DisTribute

The Future by Fluid Power

Many advances in technology make our lives easier, but some are just downright cool. Check out a few we think are leading us into the future.

A Real World Iron Man

In the Iron Man movie, the hero flew and fought in a robotics suit. The real world version is not as advanced, but the Raytheon exoskeleton robotics suit, the XOS 2, features redesigned servo valves that force more hydraulic fluid through the valves to produce up to 200 kg/cm of force. A tethered version is an estimated five years from deployment; longer still for a free-range version.

One Step Closer to the Jetsons

A 21-year-old Chinese designer has plans for a vehicle called the Volkswagen Aqua that can hover and thereby negotiate all kinds of terrain, including road, sand, ice, snow and water! The design for the invention has been shortlisted in the annual Car Design Awards competition, sponsored in part by Volkswagen. The design calls for four powerful fans in conjunction with airbags to give the vehicle its hover power. The ultra-smooth and futuristic design also includes an expansive panoramic windshield and a hatch entrance from the back.

Dragonfly Spy Drone

The Air Force Research Lab has built a “Micro-Aviary” at Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio where tiny flying robots are the central focus. The Micro-Aviary will specialize in what the DoD has deemed the next generation of intelligence and military robot capabilities: tiny drones that are largely indistinguishable from insects or birds that can surreptitiously move about undetected, performing surveillance and intelligence gathering missions or even delivering payloads like tracking devices or even weapons.

Waves to Power Sensors

Like most renewable energy sources, ocean waves cannot compete with the low costs of fossil fuels. It’s expensive to get wave-generated electricity ashore and add it to a local grid. But what if wave-energy conversion could be used where it’s generated?

A few weeks ago the U.S. Navy installed a system of what are called PowerBuoys, made by Ocean Power Technology. Each buoy contains hydraulic fluid and a generator. Rather than transmitting that electricity to shore over a submerged fiber-optic line, the juice will power the ocean-based sensors that detect and track vessels. The system is part of the Navy's near-coast anti-terrorism and maritime surveillance program.

Happy Holidays!

Click on the photo to see a bigger version!

Top Frames: Tim S., Matt, Tami, Nina, Tim M., Kellie, Alan, Sue, Ken, Bill, Ming, and Carol.  

Back Row: John, Lance, Tim R., Shawanda, Kristi, Nancy, Kristy, David S., Tom, Tracy, Julie, Gilbert, and Byron.

Front Row: Steve, Susie, Dawn, David P., and Don.

Wishing our customers and partners

a Happy Holiday Season!

The gang at Tribute, Inc.

Gates® PT Toolkit™: A Mobile App for Gates Power Transmission Distributors

Are you a distributor of Gates power transmission products? Gates Corporation has come out with a free mobile app that bundles together some of the most commonly-referenced power transmission calculations for quick and easy access. The Gates® PT Toolkit™ mobile application for iPhone® and Android® devices is free and available for download from the Android Market and Apple App Store by clicking here.

All four calculators are accessible 24/7 in the office, during remote field visits, and anywhere in-between. In offline mode, calculator results can be generated and saved. When wireless service is restored, email calculations directly to customers, colleagues, or yourself. Anywhere it’s used, the Gates PT Toolkit mobile app will help continue powering progress.

The Features:

1) Energy Savings Calculator
As first seen on gates.com/ptsavings, enter some basic facts about your motor to get instant estimated annual savings when converting to a Gates synchronous belt drive.

2) Center Distance Calculator
Calculate approximate belt length and center distance for both synchronous and V-belt drives. (Note: For exact center distance calculations, please contact the Product Application Engineering team at PTPAsupport@gates.com or by calling the hotline at 303-744-5800 opt.2).

3) Belt Tension Calculator
Quickly calculate ideal belt tension or belt length for Gates V-belt drives or Poly Chain® GT® Carbon™ belt drives. (Note: this feature does not include belt drive ratings and should only be used to calculate tension on existing drives. Software for new belt drive designs can be found at www.gates.com/drivedesign.)

4) Conversions Tool
Effortlessly convert fractions into decimals or millimeter equivalents and paste results into the app’s other calculators if needed. Additional conversion formulas offered include “Inches to Millimeters”, “Watt to Horsepower” and many more.

Are you a Gates distributor looking for upgraded distribution management software? Tribute, Inc. is specifically designed to handle your industry’s unique needs and partners with Gates Corporation, including integration with Gates PowerPro, to easily streamline your supply chain. Take a look at what Tribute, Inc. has to offer Gates distributors.

Eaton’s PowerSource: Changing the way (and where) you work!

Heard the buzz about Eaton’s new Hydraulic app, PowerSource? This industry leading app is available exclusively to Eaton customers and will change the way (and where) you work! You'll be able to Search, Spec and Sell easier than ever before.

PowerSource takes everything you need to know about more than 200,000 hydraulic products and puts it at your fingertips so you're always prepared in the field.

Updated weekly, PowerSource provides:

• Crimp specifications and technical specifications
• Competitor cross references
• Comprehensive catalog access
• Lead time
• Model code builders
• Hose assembly builders
• Eaton Sales Resource and Distributor Locator
• Pricing

PowerSource is exclusive for Eaton customers. Contact your Eaton representative for more information.

Are you an Eaton distributor looking for new distribution management software? Tribute, Inc. partners with Eaton Corporation to streamline your supply chain, easily build and manage your hose assemblies, and lower operating costs. Take a look at what Tribute has to offer Eaton distributors.

18 Financial Moves to Make by Year-End

It's important to take certain financial actions before the end of the year if you want to maximize their impact on your 2011 statements and taxes. In this article for the OPEN Forum, Kate Lister offers 18 tasks to review and act on by year-end.

If 2011 was a down year for your business, try these strategies to make things look a little better:

• Make one last effort to collect from delinquent accounts, even if you have to negotiate on the amount.
• Ask for progress payments on ongoing projects, and try to secure downpayments on upcoming projects.
• Delay paying certain bills until 2012.
• Try to sell slow-moving inventory or unneeded property or equipment that is fully depreciated.

If 2011 was a good year, you might consider:

• Waiting to deposit new checks until after the new year.
• Purchasing qualifying property or equipment under Section 179, if you can put it into service by year-end.
• Paying employees a bonus, or making a charitable contribution.

And no matter how business was in 2011, you should always:

• Download and/or print copies of year-end statements.
• Try to pay down lines of credit.
• Examine your inventory and write off any obsolete items (and perhaps consider joining an inventory-sharing service like WarehouseTWO to reduce your unwanted inventory).
• If your personal income will be relatively low this year, consider converting your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. Fidelity has a calculator here to help you decide if this is a wise move.
• Take a look at your investments to determine whether it’s time to cash out.

Most experts agree that tax rates will increase after 2012 and tax breaks will be harder to come by. Be sure to consult a professional about whether these strategies are right for you.

You can read the full article here.

VMA: A Valuable Resource to the Valve Industry

Are you a supplier, distributor or systems integrator of valves, actuators or controls? The Valve Manufacturers Association of America is a valuable resource for the industry. Not only is it a source for buyers, the organization provides educational programs and timely news articles in their publication, Valve Magazine, on the fluid power and fluid handling industry.

The Valve Manufacturers Association of America represents the interests of nearly 100 North American manufacturers of valves and actuators. Collectively, members account for approximately 80% of the total industrial valve shipments out of U.S. and Canadian facilities.

The North American valve industry supplies approximately 35% of worldwide valve demand, and VMA member companies employ 20,000 men and women directly in supporting jobs. VMA is the only organization exclusively serving U.S. and Canadian manufacturers of industrial valves, actuators and controls. Founded in 1938, VMA is headquartered in Washington, DC.

If you repair and rebuild valves and actuators... if you believe that safety, quality and good service go hand-in-hand... then you'll want to be a part of the Valve Repair Council, which advocates the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) approach to repair.

Have an employee new to the industry that needs training? VMA's Valves & Actuators 101, a course created specifically for newcomers to the industry, is ideally suited for recent graduates and engineers in the early stages of their careers. The next Valve Basics Seminar & Exhibition will be in Houston, March 6-7, 2012, and will include 10 hours of education, lessons on all major valve and actuator types, an interactive panel discussion on how to specify valves and actuators, a comprehensive take-home manual for reference.

VMA's valve and actuator training program, "Valve Ed”, is tailored to the educational needs of the next generation. You can also obtain a quick Introduction to the Valve Industry through the VMA Store. The electronic presentation has more than 100 slides and 16 additional pages of notes, and provides a simple way for new employees or students to learn about the industry.

U.S. or Canadian valve manufacturers and suppliers looking for personnel with experience in the industry, can utilize VMA’s online Career Center to post a job listing and those searching for a job can search the Jobs Database. And you can keep up on the latest news in the industry by checking out the Valve Industry Blog.

The Valve Industry Buyers Guide, a convenient online resource, features hundreds of listings and is organized to help you easily locate U.S. and Canadian valve, actuator and control manufacturers, as well as suppliers to the valve industry. You’ll find Tribute, Inc., a provider of distribution management software specifically designed for valve and fluid handling distributors, on this list as well.

 

Got-Autism: A Success Story

In May 2009, Rodney Landers of Hydrotech, a fluid power/motion control distributor and solutions provider based in Cincinnati, wrote an article for our blog about their new venture that had nothing to do with fluid power - Got-Autism.

Hydrotech employee, Tammy Andersson, the mother of a son with Asperger’s Syndrome (a high functioning form of autism), along with the staff of Hydrotech, created an organization that utilized their experience as distributors to provide educational, therapeutic, and practical life products for children and teens living with autism.

Since their founding in the fall of 2008, Got-Autism has grown significantly and now provides a wealth of resources in addition to educational and therapeutic products. Got-Autism’s mission is to create awareness and help the autism community become more recognized for their exceptional differences and abilities.

As an advocate for autism, they provide on-going financial support to the ASD community through charity fundraisers and by donating 5% of the sale of each product to fund autism treatment, therapies, as well as promoting outreach programs to increase understanding and compassion for those living with autism.

In fact, these days you’ll find Got-Autism founder and president, Tammy Andersson, on Facebook and YouTube talking about the founding of the organization and giving helpful advice to parents dealing with the diagnosis on her blog. Thanks to the help of her family, employer and colleagues at Hydrotech, Tammy is busy helping those with autism achieve satisfying and productive lives.

Know someone with a form of autism? Check out the Got-Autism website for resources, educational products and holiday gift ideas.

12 Costly Conveyor Maintenance Mistakes

It is easy to overlook the importance of a well-functioning conveyor - until you experience a breakdown. Luckily, there are simple preventitive measures you can take now to avoid a costly problem in the future. This article by John T. Phelan, Jr for InTech lists 12 of the most common material-handling system conveyor maintenance mistakes and how to avoid them, including:

• Overlooking regular inspections. In most manufacturing operations, it is the production equipment that receives the attention; however, the conveyor should receive regular inspection and maintenance as well.
• Disregarding OSHA standards. A safe workplace indicates a commitment to employees and customers, and often serves as a competitive advantage. But, because of the constant pressure in a production environment, it is easy to neglect equipment safety. Be sure to reinstall safety equipment after it has been removed, and train all workers on the meanings of conveyor warning labels.
• Keeping an inadequate parts inventory. Certain conveyor parts may not be readily available when you need them. Key components such as motors, couplings for line shafts, bearings, and photo eyes should be kept on hand in case of a breakdown.
• Ignoring the warnings given by repeated breakdowns. A continuing pattern of breakdowns is a message that something is wrong. But, again, production demands often require quick fixes to get the line moving. By disregarding a problem or not finding its root cause, your company may suffer more down time incidents, additional costs, and employee frustration.
• Misusing a conveyor. One common example is placing larger, heavier cartons on a narrow conveyor. When this happens, there is stress and wear on the entire conveyor, which will eventually result in a breakdown. Consider the conveyor’s belt pull rating before increasing its workload or using it in ways it was not intended.

To read the complete article, click here.

For more information regarding the belting industry, visit NIBA (The Belting Association). They have a great resources page and offer training through a variety of formats and the University of Industrial Distribution. You can find NIBA members on LinkedIn and Facebook as well. If you're a belting distributor looking for business and inventory management software, check out Tribute, Inc. We specialize in belting distributors.

Tribute Customer Spotlight: Seals Unlimited

Seals Unlimited, located in Mississauga, Ontario, has over 40 years of sealing experience and expertise. Owned and operated by Rob and Sybille Hamilton, Seals Unlimited has an extensive knowledge of applications and engineering design which has allowed them to become the foremost supplier of seals and gaskets for a wide range of industries and solutions.

Providing seal design, complex chemical compatibility analysis, as well as fugitive emission challenges, Seals Unlimited utilizes the latest technology and adheres to the highest ISO 9001:2008 quality control standards. A broad inventory of nearly 20,000 items makes Seals Unlimited a true 'One Stop Partner'.

Seals Unlimited represents only the top names in seal manufacturing, and along with their unique customer support services and education department, Seals Unlimited is the "Sealing Expert". As a registered QMI company, the entire operation adheres to the strict ISO 9001 standards set out by the Quality Management Institute.

Seals Unlimited utilizes Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), a time-saving link from your computer to their network, to enable the easy transfer of quotes, purchase orders, confirmations, invoicing and payments. And they, in turn, have on-line access to their major suppliers.

The efficiencies of EDI combined with computerized tracking of all their customer’s seal inventory enables them to offer a "Downtime Protection Plan" - a program that utilizes usage monitoring and rapid express delivery, to assure customers of worry-free inventory control with minimal staff involvement. It's their guarantee that the seal you need, at the time you need it, will be ready and waiting for your call.

Some say that the company you keep is a reflection on character. Rob and Sybille Hamilton believe that the "Companies" you keep is an even better indicator. That's why Seals Unlimited works with only the finest manufacturers and service providers in the industry, such as: Parker Hannifin, Presray, ProTech, Flexitallic, IDI (Independent Distributors, Inc. – Canada’s Largest Industrial Distribution Network), SKF Sealing Solutions (Chicago Rawhide), and JM Clipper.

As with many businesses, Seals Unlimited believes that their best client is an informed client. In the ever-changing world of industrial sealing they endeavor to keep their customers current on today’s needs. That's why their education department offers a fully equipped in-house classroom environment for hands-on training in all areas of sealing technology. Seals University™ includes comprehensive sessions that can be customized to your unique needs, at their facilities or at the customer site.

With today's emphasis on "Zero Emission Sealing Technology", training is imperative and their Seals U™ can keep you at the leading edge. A Tribute customer since 1994, Seals Unlimited has used Tribute Software to run their business and manage inventory efficiently. An active member of the Tribute Program Review Board, Sybille Hamilton has helped set the direction of Tribute Software, ensuring that, as their industry changes, Seals Unlimited will remain the foremost supplier of seal and gasket solutions.

Seals Unlimited (1976) Inc.
58 Oakwood Ave N.
Mississauga, ON L5G 3L8 Canada
Phone: 905-278-1326
Toll Free: 800-268-5228
Fax: 905-278-2548
http://www.sealsunlimited.ca/