parts in Hospers, IA, has partnered with BizIQ, a local search engine optimization company specializing in small business visibility through Google's local search results.

S&E Specialty Polymers LLC, a leading producer of specialty plastic compounds, will exhibit with its sister companies Toner Plastics and Buick LLC at the upcoming International Home & Housewares Show, being held from March 7-10 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Bastian Solutions, a global material handling systems integrator and expert in eCommerce fulfillment automation, was featured in Automation and Controls Today.

Picking Perfection newsletter reported that retailer Stage's average rate of return throughout the year is about 7 percent of sales in its physical stores and about 11 percent online, adjusted for exchanges. Over the holidays, those figures grow. (Many merchants keep the exact increase a secret.) Explained Steven Hunter, Chief Information Officer at Stage, "Holiday returns for any retailer can be challenging." The Christmas season is a windfall for retailers, who book as much as 40 percent of their annual sales during the season, but many of those reindeer sweaters, neon socks, and micro-miniskirts in size 16 come back to haunt them. Post-holidays, retailers see triple the number of returns of any other time of year, commented Jack Plunkett, Chief Executive Officer of Plunkett Research. "We think something will fit or look good on us, and it doesn't, and we send it back," Plunkett noted.

Next week's Picking Perfection newsletter will discuss the case for augmented reality for improved operational picking control. Last year, DC Velocity published a feature article titled, "Thoughts on Augmented Reality in the Warehouse," by Kevin Gue. He shared his reaction to a video of how glasses are being used in an order fulfillment center. The prospect of using these in warehousing was mentioned by a participant at one of the Material Handling & Logistics Roadmap workshops.

Manufacturers' Pain Points newsletter reported that Donna Lowry profiled the nature of manufacturing jobs today for Atlanta-based WXIA, Channel 11. Factories now have a new look.

TraceGains, the leading automated supplier, compliance, and regulatory document management solution for the food supply chain, is hosting the second annual Customer Conference for customers of TraceGains. Gary Nowacki, CEO of TraceGains noted, "Early registration has been strong. Customers are interested in gaining multiple benefits. They will get to listen directly to their peers across the food industry on best practices for using TraceGains in some really interesting and strategic ways."

Forecast Errors newsletter reported that James Covert featured in the New York Post, Smith & Wesson warned that sales and profits for the current quarter will sorely miss its earlier forecasts as demand for firearms plummets following last year's boom. Smith & Wesson's rifle sales dropped by more than 50 percent in the most recent quarter, fueling an overall sales decline of 22 percent, the company said. Handgun sales were down 15 percent. Last year, demand surged following the late-2012 shootings in Sandy Hook, which spurred panic buying from gun enthusiasts fearing tightened regulations by the Obama administration. In response, manufacturers led by Smith & Wesson and Sturm Ruger made big bets on 2014 business that never panned out. CEO James Debney said the company is scrambling to slash inventory as the gun market returns to "a more normalized environment."

Kara Demirjian Huss, Vice President and Global Marketing Director for T/CCI, directs the management and execution of all brand, marketing, messaging, product, and promotional programs, including tradeshows, advertising, and public relations. Huss oversees the development and execution of strategic marketing plans, including go to market strategy, customer and market trends analysis, and CRM program development and implementation. Huss is the director for all relations with outside agencies, media, and production. She also leads all internal and external communications needs, as well as acting as our political liaison on local, regional, national, and international fronts.

CHOETECH is a company that specializes in designing and manufacturing USB chargers, USB car chargers, wireless chargers and solar chargers, the company aims to deliver cutting edge technology in mobile phone and smart device chargers. The latest battery charging technology trend is the Qi enabled wireless charging that is being deemed as a huge step towards ridding mobile phone and smart device users from wires and cables that are required to charge batteries. CHOE TECHNOLOGY's latest offering is their 2nd Qi Standard Wireless Car Charger for Nexus 6 and other Qi enabled devices.

Bastian Solutions will exhibit at the WestPack Conference (Booth #4979) from February 10-12 at the Anaheim Convention Center, CA.

T/CCI Manufacturing will exhibit at booth 410 during the MACS (Mobile Air Conditioning Society) Training Event and Trade Show from February 5-7 at Caribe Royale at the All-Suite Hotel and Convention Center, Orlando Florida. T/CCI will be launching the updated brand and introducing the QPV125, a variable swash-plate compressor with 125cc displacement. Its variable pumping capacities balance performance to the amount of cooling required, increasing fuel efficacy and providing enhanced durability. T/CCI's on-site engineering experts, advanced testing capacities, and climatic wind tunnel, provide proven, custom solutions for manufacture's systems.

Delivering Excellence newsletter reported that the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) recently issued a resource to help convenience stores defend their turf and attract new business. A family-owned convenience store company in the Midwest recently found the answers it sought by employing a survey from Playbook for Success. By using the survey, the retailer discovered that customers were not aware of price promotions throughout the store, and that competitors were offering more compelling deals. Once armed with such insights, the c-store operator was then in the position to take action to make improvements. Retailers seeking other ways to position their operations for success may want to utilize direct store delivery (DSD). While it can be an expensive route to market for suppliers, it can produce powerful advantages for convenience retailers — particularly if it includes visits from a professional team supporting both business development and product replenishment. Smaller outlets can receive extra value from this approach, benefitting from the opportunity to learn first-hand about the brands, packages and promotions that are successful in the convenience retail channel.

Manufacturers' Pain Points newsletter reported that American Roll Form (ARF) made a significant decision about their business changing the company DNA forever. They decided to offer an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). ESOP encourages personal accountability for all employees and gives the company team incentives to make operations more efficient, pursue growth opportunities and help the customers succeed. This individual ownership permeates the quality production, innovative thinking and hardworking service that ARF employees offer. At its most basic level, an ESOP is an employee-benefit plan. ESOPs are commonly used to create a monetary account for closely held stock of its shareholders, to help motivate and reward employees by giving them financial stake in the company, and to take advantage of different tax incentives. Once an ESOP purchases the balance of all company shares, it can say that it is 100% employee-owned. ARF is proud to be 100% employee-owned and operated.

Forecast Errors newsletter reported that Dan Gilmore, Editor-in-Chief of Supply Chain Digest, discussed the inventory-to-sales ratio, as tracked by the US government. It measures on-hand inventory levels against one month's worth of sales. Other than the wild gyration in 2008-09 associated with the great recession, inventory levels have been flat for a decade, even gently rising in the past few years. There is a general bias in the last few years towards top line revenue growth, relatedly SKU proliferation and new product introductions, and longer offshore supply chains. But more provocatively, many companies may have simply hit an inventory wall within the context of their current supply chain designs. The imperative to map and model a company's supply chain took on extra urgency after the events of 2012 - earthquake and tsunami in Japan and massive flooding in Thailand, which caused huge supply chain disruptions.

In an effort to meet customers growing needs, WarehouseRack.com has recently acquired 2,000 sections of used Advanced Mfr. pallet racks. This new product offering brings additional warehouse organization solutions to the growing WarehouseRack.com inventory.