Family-owned businesses have long been a staple of the world economy. According to Handelsblatt, a leading German-language business newspaper, over 90% of German companies are family-owned and employ a majority of the country’s workforce. Seifert Systems is among this group of German companies and has the added distinction of leadership being passed down through generations…
In 1917, the United States entered World War I, Germany torpedoed the British ocean liner Lusitania, Albert Einstein applied the theory of relativity to model the structure of the universe, and John F. Kennedy was born. That same year, a Canadian inventor founded a manufacturing company that became known for its excellent customer service and…
Through the centuries, the concept of ‘quality’ has fascinated people. Aristotle is credited with saying that quality is not an act, it’s a habit. Henry Ford said that quality means doing it right when no one is looking. Both of these statements describe the culture at Quabbin Wire & Cable Co., which manufactures general purpose…
What do oil refining, rail and transit systems, outdoor water parks, wastewater treatment plants, and breweries have in common? They are environments that need high-quality, watertight, corrosion-resistant enclosures to protect critical equipment such as electrical connections, wiring, control panels, and sensitive measurement systems. In harsh places like these, non-metallic enclosures protect against moisture, dust, dirt,…
J.R.R. Tolkien’s highly acclaimed fantasy novel “The Hobbit” was published in the United Kingdom in 1937. That same year, Trumeter was founded in Manchester, U.K. to provide mechanical-based length measuring equipment for the textile industry. That year was a good start for Tolkien and Trumeter, as both the book and the company have earned enduring…
When asked what comes to mind when someone mentions ‘Italy’, people often think of the country’s delicious pasta and food, fast cars, breath-taking landscapes and stunning architecture. Italy is certainly known for these remarkable things and much more. It is also home to this month’s supplier profile ReeR, a 60-year old company founded in Turin…
As Acme Electric enters into its second centennial of continuous operation, the company renews its commitment to the transformer industry by supporting new technology, providing products to support customers around the planet, and retaining its leadership position in the areas of efficiency and inventiveness. In fact, this 100+ year-old company innovates like a start-up but…
In 1976, there were many firsts – the Concorde flew its first commercial supersonic flight, Nadia Comãneci scored the first ever perfect score in gymnastics, and Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak formed Apple Computers. That same year, a company called Metrol Co., Ltd. was founded in Tokyo, Japan. Metrol products may not be as familiar…
In “The Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy worried about lions, tigers, and bears as she began her journey. While those animals certainly can be frightening, in our automated world, safety concerns are different. Doors, gates, and machines can pose hazards to people and property if they don’t work properly: garage doors should stop if something is…
Service engineers and machine builders ensure that arrays of machines, computers, and equipment perform optimally 24/7. In the past, service engineers were alerted about a malfunctioning machine with a frantic call from a machine operator or owner. If it happened at night (which was all too often, right?!) the call forced the service engineer to…