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Superior & Innovative Accessories by WichiTech Industries to Complement All Your Repair System Needs
Be it pipes or aircraft parts, structures constructed with the best of material and engineered sensibility are not immune to wear and tear. There might be corrosion. There might be breaches and dents. And there might be unseemly scratches that gradually affect strength and integrity of the unit. Under such circumstances corrective measures are essential to ensure the safety where the structure is installed and its optimal contribution to the process it serves.
WichiTech Industries Inc. is a market leader in the domain of portable composite repair systems. Crafted keeping in mind the rigorous needs of the job, the systems are a fine balance of cutting edge technology, economy and robustness. Many industries depend on WichiTech kits and accessories to conduct emergency repair exercises that stall the need for costly and inconvenient replacements.
Some WichiTech Industries Inc. Repair Accessories:
Composite repair kits are comprehensive unto themselves. But there are a couple of accessories that help take their effectiveness up a notch and are highly recommended by domain experts who can re-create ideal repair conditions without the laboratory set-up.
Heating Blankets – WichiTech heating blankets come in a number of varieties. There are standards sheets as well as custom formations for 3D objects of awkward shapes. These heating blankets are guaranteed to maintain a uniform temperature profile over a given area to assist curation of repair agents as needed.
Portable Vacuum Pump Kits – WichiTech Vacuum pump kits are small yet powerful. They prove useful in sucking away air and particulate matter that might negatively impact the repair process by chemically reacting with the deposited agents and strengtheners.
WichiTech also stocks printers, student training kits and vacuum accessories to assist the restoration to operational condition of units made of carbon, boron, and even Kevlar. Please get in touch with us at 800.776.4277 to learn more about our catalogue of products.
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Wind Power
When it comes to offshore wind energy, the U.S. has been lagging behind European countries for years. Denmark was the first country to venture into the ocean to produce wind power energy back in 1991. Although England has a record number of offshore wind farms and is leading the pack, to date, only 3 percent of wind power comes from offshore wind farms.
While the U.S. has numerous wind farms throughout the states, the first offshore wind farm is going up just off the shores of Rhode Island. The project has been named Block Island Wind Farm and will host five turbines. The turbines should start producing by the end of 2016 and they are expected to deliver enough energy for 350,000 homes in New York and other New England states. Wind energy in the U.S. helps produce needed electricity and cuts down on non-renewable energy, and it provides a host of jobs as well.
According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), the industry added 23,000 jobs last year and had a record beginning in 2015. Significant growth is expected to increase the number of jobs, as more and more states turn to wind energy. Currently, Texas is leading the industry by employing over 17,000, while Colorado and Iowa come in behind Texas with roughly 6,000 wind energy jobs per state.
In order to continue the growth of the wind energy sector, laws and regulations will need to be addressed. Although the U.S. has finally gotten into wind power, China isn’t far behind and will likely take over in the amount they produce. This takeover could happen as soon as a few years down the road. While there are those in power who prefer to rely on gas and oil, it seems as if wind power has taken on a life of its own and may soon become a major player in the energy sector. With proper regulation and laws, this industry could provide many, much needed, good paying jobs.
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U.S. Manufacturing on the Rise
After experiencing the great recession, the United States economy is now rising. The U.S. manufacturing is starting to rise through the annual contribution of American factories, which summed up to around $2 trillion. This information was delivered Jay Timmons, National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President to the Economic Club of Minnesota on his visit to Washington D.C. The Economic Club of Minnesota includes Cargill, Apogee, 3M Co., Ecolab, and Donaldson Co.
According to Timmons, Minnesota is the home of the most noticeable, robust and resilient manufactures nationwide.
With this, Minnesota factories are now reviving from the trip during the Great Recession despite some restrictions including crippling government regulations, trade policies, backed-up railways and ports, and collapsing roads. Fortunately, after terminating staffs and employees during the Great Recession, they are now hiring new people and give one in every state job.
With 88,000 workers and staffs all over the 70 countries, these manufacturers have 3 million global reach. Timmons commended several companies like Bloomington-based Apogee, manufacturer of architectural glass, and Graco, foam-spraying equipment and machine manufacturer for its expertise and great performances.
Similarly, Douglas Baker, Ecolab CEO, identify NAM as a “champion” in promoting U.S Manufacturers. Moreover, he recognized Timmons as “one of the top shakers and movers” in Washington D.C. Timmons was also credited for becoming persistent on promoting U.S. manufacturing and manufacturers on Capitol Hill.
In an interview, Timmons said that he is dedicated in sharing the industry’s challenges and success with the members worldwide. Aside from Minneapolis, he plans to visit 12 more countries on the next three weeks. These prospect countries include Texas, Alabama, Colorado, Washington state cities, Detroit, and Cleveland.
Besides his continuous success and accomplishments, Timmons also disclosed the fact that manufacturing sectors are facing significant challenges and changes. With this, he pleaded to factory heads to minimize broader trade policies, burdensome regulations. Instead, build and improve railways, ports and roads, and submit legislation with long-term U.S. manufacturers financing options.
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STATE OF MARYLAND MANUFACTURING
Experts, economists and analysts all over the world are eyeing the latest developments in the US economy with an abundance of positive expectations. After the market crash and the subsequent ravages of the recession, 2014 proved to be a turning point of sorts, encouraging manufacturing to create a stronghold within the country as the trend of outsourcing slowed down considerably. In the race to recovery, Maryland Manufacturing has emerged as a prominent player.
The 42nd largest state in the country, it is a hub of manufacturing and has a clutch of thriving industries to contribute significantly to the betterment of the standard of living of its blue collar workers.
THE MARYLAND ECONOMY:
Maryland is one of the only 10 states in the US to retain its ‘AAA’ bond rating from all the major credit rating agencies. In 2013 its GDP was $342.4 billion because of its diversified economy and international trade flow. Both established companies and small business owners or start-ups have made the most of the excellent credit track-record as well as the highly educated population to attract investments and erect ventures with solid foundations. Maryland also plays a crucial role in transportation throughout eastern United States and proudly claims manufacturing to be the engine driving its prosperity and growth.
WHY MARYLAND IS A MANUFACTURING HUB?
The nature of manufacturing in Maryland is rapidly evolving. As technology makes vast inroads, the integrated process of production together with the rising savvy of the workers is poised to usher in an era of accelerated growth.
According to a recently published survey, manufacturing as a revenue sector employs more than 100,000 people and adds $20 billion dollars annually to the state GDP.
Some of the reasons behind this excellent performance are:
The desirable infrastructure of the state conducive to setting up of manufacturing units.
Robust education system that focuses on both theoretical knowledge and practical applications. This fine blend has produced some of the most skilled floor workers and white collar management executives in the country. The ‘skill’ gap may be an issue plaguing other states but the workforce is actually an asset to Maryland’s manufacturing saga.
Strategic position as the Boston-Atlanta Corridor on the Atlantic seaboard with borders along Washington D.C. Transportation costs is a major criterion affecting the decision to set up manufacturing strongholds. Maryland also scores big in this regard.
SOME MARYLAND MANUFACTURING DATA YOU SHOULD KNOW:
Maryland manufacturing enthusiasts should know that manufacturing accounts for roughly 5.81% of the net Gross Domestic Product of the state and employs 3.95% of the total workforce.
The best thing about the statistics from the government endeavour Advanced Manufacturing Survey is the clear indication of the affluent lifestyle enjoyed by these workers who boast an annual income of $80,310 on an average.
Maryland truly is the ‘land of opportunities’.
The following is a snapshot of the top manufacturing industries in the state and their individual contributions to the cumulative GDP.
*All numbers are in Million dollars
From chemical products to electronics to plastics, the whole gamut of ‘modern’ sectors required to keep the heart of the American civilization pumping and the American dream alive find realization in Maryland.
Wichitech is the industry leader where hot bonders and composite repair machines are considered. Situated in Baltimore, Maryland’s largest city, it is proud to be a part of the Maryland legacy and is committed to be up front and center to make the most of the oncoming manufacturing golden era.
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Autoclave Process
Out-of-autoclave (OOA) manufacturing has come a long way to process the next-generation structures, particularly in the aerospace industry. The reason for manufacturers to adopt the OOA is due to the two important factors – money and size of the part. Traditional autoclave curing systems are expensive to buy and operate and are available only in limited sizes.
Manufacturers in aerospace and other industries are increasingly turning to OOA to cure parts. Out-of-autoclave is less capital-intensive and less costly, especially as parts increase in size and number. Several of the latest advancements push the technology even further, offering curing solutions that are out-of-autoclave and out-of-the-oven. Among the solutions under development are integral liquid heating/cooling and induction heating. These technologies offer the same benefits of OOA and then some – fewer steps, less material and shorter cycle times.
OOA is most heavily utilized by aerospace industry manufacturers as well as a variety of sectors are adopting OOA methods, from renewable energy to automotive and consumer electronics. This is mainly done to improve the quality of the products, increase throughput, cut down on production time, decrease capital, operating and labor costs. Curing time appears to be industries biggest bottle neck and this has forced companies to send employees to trade shows in search of new OOA processes. With the advancement in the OOA technology, some companies are using induction heating to create aerospace parts and internal car parts.
OOA is evolving to address the application problems ranging from part size, manufacturing costs, part quality and curing time. It also is adapting across sectors, including aerospace, automotive, renewable energy, consumer electronics and even farm equipment.
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Manufacturing composite repair systems for clients in a range of industries, from aerospace to alternative energy, we are constantly staying on top of the latest news, information, and technology as they relate to our clients.
One of the ever-expanding sectors that are attracting a lot of buzz these days is wind energy. In many areas of the world, use of this alternative energy is growing significantly, and in Northern Ireland, 2013 saw the highest levels of wind energy ever for that region. In fact, on December 17, 2013, 506MW of electricity were generated, which happened to be 36% of all electricity needs for Northern Ireland at the time, as well as the first time wind generated over 500MW for Northern Ireland. *
This was a cause for excitement at a recent Northern Ireland Renewables Industry Group (NIRIG) conference, where the focus was not only on this past success, but on promoting future success. One of the reasons for this focus on wind energy is that Northern Ireland’s aging electricity grid, built in the 1960s, was not designed with wind in mind, making it a challenge for many to take advantage of.
This area’s infrastructure, and many similar areas around the world, need much better infrastructures to meet greater needs and to attract large investors who could support these needs. The industry and area experts are certain that many opportunities exist for great investment in wind energy, which would in turn bring great benefits. Those involved believe the best ways to do this are through educating the public on the economic advantages of renewable energy, and getting politicians involved.
Of course, Northern Ireland isn’t the only area where wind energy usage is increasing, and where proponents are singing its praises. A surprising study by Stanford University has even shown that “mammoth offshore wind farms can tame hurricanes rather than be destroyed by them.”** The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) credits wind power with everything from job creation to generating enough electricity to power over 11 million homes in a single year.***
Its use is growing and its advantages are being seen more and more; it will be interesting to see what the future holds.
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8 Steps for a Better Process Change
When performing an operational process change, it’s important to not only be efficient during the job but also to fully understand what the problem is and what needs to be changed. Here are eight innovative steps to take that will allow you to properly make a process change the best way possible:
8 Steps for a Better Process Change
1. Understand the Current Process
It’s important that you ask yourself, “Why is the process in its current state?” From there, you can determine what changes need to be made and avoid making previous mistakes.
2. Know the Reason for the Process Change
Usually, the reason for a process change is cost or variation reduction. For a cost reduction change, good cost organization is essential. For variation reduction, the change agent should know whether random variation or special-cause variation can be eliminated.
3. Identify the Specific Change to be Made
Once the flaws in the current process are pointed out to be changed, the new process should be conveyed in a clear and concise way. This can be done in the form of a text document, flow chart or any other organizationally appropriate documentation. It should be easy enough to understand for other operators to know how the new process will work.
4. Make All Affected Stakeholders Aware of the Change
The new process should be expressed to everyone who will be affected by the change. This can be done through a meeting, posting online and allowing anonymous feedback, etc.
5. Validate Process Data and Measuring Systems
Before beginning the actual process change, it’s important to ensure that the data and measures are reliable and to constantly check them to ensure accuracy or any changes along the way.
6. Train for the Change
After everyone has been informed of the impending process change, all operators working on it must be fully trained prior to beginning the actual project.
7. Set a Clear Line
The clear line indicates a point in time in which you will be able to categorize data before and after the change. Once the line is set, you’ll be able to keep track of the change more easily.
8. Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control
After the change has been applied, the results should be properly analyzed and measured in order to control the process.
By conducting these steps, the process change can run much more smoothly and allow everyone involved to be on the same page.
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October is National Manufacturing Month! – Get Involved.
Last October was the first official “Manufacturing Month”, and after much success, the celebration returns again this year! Manufacturers around the country are supporting the cause, educating our youth on manufacturing, and highlighting the industry and the economy in order to make a stance and bring awareness to the industry as a whole.
October 4th is Manufacturing Day — but companies and industry professionals will be celebrating Manufacturing throughout the entire month. Last year, more than 240 events, across 37 states, with more than 7,000 people participated. Wichitech Industries, and all of our employees, are excited to be able to join in to educate people on the increasing amount of career opportunities that manufacturing has to offer, and how the industry and ‘New Manufacturing’ has evolved over time.
Across the country, several Manufacturing Day programs will be taking place to help change the image of Manufacturing – which was one seen as dark and dangerous, and designed for unskilled workers.
Companies are opening their doors to students and professionals who are curious about the industry and letting them know what Manufacturing is really about:
“Manufacturing is technologically advanced, with ample use of automation, 3D printing, robots, and screen technology.
The annual average salary of manufacturing workers is more than $77,000.
Manufacturers have the highest job tenure in the private sector.
90% of manufacturing workers have medical benefits.”
At Wichitech, we’re happy to be involved in Manufacturing, and are proud of what it has become today. Get involved in National Manufacturing Month! Share your thoughts about Manufacturing, reach out to learn more, and experience what Manufacturing has become today.