DisTribute

Tribute Launches Business Value Calculator for Industrial Distributors

Tribute Inc. is proud to announce the release of an online Distribution Management Software Business Value Calculator. The tool lets users calculate how much their own organizations can improve their bottom line by implementing an enterprise-wide distribution management system. 

“Numerous industrial distributors do not realize how much time and money is wasted every day,” says Tim Reynolds, President of Tribute, Inc. “This tool helps them quantify that cost and identify the savings they could receive from deploying an enterprise-wide distribution management solution.”

Developed by Stratavant, a firm with expertise designing value calculators and ROI analysis tools, Tribute’s value calculator is based upon primary research conducted with industrial distributors and secondary research sources such as FPDA, GFA, ISD, NAHAD, NIBA, etc. Thanks to its intuitive design, users can easily generate results that show how a distribution management system can benefit their business. For example, using their company’s own data, users can calculate how much they can save over a three year time period in different areas such as warehouse and assembly labor, scrap material costs, inventory management, and more. This complimentary value calculator can be launched from www.tribute.com. 

About Tribute Inc.
Tribute Inc. is a provider of industrial distribution management software with over 30 years of experience in the hose, fluid power, fluid handling, power transmission, belting, sealing, automation, motion control and related marketplace. Tribute offers two flexible software products to address the toughest distribution demands in order to bolster profits. Tribute is a member of many trade associations including FPDA, ISD, GFA, NAHAD & NIBA and partners with partner manufacturers including Bosch Rexroth, Eaton Corp., Gates Corp., Garlock Sealing Technologies, Goodyear, Pall Corporation, Parker Hannifin and others. Tribute is headquartered in Hudson, Ohio. You can find Tribute, Inc. on Facebook and Twitter. For more information, visit www.tribute.com.

Bosch Rexroth's Powerful New Informational Tool: The Rexroth GoTo eBook

For engineers and OEM project managers on the go, Rexroth has developed a powerful new informational tool: The Rexroth GoTo eBook. Optimized for iPad, it combines all current GoTo Focused Delivery Program catalogs into an easy-to-use digital format, with added features such as embedded videos, helpful white papers and links to online Rexroth resources.

The new GoTo eBook makes it easier and more convenient for machine builders, system integrators and end-user manufacturers to use Rexroth’s GoTo Focused Delivery Program to specify and obtain the high-performance, in-demand products offered through the program.

Rexroth’s GoTo Focused Delivery Program provides industry-best delivery times for a broad range of Rexroth‘s most popular electric drives and controls, hydraulics, pneumatics, linear motion and aluminum structural framing products.

The GoTo eBook contains the same information as the print catalogs: all product descriptions, product photos, system specifications and other data needed to select and specify required products. What it adds is the convenience of a single, integrated digital resource that puts a wide range of Rexroth product information at user’s fingertips – on the factory or shop floor, in working sessions with clients or project partners, or anywhere they choose to work.

The GoTo eBook has been optimized for use on the Apple iPad®, supporting multimedia features such as videos and touchscreen control. Additional, more basic versions are available for E-reader platforms like the Kindle™, Nook and other system, with functionality limited to the specific reader capabilities.

Rexroth designed the new GoTo eBook to make effective use of digital e-book features:

• All individual GoTo catalogs can be accessed from the eBook Quick Links and Resources page
• Individual product listings digitally link product pages with one click or finger tap – no more paging through multiple pages
• Search functions let users enter product names or other terms to find products in any catalog
• Product and part number tables are expandable so users can view specific product details
• Prominently placed links connect users with Web access to product-specific GoTo program web pages for up-to-date information

In addition, the GoTo eBook has added informational resources: For iPad users there are multiple video segments that include system demos and operational training information. There are also links to informative Rexroth case studies and technical papers, to help engineers and systems designers make the most effective use of the Rexroth GoTo products they specify.

Downloading the new GoTo eBook is easy: a dedicated download page has downloading instructions and links for downloading versions compatible with the iPad, Kindle, Nook and other e-reader platforms. The download page is www.boschrexroth-us.com/gotoebook.

Tribute Customer Spotlight: S.G. Morris

Since 1932, S. G. Morris has worked hard as a full service independent stocking distributor. S. G. Morris supports, services, and trains the industrial, mobile and automation markets with offices in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Founded by “Bill” Morris, S. G. Morris has had a long and interesting history. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, S.G. Morris started with just one manufacturer, Racine Hydraulics, now known as Bosch Rexroth. Not long thereafter, Ross Operating Valve, currently known as Ross Controls, and Tomkins Johnson, best known as Vickers, were added.

Throughout their 79 years in business, many top hydraulic, pneumatic, motion control and lubrication equipment manufacturers were added to their line cards. S.G. Morris makes it easy to “Partner with Experience” for high quality components and systems.

S. G. Morris became an employee owned company in 1982 and in 2002 they became an Eaton Premier Distributor. A Tribute customer since 1998, S.G. Morris opted to continue their partnership with Tribute, Inc. in 2009 by investing in their Windows-based package, TrulinX.

The Value of a Niche Software Provider

Sometimes it's easy to know when it’s time to upgrade or change your back-office systems—because your employees are telling you, loud and clear. If they're screaming for new functionality or are working around the present system, if they can't easily manipulate or combine data from existing business systems, or if they can't get the right data to use at the right time, it's time to consider a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution.

When shopping for software, there are three primary types of software that most companies will consider:

• Custom Solutions
• General ERP
• Industry/Niche Specific Solutions

Each of these options has pros and cons. However, for small to midsize companies looking to operate more efficiently and promote growth, a niche-specific software provider is the way to go. This option is generally a fraction of the cost of creating custom software, tailored more to your business than a generalized ERP provider, and a big plus for companies looking to work with a partner that knows their industry and will help them get the most value out of their investment. There are significant benefits to partnering with a niche provider like Tribute, Inc.:

Benefit from Tribute’s Experience in Your Industry

One of the key reasons to buy industry specific software is not only do you get software that fits right “out of the box” but you also gain from the niche provider’s experience in your industry. For example, Tribute’s 30+ years of experience in fluid power, fluid handling, hose, sealing, belting, automation, motion control and related marketplace. We are actively involved in your trade associations (FPDA, ISD, NAHAD, NIBA), have relationships with major manufacturers in your industry (Bosch Rexroth, Brennan Industries, Eaton Corp, Flexco, Garlock, Gates Corp., Gould, Linde Hydraulics, Parker Hannifin, Pall Corp., Sun Hydraulics, Tuthill, among others), and actively work with our Users Group to make sure our software is 100% applicable to your business.

Working with a Partner that Understands Your Needs

The advantage of working with a niche provider is that they understand your needs and requirements and are able to offer you solutions or suggestions that they’ve seen work under similar circumstances. Tribute’s support staff trains at distributorships just like yours, so they know how to help you and when you have a question, you can talk directly with one of our customer service reps. And they’ll understand what you’re talking about when you mention your complicated BOM, because they don’t have to try to service 20+ different industries.

You Don’t Have to Mold our Software to Fit Your Business

Creating special work-arounds to fit your business is a major disadvantage in buying a general ERP. Many companies will choose to purchase software from larger companies because they feel a certain comfort level with a big name, only to find out that they are forced to jump through hoops because the general ERP doesn’t provide the personalized service they require or accommodate their needs. With Tribute, we’ve already done that for you - we have a depth of functionality unseen in general ERP solutions!

And Most Importantly – A Quicker Learning Curve & Continued Support

It is said that the real cost of software lies in the “soft costs” associated with loss of productivity and morale that comes with implementing a new system. Humans are creatures of habit, and most employees grumble at the thought of learning something new. With Tribute, you will be working with a partner that understands your business, talks your language, and provides an on-site training program to get your company on board as painlessly and as timely as possible. And we continue that great service with phone support that knows you and your business, ongoing training through via inexpensive online webinars or onsite consulting, and annual User’s Group Meetings.

Getting your staff trained on the new software in a timely and comprehensive manner ensures that you get your return on investment as quickly as possible. All the cool features in your new software package aren’t going to be much use unless they’re being used. And that’s where Tribute excels – working with our partners to get the most out of the software to run their businesses successfully.

YouTube - Not Just for Fun

YouTube is known for videos of cute babies laughing and Justin Bieber’s rise to fame. More and more however, it’s becoming a resource for technical "how to" videos. Seeing a visual and audio display of someone showing how to do something really speeds up the learning process when compared to text alone, or text with pictures.

Jim Cahill of Process Management Experts says that he hears from process automation professionals that their organizations are still blocking YouTube access from inside their firewalls. If this is true at your facility, Cahill says that you’re missing access to the growing body of “how to” type learning.

A lot of industry vendors have great resources you can check out including their own YouTube Channels, such as:

Bosch Rexroth US has a YouTube Channel with 32 videos on subjects from Diesel Hydraulic Control to the PMC200s: the industry’s first all-servo driven paper cup machine.

Eaton Corporation celebrates their 100th anniversary this year with a YouTube video overview of their history.

Garlock Sealing Technologies has a YouTube Channel with a video series on gasket selection and installation, compression packing installation, and other tips.

Emerson Process Management has technology videos on categories ranging from Measurement & Analytical to Valves & Regulators to Safety.

Gates Corporation has a wide variety of videos ranging from an introduction to their fluid power manufacturing solutions to their Micro V Stretch Fit belt.

Habasit has a YouTube Channel to introduce new products like the HabasitLINK 2" Flat Top belt and the different methods of joining belts.

Keithley Instruments offers free tutorial measurements webcasts through “Keithley University” that cover best practices for making even the most demanding measurements.

Parker Hannifin has just released a video on their breakthrough solar scribing system capable of extreme accuracy and speed in the production of photovoltaic cells

Pepperl+Fuchs has a YouTube Channel to educate you on their products.

A few of our customers have leaped into video to promote their companies like Belt Power, Central States Hose and Midwest Hose & Specialty Co. to name a few.

The National Fluid Power Association has their own channel promoting the fluid power industry and sites and sites like Murdock Industrial Videos have “how to” videos showing everything from using the FT1330 Eaton Aeroquip Crimper to assemble hydraulic hose to . Take some time to surf YouTube, you may be surprised by what you find that’s useful to your business!

Now is the Time to Invest in Business Software!

“Informed small and mid-sized companies understand that a stable, efficient and scalable infrastructure is essential to meet the expectation of dependable and sustainable future business growth,” writes Cindy Jutras, research fellow and group director of enterprise applications at Aberdeen Group, in a recent report on the evidence of ERP as the integral part of any company’s growth strategy. (The report ERP in SME is available with registration at Aberdeen.com.)

Many companies look at total cost of ownership (TCO) rather than the benefits and ROI realized from features and functions previously not provided and the automation of previously manual processes, which emerged as the top two business values gained through ERP upgrades over the past three years. (Aberdeen’s Report ERP in the MidMarket)

Small and growing companies tend to invest more in resources that directly fuel growth, rather than infrastructure. However, Jutras maintains that as companies exceed the threshold of “small” and emerge into becoming full-fledged mid-sized enterprises, ERP can be a true enabler in the quest for revenue and profits. To compete in this economy and grow business, upgrading your antiquated software or a simple accounting software package by investing in software like Tribute or TrulinX is required.

Jutras states that ERP provides a framework for standardization of business processes and will enable business to remain competitive in the years of prosperity ahead. From the end users perspective the key benefits gained from integrated ERP include:

• Streamlining and automation of manual processes
• Visibility to data and also to business
• Compliance with fiscal reporting requirements
• Better control over inventory and schedules
• Improved customer service and response times

In addition, there are significant tax advantages for investing before the end of the year. The Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010 (H.R. 5297 effective 09/27/2010) had a substantial (and welcome) impact on Section 179. The biggest impact is that it increased Section 179's limits, almost doubling them. This benefit will allow you to expense your entire purchase in this year, instead of spreading the depreciation out over five years, as is typical.

This will mean a substantial boost to your bottom line this year. But to get the deduction for tax year 2010, you have to act now, as once the clock strikes midnight on 12/31/2010, Section 179 can't affect your 2010 profits anymore.

Businesses decide to invest in ERP systems for a number of reasons, but it all boils down to one main benefit: profits, states Eric Kass in his article 6 Steps to ERP Profits. ERP systems streamline data processes and eliminate waste to create the most efficient company possible, leaving more room to get things done and turn a healthy profit. ERP is designed to hike revenues even higher than many businesses thought possible. With the right ERP system, like software offered by Tribute, Inc., a good business can become a great business.

Four Inventory Turns Per Year Doesn't Cut It Anymore!

Four inventory turns per year doesn't cut it anymore, states Howard Coleman, principal of MCA Associates, a management consulting firm that works with distribution companies seeking operational excellence. In fact, that may be overestimating the inventory turns of a typical distributor, as he recently visited a few with 2.5 to 3.0 turns per year!

The cost of low inventory turnover is high and there are large savings as a result of optimizing inventory and improving inventory practices. Just by improving one turn, a typical distributor can save hundreds of thousands of dollars! Coleman illustrates this point another way. Let's say you turn inventory four times per year. In effect, you are being paid every 90 days! Would you be OK with getting your paycheck that infrequently?

User's Group Conference a Success

 
The 2010 joint TrulinX and Tribute user's group meeting was held last week at Quail Hollow Resort in Painesville, Ohio (just east of Cleveland). The meeting brought in 141 attendees from 77 companies. Both of these numbers represent increases over last year's attendance! We are thrilled that so many of you find value in attending the annual meeting.

The week began with two days of intense work by the TrulinX Program Priority Assignment Board (PPAB) and the Tribute Program Review Committee (PRC). Members review and rank the TrulinX and Tribute open project lists, which helps determine the direction for future software development. Several new officers and committee members were also elected at the meeting. The current members are:

Tribute

• President: Chuck Pharaoh (Valley Rubber & Gasket Co. Inc.)
• Vice-President: John Dewey (Brennan Industries)
• Secretary: Janie Vasu (IMS Co.)
• Program Review member: Open seat (vacated by Chuck Pharaoh)
• Program Review member: Howard Sweet (Dale L. Prentice Co.)
• Program Review member: Maria Panza (Progressive Hydraulics Inc.)
• Program Review member: Tim Pritchard (Zemarc Corporation)
• Program Review member: Ed Murphy (The Hope Group)
• Program Review member: Brandt Barber (Alt) (Heatwave Supply)
• Program Review member: Kirk Downey (Alt) (Hyspeco Inc.)

TrulinX

• President: Marie Dunning (Fluid Process Equipment)
• Vice-President: Bryan Green (George E. Booth)
• Secretary: Kris Wagner (BMS Burns)
• PPAB member: Jim Asmus (G&H Distributing Inc.)
• PPAB member: Eric Bourg (Connector Specialists)
• PPAB member: Susan Curley (Integra Companies)
• PPAB member: Cyndie Fisher (Controls West)
• PPAB member: Jason Gonzales (Indiana Fluid Power)
• PPAB member: Jeff LaFleur (L.J. Star)
• PPAB member: Brian Pesick (HyQuip Inc.)
• PPAB member: Walt Rodgers (Cline Hose)

In the Tribute business meeting, there was discussion of terminating the TSUG Corporation. Dissolving this entity would save anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000 currently spent on taxes, financial statement preparation and bank fees each year, freeing up that money for other uses. A proxy will be sent out to members to vote on this issue in the upcoming months.
 
In other new business, outgoing PRC president, Michael Goldstein of Goldstein-Schwartz, suggested a table or meeting place for companies to leave their line cards or business cards and open to members to discuss their products with other members. The plan would be to publicize what companies are selling so that if company A is looking for a specific product or type of product they may find another TSUG/TruNet member in that business or product line. This idea will be considered for next year's meeting.

After the PPAB and Program Review Committee wrapped up their work Tuesday, about 25 people participated in a golf scramble at the Devlin course at the Quail Hollow Country Club. Lee Helfer (Specialty Hose Corp.) and Eric Jensen (HyQuip, Inc.) brought their secret weapons - their wives, Carol and Judy - to win the Tribute Golf Scramble. Later on Tuesday evening, Tribute and TrulinX customers were welcomed with a reception in the hotel lobby as they arrived for the meeting.

We officially began the User's Group meeting on Wednesday with a welcome and "State of Tribute" address from Tim Reynolds and a short "Day in the Life of Tribute" movie filmed at our offices. Next we enjoyed a presentation on the Lean Process from Kurt Greissinger of Bosch Rexroth Corporation. Kurt also presented some followup sessions on Lean manufacturing later on Wednesday.

As always we enjoyed some informative breakout sessions. TrulinX and Tribute had some separate breakouts, while others were combined and relevant to all users. These included presentations on emailing from TrulinX/Tribute, importing data, working with BOMs, using Microsoft Excel, new features, and "tips and tricks". Users also participated in roundtable discussions on subjects such as going "green", management of territories and sales reps, and "go live" preparation. Also popular were the vendor meetings for Parker Hannifin, Eaton, and Bosch Rexroth distributors.  The sessions were well attended and hopefully everyone left with new knowledge about Tribute and TrulinX to take home to their businesses.
 
We also send a big "thank you" to Rubber Tree Systems, Enlighten.net and MRH Technologies (Tour de Force) for sponsorship of breakout sessions during the meeting, plus WarehouseTWO, Qantel Technologies, and Harland Technology Services who also attended the meeting. All of these vendors provide very important products and services and we hope to see them at the 2011 meeting.

Of course, our meeting was not all work with no play! On Wednesday evening about 50 attendees traveled to downtown Cleveland to watch a Cleveland Indians baseball game. Although the Indians lost to the New York Mets, it was still a fun night. On Thursday evening everyone enjoyed the President's Dinner, which was a luau held at the resort. We feasted on roast pig and other tasty treats and competed at cornhole and limbo dancing. Greg Bowman from Premier Pump was the "lucky" winner of our Ugly Hawaiian Shirt contest. The DJ was spinning party music all night and many folks were showing their stuff on the dance floor! It was a great opportunity to have fun and network as a big combined group.  

Next year's meeting date and location are yet to be determined, but hotels in Nashville, Atlanta, Orlando, Miami, and New Orleans were presented to the group. TrulinX and Tribute users should be receiving a survey in the next few months to vote on their favorite cities. We look forward to another great meeting in 2011!

Top Ten Indicators Your Business Needs an Upgraded ERP Software System

Whether you’re using a basic accounting software package like QuickBooks or a custom/legacy software package the same age as your college student, there are a number of signs that indicate it’s time for your business to upgrade its business software. ERP software has come a long way in the past 15 years – you may not realize how much time your business can save by implementing a more technologically advanced and industry specific software, like that offered by Tribute, Inc.

Here are some significant indicators that your business is ready for an upgraded ERP solution:

1. You’re entering information and data multiple times into a number of systems and these systems are not tied together in one database. Are you recording quotes in spreadsheets and then re-entering the information into your system once it becomes an order?
   
   
2. You don’t have an effective Inventory and Bin Management system to keep accurate track of your biggest investment. Do you know your best sellers? How much dead stock you are carrying?
   
   
3. You don’t have major shipping vendors (like UPS and FedEx) completely integrated into your software. Just think of the time your staff would save not entering the same information twice.
   
   
4. Your accounting personnel spend hours reconciling month-end and year-end close, and your management team is unable to easily obtain key business performance metrics because you’re not on a real-time system.
   
   
5. You’re manually faxing information from your system to your customers and vendors.
   
   
6. Sales and customer service reps do not have real time visibility into order status and have to call the warehouse to find out whether an item is still in stock or out the door.
   
   
7. You’re a manufacturer’s rep and don’t have an easy way to separate your agency and distribution sales. TrulinX separates agency sales from distribution from step one, so you can keep accurate records and easily calculate vendor rebates.
   
   
8. Your major suppliers require online reporting and rebates and your system cannot accommodate these. Tribute works with your vendors (like Bosch Rexroth, Eaton, Flexco, Garlock, Gates, Gould, Pall, Parker Hannifin, Sun Hydraulics, Tuthill, among others) to give you the tools you need to maximize your supplier relationships.
   
   
9. You require sophisticated Bill of Materials, Hose Assembly, Belting, Lot Control/Serial Number Tracking or External Fabrication/Outsourcing capabilities and your software can’t handle it.
   
   
10. You need a Work Order Management system to separate your fabrication, service and repair orders from the distribution side of your business, and allocate and keep track of components, labor and burden.

Now that the economy is recovering, you’re doing a lot more work with less staff. Using an upgraded technology like TrulinX software will allow you to operate more efficiently, eliminating many manual processes and utilizing your current staff for more proactive functions, like selling and improving customer service.

Tribute Inc. - Users Group Update

We hope you’ve made plans to attend this year’s co-located Tribute and TrulinX Users Group Meeting. It will be held June 15th -18th at the Quail Hollow Resort in Cleveland, Ohio.

We are pleased to announce our keynote speaker, Kurt Greissinger, Product Marketing Manager at Bosch Rexroth Corporation responsible for the new Manual Production Systems product line, will be presenting a program on the Basics of Implementing Lean.

Kurt began working as a Process Engineer and has spent his career looking to optimize processes and flows while eliminating waste. Prior to joining Bosch Rexroth, Kurt was helping to lead the semiconductor industry with its conversion to lean manufacturing. He holds a B.S. degree in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MBA from Grand Valley State University. He possesses Bosch Production System training certificates and is also a candidate for the SME Lean Bronze Certification.

In addition to the President’s Forum and New Features General Session, we have many great break-out training sessions on topics suggested by Tribute customers. In our Tribute session: Going Green, Chuck Hranac of Hydraulic Controls, Inc. and Terry Sasura of North Coast Seal will join us to give real business examples of what their companies have accomplished. The Tribute Software Program Priority Review and TrulinX Program Priority Assignment Boards will be meeting to go over programming requests as well.

Tribute vendor partners Enlighten.Net, Rubber Tree Systems and MRH Technologies will be presenting break out sessions and WarehouseTWO and Harland Technology Services will be exhibiting at the meeting. Representatives from Parker Hannifin and Eaton Corporation have sessions scheduled to meet with their distributors as well.

To help you recover from information overload, we have a variety of activities scheduled to suit almost any taste for the evenings: a golf scramble, a bowling trip, a tour of the Holden Arboretum, or watching the Cleveland Indians take on the NY Mets. As much as everyone enjoys networking in a relaxing atmosphere, our customers always take away useful information and concrete benefits that pay dividends for their companies.

Go to the member’s area of the Tribute website to see an agenda and make plans to join us!

Tribute Customer Spotlight: Hydraulic Controls, Inc.

For over 40 years Hydraulic Controls, Inc. (HCI) has been a premier hydraulic distributor in the Pacific Southwest. They have 11 full-service branch offices, conveniently located throughout California, Utah, Arizona and Colorado. HCI maintains a comprehensive inventory of hydraulic components at every branch, each a full-service facility with a strong commitment to providing outstanding customer service.

Hydraulic Controls Inc. was founded in 1965 by Richard A. Cotter in a modest facility in Emeryville, California. The business initially focused on sales of hydraulic equipment for mobile as well as industrial applications, reflecting the nature of their two principle product lines.

Since a considerable amount of business was developed early with specialty manufacturers of fruit harvesting and product handling machines, HCI decided to open a branch operation in the center of the Sacramento Valley. A small branch was established in a rental facility north of Yuba City to provide local inventory support and service capabilities to customers in that area.

Subsequently, branch operations have been established in Redding, Stockton, Fresno, and Tulare, California as well as Salt Lake City, Utah, Denver, Colorado, and Phoenix, Arizona. HCI established an important presence in the greater Los Angeles market and expanded into the San Diego area several years later.

Dick Cotter is the president of HCI. As an employee-owned company, their goal is to be recognized by their customers as the one source that can and will meet their requirements without exceptions or excuses. To do that, HCI carries a large and complete inventory featuring the finest products from the industry's most respected manufacturers. Every hydraulic product, from a reel of hose to a servo valve, is available for immediate shipment.

Throughout the years, Hydraulic Controls Inc.’s technology has advanced by leaps and bounds. In 2001, HCI stepped into the 21st century by partnering with Tribute Software in order to better manage inventory levels, control finances, and provide high levels of quality customer service. Tribute Software and their staff assisted in an implementation which spanned across eleven branch offices and four states.

During the 2002 - 2007 fiscal years Tribute has played a key role in the continued success of Hydraulic Controls by providing straight forward business solutions such as Auto emailing and faxing of invoices, statements, and acknowledgements to our customers. This implementation has helped HCI save over $18,000.00 the first year.

Implementations such as cycle counting have been key in the management of inventories across eleven branch offices. HCI eliminated the need for annual inventory counts which rack up overtime hours and detract from daily business. Bin Management has been crucial in this program, making shelving and pulling product more effective and less costly.

However, lest anyone think that the hydraulic & pneumatic distribution industry is boring, HCI disproves the notion. Working with Bosch Rexroth, HCI provided all of the critical hydraulic components to power the key mechanical effects for the film, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.

Read the full article on this interesting project in Hydraulics & Pneumatics. Other past film projects include: Titanic, Jurassic Park, Men in Black, The Perfect Storm, Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2. In addition, the LA branch has just completed the re-design of the animatronic dragon for Disney's live show Fantasmic!

“The dragon in Fantasmic! is technically complex and the largest and most fully animated Disney character ever created for a live stage show,” says Mike Hyland Director of Disneyland Resorts Public Relations.

Whether providing components for fruit harvesting or children's fantasies, Hydraulic Controls continues to move forward in its business model and continues to use Tribute software as a base line for growth, technology, cost reduction, and business practice streamlining.

Hydraulic Controls, Inc.
California, Arizona, Colorado & Utah
www.hydraulic-controls.com

Pictures: #1) The staff of the Fresno branch. #2) The staff of the San Diego branch. #3) Ship from the film Master and Commander courtesy of Hydraulics & Pneumatics #4 & 5) The dragon in Fantasmic! courtesy of Disney.

Are You Linked In?

Linked In is a business-oriented social networking site mainly used for professional networking. The purpose of the site is to allow registered users to maintain a list of contact details of people they know and trust in business. Linked In uses a "gated-access approach" (where contact with any professional requires either a preexisting relationship or the intervention of a contact of theirs) used to build trust among the service's users.

Many of the professional organizations, vendors, and businesses you deal with have a presence on Linked In, including Tribute. We now have Tribute and TrulinX groups on Linked In to help keep you up to date on our developments and better communicate with you, our customers.

Utilizing Linked In allows you to keep your business network updated on your company as well – staff and address changes, new offerings, special events – without wondering whether your emails bounced or ended up in the recipient’s spam filter. Linked In is also a great resource to find new employees and keep up on your vendors and customers.

ISD Members and the ISD Emerging Leaders Initiative, FPDA, NAHAD Members and NAHAD Listed Members, NIBA, PTDA, and ANSI all have groups on Linked In as well as some of our professional partners: Rubber Tree Systems, Enlighten.Net Inc., Harvest Technology Group and Harland Technology Services.

There are many professional groups on Linked In that provide information and advice to those in our industry - here are just a few we’ve found:

Hydraulics & Pneumatics - H&P is a global fluid power content provider. We're well known for our monthly magazine, website, forums, eNewsletters, Fluid Power Conference & Expo, and more.

The Pump Network - This is a networking site where people can discuss careers, industry news, problems, and comments regarding anything Fluid Handling (pumps, compressors, filters, valves, sealing, etc...).

Sealing Technology -This group is for engineers, technical sales people, and anyone else that wants to learn more about sealing technology.

Plastics, Elastomers and Rubber - If you like plastics, work in plastics industry, have plastics education or simply want to know what plastics are ... Welcome!!! Elastomers and Rubber fans are welcomed too!!!

Plastics and Polymers Careers and Employment, USA - This group is to help plastics, rubber, packaging, polymer and composite professionals network to find new career opportunities, jobs and employment.

Conveyor Belting Discussions - Sharing information and knowledge about conveyor belting.

You can also find vendor groups such as: Vickers Hydraulics Alumni, Dayco Products Inc Alumni and Associates, Bosch Rexroth, Parker Hannifin Associates and Next Generation Ideas by Garlock Technology - A forum for professionals and students to learn about Garlock Sealing Technologies.

Linked in is another tool to better communicate with your customers and keep up on the current developments in your industry - so go for it, get Linked In!