Month: December 2021

Quad Plus Announces New Building with New Capabilities

Quad Plus has built a 50,000 sq ft building in the Midwest to expand our capabilities with industrial control systems, system integration solutions, and system services.

New Lenox, IL – August 1, 2020 – Automation system integrator and industrial services company Quad Plus has announced that the new Quad Plus headquarters has been completed and our medium voltage capabilities have been expanded, along with the capabilities of the Quad Plus shop. 

Medium Voltage Testing – Currently, there are no other systems integrators in our class that offer medium-voltage testing. Quad Plus now can test up to 1000 KVA at 2400V, 4160V, 12,470V, 13,200V, 13,800V, and 14,400V. The more we can anticipate complications during in-field commissioning, the better our end users will be served. Of course, not all tests can be completed in our shop. However, reductions in complications and variables are always beneficial.

Training – There are not many opportunities for technicians and engineers to train, test, or qualify on this type of equipment. We have “upstream” isolation switches, which allow us to test cables, circuit breakers, transformers, and more. We can also provide in-house training for clients on SEL relays, MV gear, etc. Because we can now do MV testing and training within our own facility, we can operate under very controlled, low-pressure circumstances.

Medium Voltage VFD Testing – We’re able to test MV VFDs that we build in-house. Like our traditional LV coordinated drive systems, these 6000 HP MV VFDs require extensive in-house testing prior to being deployed to the field.

MCC Testing – Replacing or adding an MCC lineup may require installation into a client facility with difficult mechanical access. Once installed, the commissioning and verification process begins. Off-site MCC testing prior to installation reduces the chance that a major problem will require removal of the entire line for remediation. Completing communications and coordination settings within our facility allows for defect detection and correction before installation. Not only will this save our clients time and money, but we can also reduce the number of in-field commissioning hours while significantly reducing client risk after installation.

Research & Development – We recently provided proving grounds for Siemens to test a small system, and we learned a great deal from their R&D process. Now that we can offer similar opportunities for other MV systems, we’re looking forward to even more ways to contribute to developing and implementing new technologies.

New Equipment – Along with our new facility we have several new pieces of equipment that will not only make our jobs easier and safer, but also provide us with the capabilities to expand the types of services we provide. Here are some of our newest additions and why we’re so excited about them.

26-Ton Overhead Crane – When it comes to moving heavy items in the shop, a high-capacity overhead crane is one of the safest, most reliable options. Before obtaining this crane, we relied on less capable lifting solutions that no longer suit job requirements. Today we can put long enclosure lineups together and then lift them as a single unit overhead for direct placement on the truck. Because we can now load by crane indoors, our client’s products will be kept dry and safe during preparations for transport. Our customers will also enjoy a decrease in installation costs as they receive enclosure lineups in one piece. Less installation time means that they can begin production sooner to help boost their bottom line.

Steinhauer CNC Machine – This machine eliminates many of the time-consuming and costly manual methods of performing enclosure modifications. For example, we have not only saved employees from having to drill 400 holes per panel, but we have also decreased our assembly time by days on some jobs. In most cases, it takes a bit more work to set up the Steinhauer, but the machine can drill and tap 400 holes precisely in 45 minutes–a job that would take the shop three days to layout, drill, and tap the holes using conventional methods. Our customers will value the decreased project lead times and we may be able to offer the use of the Steinhauer for select customer projects on a per-job basis.

Shop Features – 

• Expanded Inside workspace. We can now assemble equipment of up to 50,000 lbs. completed weight in temperature-controlled work areas without extreme heat or cold affecting the job. Plus, the crane allows installation of heavy components quicker, easier and safer.
• Heavy Equipment Pad. Our new reinforced concrete pad area allows work with heavy equipment in excess of 50,000 lbs. and provides 100A electric service power.
• Pneumatic Tests and Tools. We also have air service throughout the shop so we can now do pneumatic testing when required.
• Upgrades to Work Areas. Six work areas now support 60A test equipment while two retain support for 30A equipment.
• UL508A Industrial Certification. We are looking to add UL698A Hazardous Location certification to our file in the near future.

Looking to the Future – At Quad Plus, the foundation of our operations is keeping industry prepared for what the future will bring. With our new shop, new equipment, and new capabilities, we can do even more to make sure our customers enjoy faster, more reliable service so they can stay focused on advancing into the future.

Learn more about Quad Plus’s services at www.quadplus.com or contact Jim Woulf at (920) 515-4155 or jwoulf@quadplus.com.

Since 1990, Quad Plus has grown to include several offices throughout the United States and internationally. Today, the company provides automation system integration, control retrofits, and engineering services to a variety of industries. With a skilled design, implementation, safety, and after-care support team made up of mechanical, civil, structural, chemical, controls, and electrical engineers, Quad Plus has extensive process knowledge spanning from the utility pole to the motor shaft. Learn more about this recognized leader in automation system integration by visiting www.quadplus.com.

Fiberglass Solutions moves, expands production capacity

GREEN BAY WI Dec. 17, 2021: Fiberglass Solutions, a manufacturer of custom fiberglass for nearly 50 years, announces its move to a larger facility, 995 Waube Lane, Green Bay. 

Fiberglass Solutions provides high-quality fiberglass fabrication and repairs for a variety of industries. With the move, Fiberglass Solutions substantially increased its manufacturing and warehouse capacity, from 9,400 to 34,000 square feet. Owners Ben and Amy Bertram collaborated with industry professionals to design the open-concept, free-flowing manufacturing space.

“The overall space, layout, airflow technologies, and environmental improvements help to create a cleaner, brighter atmosphere for our employees,” Ben Bertram said. 

In addition, the Waube Lane facility provides extra space for large orders and finished product storage. Now Fiberglass Solutions can easily implement new technologies and train and develop its workforce.

“The new facility greatly increases our efficiencies and allows us to increase overall throughput for our manufacturing customers,” Ben Bertram said. 

Fiberglass Solutions serves many different industries, including pulp and paper, wastewater treatment, plating and coating, and dairy, cheese, and vegetable processing. The family-owned company is expanding its workforce to provide custom fiberglass solutions that contribute to client success.

Now equipped to handle larger orders and additional work, Fiberglass Solutions is accepting new clients and large-scale orders. Call 920-468-6261 to discuss fiberglass fabricating or repair and to request a quote for an upcoming project.

ABOUT FIBERGLASS SOLUTIONS: For nearly 50 years, Fiberglass Solutions has manufactured high quality molds, tanks, and other custom fiberglass fabrications for various commercial applications including the agricultural, chemical, paper, and recreational sectors. For more information, visit https://www.fiberglasssolutions.us/.

Join First Business Bank and the Green Bay Innovation Group for networking, food and beverages, prizes, and a brief five-minute presentation on the SBA 504 program. Beer, wine, and heavy hors d’oeuvres will be provided. This sponsor appreciation event is scheduled from 3-5:30pm Jan. 27. The event is free, and attendees are welcome to come and go as they please. Stay for the whole event or even just stop by for a quick drink. Enter to win a bottle of bourbon, Yeti tumbler and blanket. First Business Bank is located at 3913 W. Prospect Avenue, Appleton. Reserve your spot by registering at https://greenbayinnovationgroup.com/events/.

Read More

Castle-Pierce New Press and Tour

The Green Bay Innovation Group set up a tour at Castle-Pierce for Michele Moran and Melanie Giles of Hoffmaster Group, Inc.  Castle-Pierce, Inc. has made substantial investments in new state of the art equipment providing Flexible Packaging, Folding Cartons, Labels and Commercial Printing for major clients across the USA.  Hoffmaster, Inc. focuses on Food service, Consumer and Contract Manufacturing for customers worldwide.

R & R Insurance FW: Ransomware Defense Strategies

A ransomware attack can leave a permanent mark on any business’ financials and reputation.  The recent uptick in ransomware attacks has further proved that no business is safe regardless of their size or industry. A recent report by cyber security leader Cybereason provided actions to help protect against a ransomware attack:

• Implement email and web scanning
• Initiate data backup and recovery systems
• Add endpoint protection
• Create a security operations center
• Provide security awareness training

Implementing these pro-active strategies can be key in protecting your business against a ransomware attack. R&R Insurance and its dedicated cyber division can help identify and implement strategies like these to help defend your business against ransomware attacks.

If you are interested in learning more about how R&R can assist you or your business, please give us a call or visit myknowledgebroker.com.

GOpak adds inhouse pouching

GOpak, a digital production flexible packaging manufacturer located in Delafield, Wisconsin has expanded their capabilities by adding a pouch converting line.  The PCMC -Hudson Sharp machine was delivered and installed in November.  GOpak started in 2019 with the HP 20000 as their printer platform and Electron Beam curing capabilities and now adding in-house pouch converting

“Our emphasis is delivering speed to market for our customers. Since we started, we have worked closely with a few converting companies and will continue to work with our partners”, said AJ Buran, President.  “The digital sector of flexpack continues to have strong growth and by adding the in-house capabilities we will be able to better manage quality and maintain our emphasis on fast turns to the marketplace.”

“We work with small, medium and large brands and with the combination of EBeam technology and digital print in tandem have a strong position in providing both sustainable solutions and speed, said Buran.” GOpak provides completed pouches and roll stock products for form fill seal to the reseller channels and select end users. Lead times for pouches is 15-20 days and for roll stock is 5-7 days.

Vetaphone reports record year!

In a year blighted by travel restrictions and lockdowns, the leading manufacturer of surface treatment technology beats all previous sales records.

The period since the first lockdown began in April 2020 has had a major impact on world trade and the way companies do business, so Vetaphone is more than happy to report a huge boost in orders across the board that saw it return a year-end total that will not only surpass expectations but exceed all previous years in the company’s long history.

Speaking for the company, VP Sales & Marketing Kevin McKell explained: “We were quick to assess the situation and adapt our sales and marketing approach to suit the new trading conditions.  With travel either impossible or severely limited we had to find alternative ways for face-to-face contact with customers, and the actions we took have clearly worked well!” 

With trade fairs being cancelled on a rolling basis, Vetaphone took the bold decision to withdraw from exhibiting at all future events, whether large or small.  Instead, the company officially opened its new Showroom and Demo facility in May that is fully equipped with working corona and plasma technology and offers both in-person and online appointments via a video link.  Allied to the adjacent Test Lab facility that it opened in 2020, Vetaphone now has a permanent trade fair stand of its own that is available 24/7, if necessary!

“We’ve had great customer response to the new showroom and the fact that we can actually demonstrate the equipment – something we could never do at Drupa or Labelexpo – and it’s really started to pay dividends in terms of orders secured.  We know that many of our customers are unlikely to ever visit us in Denmark – now we can take our technology to them wherever they are in the world,” he added.

The new trading conditions also had an impact on how the company promoted itself and publicised its activity.  Marketing Director Jeannette Woodman explained: “We quickly switched our focus from a ‘broad-brush’ approach to one that is far more zoned in on the different sectors and parts of the world.  By refining our use of the latest in computer and electronic communications we have been able to impact target markets with information that is specific to individual requirements – and at a fraction of the cost of attending a major international expo!”

For Vetaphone, the new trading conditions have opened new business opportunities, and in addition to reporting a record sales year, 2021 has seen the company move to the No 1 spot worldwide in surface treatment technology.  As Kevin McKell put it: “We were the first, so to be at No 1 in our 70^th year is a fantastic achievement.  Bring on 2022!”

DOD Awards Teel Plastics $4.65 Million Contract to Increase COVID-19 Diagnostic Swab Stick Production

The grant will allow Teel to produce hundreds of millions more swab sticks for Covid-19 test kit manufacturer Puritan Medical Products of Guilford, Maine 

For Immediate Release.  

November 18, 2021 

The Department of Defense (DOD), on behalf of and in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services,  has awarded a $4.65 million firm-fixed price contract to Teel Plastics, LLC to expand US-based industrial production  capacity of extruded swab sticks. These swab sticks will support Puritan’s efforts to supply swabs for various COVID-19  testing kits. 

Teel Plastics, located in Baraboo, Wisconsin, has been a US-based producer of plastic products for over seventy years.  This industrial expansion effort will allow Teel to increase their production capacity of extruded swab sticks an additional  200 million per month to over 330 million per month by July 2022. Teel is planning to add over 25 employees to meet  this increase in production rate. 

The DOD’s Defense Assisted Acquisition (DA2) Cell led this effort in coordination with the Department of the Air Force’s  Acquisition COVIS-19 Task Force (DAF ACT). This effort was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to  enable and support domestic industrial base expansion for critical medical resources. 

Statement from Teel CEO Jerry Pritchett: We’re proud of the role our employees have played in helping to combat the  COVID-19 pandemic. This additional funding will both increase our capacity and allow for more secure production in a  second facility. 

For more information or for interviews on the contract: 

Christian Herrild, Director of Growth Strategies 

cherrild@teel.com 

608-355-4559 

About Teel Plastics:

Teel Plastics is a premier manufacturer of custom extruded and injection molded plastic products due to the expertise of  their distinguished, skilled team – a group of problem solvers known for being professional, progressive, and personable.  Specializing in complex projects, Teel produces high-quality custom parts in a wide variety of sizes with tight tolerances.  

Teel focuses on the medical, cosmetic, industrial piping, film core, and water treatment markets. In addition, there is a  full-service analytical laboratory on campus. Founded in 1951, Teel is headquartered in Baraboo, WI. For more  information, visit www.teel.com.