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Special Edition: Take way from BMA15

I recently had the pleasure and the privilege to attend BMA15, the Business Marketing Association’s annual conference in Chicago, IL. This year close to 1000 marketers from over 400 companies arrived in Chicago excited and ready to be inspired by the latest marketing trends, learn from the newest insights, and of course – to network.

Though the coined terms ranged anywhere from Face-2-Face marketing to Growth Hacking to Experience Marketing, the note I jotted down during one of the sessions simply said Theme of 2015 Conference is Marriage of Technology with Marketing. Under this cryptic note was a crude Euler diagram showing 3 circles overlapping together like a clover with labels of: Marketing, Technology, and Strategy

As I struggle to make sense of all this days later after consuming 48 hours of rapid fire content, I realize that what I thought was a theme of marriage and technology was merely the necessary result of a much deeper transformative theme. I’ll preface this by listing in addition to the usual CEO’s, CMO’s and senior VP’s of Marketing some of the C-Suite titles that presented at the conference: Chief Technology Officer, Chief Innovation Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, and Chief Experience Officer.

Though often times silo’d, marketing and sales departments typically formed the core of an organization’s marketing functions. However now, social media, automated marketing, predictive analytics, cloud marketing, and corporate rebranding strategies have caused firms to create new working teams to analyze, predict, align, and collaborate in the complicated new matrix of marketing functionality. In some cases creating new titles and whole departments just keep up with the rapid advances in marketing technology and trends.

The same holds true for product offerings, employee engagement, and customer experience – all the way up to business strategy. In order to compete in this ever changing, ever evolving global economy, firms must rely on cross-functional teams in order to hit moving targets. Employees must be Macgyver’s of the business world – able to seamless maneuver between the traditional institution and a digital world foreign to most boomers and many X’ers. Leaders must be able to manage up as well as manage down while maintaining a cohesive, collaborative network with their peers. Strategic innovation stems from these cross-functional teams of problems solvers. The next generation of products and services, ideas and trends no longer takes a generation. Instead, businesses must be modern day alchemists looking to turn lead in to gold. They must be ready to find that combination, that marriage that will move them forward through this new world economy.

It’s all in the Understanding

Recently, one of our sales engineers made a trip overseas to help in a process test utilizing one of our 5” Continuous Processors (CP). The machine was being used to process a Sheet Molding Compound (SMC) consisting of calcium carbonate, thickener, epoxy resin, peroxide, and 1” chopped fiberglass strands. The goal for the SMC was to add 25-33% (a finite percentage of) fiberglass into the mix during the process and then mold it as it discharged from the CP.

A typical process for a SMC is to add (drop) chopped fiberglass into a mold containing a resin paste. Fiber is added to SMC to add strength and weight reduction. Then, after the fiber has ‘settled’ into the resin paste, a second sheet of resin is placed over top – thereby encapsulating the fiber between the two sheets. By utilizing a continuous processor, the fiber can be better distributed throughout the resin mixture and dropped in to a mold directly from the machine – eliminating the two step process.

Utilizing two loss-in-weight feeders, the calcium carbonate and thickener were introduced into the processor directly above twin co-rotating feed screws at the feed end. A gear pump was used for the resin blend which was added into an injection port on the top barrel about 3 inches forward of the feed inlet. The fiberglass was then introduced in to the process two thirds down the barrel at a vent port that was about three inches in diameter. The fiberglass feeder consisted of a double row chopper gun with a moving belt about six inches wide – both controlled by a potentiometer. The combination chopper/belt feeder was highly effective for this application and performed without problem the entire test.

Due to maximum limitations of the resin pump in use, the test was begun running at roughly 100 lbs. of product per hour. Afterward, there were a couple of issues that needed to be addressed in order to continue with the test. One of the first issues was the paddle arrangement in the test machine was found to be ‘loose’ and needed to be tightened. Secondly, the supply amperage was too low to allow the machine to start. After locating another disconnect, the machine operated as purposed. Additionally, the small diameter of the vent port – for introducing the fiber – was an ongoing problem throughout the test. This would need to be addressed before actual production could begin.

Shortly after the test began, it was discovered that the discharge end of the machine became hot enough to ‘kick off’ the peroxide causing the product to begin to harden in the vessel. A firm understanding of the CP led our sales engineer to check to see if the packing glands had been correctly installed. As suspected, they were running above 180 F. With instruction from our engineer, the barrel was disassembling, and the client was shown how to pack the machine so that it would not get hot. Additionally, the glands were measured to make sure they never exceeded 125 F.

The next two days, 20 panels were made with glass loading between 25-33%. The panels themselves indicated excellent strength and surface finish. The customer commented that they have been looking for a machine that can do what our CP can do for several years. Their previous method of running their material through two extruders had caused the panels to crack and break very easily. Without the expert knowledge of a Readco engineer on-hand who understood the intricate capability of the machine, it is highly possible that the test could have been a failure. Instead, with a few minor adjustments, Readco was able to demonstrate the full versatility of the CP while meeting and exceeding our customer’s expectation.

A Day in the Life: Readco’s Service Team

Recently, a member of Readco’ service team travelled to a client’s production facility to oversee the replacement of several key components of a Readco 8” Continuous Processor, installation of new elements, and support the start-up operations. The top end of the CP’s transmission needed to be rebuilt due to normal wear and tear of continuous 24/7 operation. Among the parts being replaced were paddle shafts, feed screws, paddles, bearings, and spacers.

Shafts typically have keyways cut into them to hold in place the interchangeable paddle arrangement which is specific to the process. Additionally, the transmission end of the shaft is keyed to be driven by the drive gear inside the transmission. Often times in order to accept a new paddle arrangement, one of the gears – in a dual shaft configuration – must have a new key way cut into it so that the shaft can be rotated to accommodate the new arrangement in conjunction with its partner shaft. While the hardened gear was being re-keyed, the service staff took the time to replace the bearings, keys, and seals.

Once the gear was re-keyed, the unit was reassembled and ready for start-up. Start-up consisted of a cleaning process with the machine running to flush any foreign material or metal out of the unit before being added into the production line. Once switched over to production, the operators ran through the typical rates and sequences. During this, it was noticed that the machine was using more horse power than usual and the necessary RPM needed to be higher than normal to achieve the preferred loading and agglomeration. This was likely due to the change in radial clearance from the installation of new paddles – preventing the machine from reaching the previous top rate of production. Additionally, while trying to achieve this top rate, the motor faulted out due to overdraw and the RPM was decreased in order maintain operation.

An anomaly during the second shift run caused the run process to lose agglomeration and the system self-faulted. Upon start-up a coupling was sheared – which needed replaced -and the gear motor sounded abnormally loud. It was discovered that the operators erringly started the machine with a full load. Our service engineer recommended a procedural step to avoid this from happening again for future start-ups. Once the machine was run through the revised start-up procedure it was initially put back into production at the reduced rate to avoid over-loading. Throughout the next couple of hours the operators were able to steadily increase horse power and RPM, however, it was noticed a near proportional increase in temperature.

Our service engineer advised that they continue to maintain process and watch for stable operation. This is where Readco’s experience and expertise really came in to play. It was determined that the newly installed elements were very slow to reach thermal equilibrium due to the discharge temperature change. Additionally, the horse power and RPM change was be due to the same factor causing a slow closing of clearances until the elements were at uniform thermal expansion with the CP’s barrel. Shortly afterward, discharge temperature stabilized as did the horse power and RPM of the CP. After a full 12 hour shift runtime, all on hand were very pleased with the operation and production of the CP.

Employee Spotlight – Trisha Love

For this month’s Readco Kurimoto, LLC employee spotlight, Trisha Love is being recognized. Trisha has been with team Readco team for for just over a year now. Trisha’s current title is Controller and in this position she is responsible for Human Resources, Finances, and she also is involved in the Safety Committee. Prior to coming to Readco, Trisha worked for a security firm in Hunt Valley. When asked what the favorite part of her job was, Trisha stated that she enjoyed the monthly routine of making the “figures match” and “helping determine how best to move the company forward and keep Readco profitable”.

Trisha’s most memorable day at Readco was during Readco’s Thanksgiving luncheon shortly after she started. “Sitting in an office by myself all day, this was the first time I was really able to socialize and get to know everyone”. Outside of Readco Trisha enjoys traveling, outdoor activities and most of all, spending time with her daughter. A favorite activity of theirs is cooking for each other as well as watching some of the cooking shows and trying to replicate the recipes in the kitchen!

Readco Rep Spotlight – BECO

For our inaugural Rep spotlight, Readco Kurimoto, LLC. would like to introduce Blakeslee Equipment Co! Blakeslee Equipment Company is a process capital equipment representation group serving the Mid West chemical, food, pharmaceutical, steel and utility industries. In addition to representing Readco’s Process mixer lines, Blakeslee also serves principals of Water Treatment and Filtration Equipment as well as Thermal Process Equipment. Having been in business since 1958, Blakeslee has over 75 years of industry experience.

Blakeslee Equipment is staffed by President Mark Blakeslee as well as Ken Bowmer, Mitch Minadeo and Peggy Liegl. Blakeslee Equipment represents Readco in several counties in northern Ohio. One of the reasons Blakeslee chose to represent Readco Kurimoto, LLC., was that the unique niche of Readco’s Continuous Processors allowed their firm the advantage of being able to offer their clients an alternative process to batch mixing. In regard to ‘most memorable moment’ with Readco, Vice-President Mitch Minadeo laughed about the “entertaining conversations” with now retired Readco salesmen Irv Snyder. Mitch went on to say that Blakeslee always enjoy Lab Tests at Readco, due to the professionalism and hospitality of everyone involved in the customer experience. They should know, they’ve done 8 lab tests with us just in the last 2 years!

Readco Rep Spotlight – Set Point Solutions

For the second edition of the Readco Rep spotlight, Readco Kurimoto, LLC. would like to introduce SetPoint Solutions, Inc.! Incorporated in the fall of 2006 by owners Jim and Debbie Bell, SetPoint Solutions, Inc. is the result of a combined lifetime of experience in the dry bulk material processing industry.

Debbie Bell brings 22 years of dry material handling experience covering everything from sales, spare parts, engineering, planning, and cost accounting as well as directly assisting top-end management teams. Debbie was not only successful in developing sales for North American customers, but also enjoyed providing equipment solutions to the South American market as well. Jim’s time in the factory includes such positions as Regional Sales Manager, Vice President of Sales, and Manufacturers’ Representative. After 29 years of working for both factory and independent sales representative agencies, Jim and Debbie felt it was time to take all that experience into the field. Combined, Jim and Debbie’s experience represents more than 50 years in the dry bulk solids material handling industry!

SetPoint Solutions, Inc. has been serving customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and eastern Tennessee for the past 10 years and are excited to provide material handling solutions to existing and future customers. SetPoint is also proud to be partners with many major manufacturing companies in the dry bulk solids industry. Their business partners have years of experience with materials from ascorbic acid to zinc and processes from API manufacturing to wastewater treatment. The companies they represent provide equipment for Loss-in-Weight/Volumetric feeding; pneumatic, hydraulic and mechanical conveying; fine milling, course-size reduction, and air classification milling; batch or continuous mixing; high shear tumble blending, tumble blending, extrusion; sifting, dust control; bulk bag handling and silo flow aids. Additional services include recipe formulations, turn-key systems, and High OEL containment material processing and storage capabilities.