Two University of Memphis MBAs are helping bring a 33-year-old industrial and hydraulic supply business into the Digital Age.
They've launched an Internet site that lets farmers, mechanics and manufacturers buy fully customized hydraulic power components with a few clicks of a mouse.
The website, radago.com, makes it possible to design, configure and buy tailor-made hose assemblies without dealing with an actual person.
Its creators envision time-saving uses like a farmer using an iPhone or computer to order replacement parts for a broken-down tractor without leaving the farm.
"I'm the old guy," said David Chance, 58, owner of Applied Connectors and Controls Inc. and sister company Bluestar Industries LLC of Memphis. "I've been in it 25 years, and I've always been an outside salesman. These young guys think you can get on the Internet and do anything."
Chance sells hoses, tubes, fittings and other parts for power systems that use hydraulic fluid, water, air or other substances to power industrial equipment. He bought the Mid-South area company, which distributes Parker Hannifin products, in 2004 after working in sales for a Houston, Texas, distributor.
Applied Connectors primarily targets process-oriented industries that run equipment on hydraulics, such as the Valero Memphis oil refinery and Kellogg's cereal plant. Bluestar Industries aims at occasional customers, like repair shops, that may have a small number of hydraulic-powered machines. The website is geared toward those smaller customers.
Chance's son, Roth, 27, worked for his dad's company before going to grad school.
Several distributors have websites, but "I found out it was really, really hard and cumbersome to find out a price on a product and who had it. It was just an idea I had in the back of my head for a couple years."
He recruited classmate Grant Morrow, 30, to help develop the website when they were in U of M's masters of business administration program. Morrow graduated in December; Chance received his degree in May.
Morrow said, "You can buy this stuff online all over the Internet, but what we're trying to do is have a niche that allows us to let you configure and design your hose, then it ships out."
Website features include PDFs of hoses and fittings that customers can print to make sure they're ordering exactly the right size.
In addition to providing a user-friendly interface, radago.com has potential to cut costs.
David Chance considers it an investment in the future.
"We're in the Internet revolution and we have been for 15 years, but not all companies have gotten on board. What is unique about our website is this configurator they've developed. No one else has that."
Coupled with the Memphis advantage in transportation and logistics, it positions the company to benefit when its customer base fully embraces technology.
At least for now, David Chance said, "Our hydraulics customers are not your typical iPad-toting guys."
2011年9月21日星期三
2011年9月12日星期一
Inventions comp: Intermediate category winners
Chaser bins are expensive machines to buy new, but this home-made version made by Paul Spinks, Skeyton, Norfolk, was rather cheaper to produce.
Called the Skeyton Chaser Bin, it consists of two unloading augers from a pair of old Claas Senator combines retrieved from a scrap yard. Power comes from a hydraulic motor already on the farm. The tailgate on the trailer was bolted shut and one of the original tailgate rams is used to fold the augers together. Paul uses the chaser to load lorries directly from the field before the crop is taken to three long-term storage sites up to 30 miles away. Since the photo was taken the machine has been sprayed in Baileys green.
Alex King from Ormiston, East Lothian, speeded up the job of shifting round bales by designing this bale frame. It fits a flat trailer and will transport 22 1.8m (6ft) diameter bales without having to use ropes or straps. The bales are held securely and comply with all the road transport legislation, he points out.
There’s a 1.2m (4ft) high frame on three sides of the trailer, with a second frame hinged along one long side at the top of the first frame. This second frame is lifted to a raised position by the front-end loader or telehandler before it starts loading the bales. The frame is held in an open position by spring catches.
Ten bales are placed on the base of the trailer, then the frame is lowered to form a cradle for a further 12 bales on top.
The weight of the bales is directly on the floor of the trailer, not on the frame, and cross tie-bars give strength to the frame. The transporter doesn’t involve any hydraulics or electrics of its own and needs only one moving part and two spring catches to work.
Craig Peddie has a 250-sow outdoor pig herd in Fife, Scotland. In winter the water pipes and troughs freeze up, so he used to drag around a 1,500 litre water tank and fill the troughs by gravity. However this took up to eight hours a day.
The answer was to make his own bowser. He attached a 5,000 litre water tank to the chassis of an old dungspreader, added a pto-powered water pump plus a 25m hose reel and side boom.
The side boom can be lowered so that he simply drives along the fence line to fill each water trough at the flick of a button. The water can also be diverted to a 25m hose reel, which is used for troughs a distance from the fence line or water tanks in the weaner pig accommodation.
He reckons the bowser saves about four or five man hours a day, not to mention improving morale significantly.
Called the Skeyton Chaser Bin, it consists of two unloading augers from a pair of old Claas Senator combines retrieved from a scrap yard. Power comes from a hydraulic motor already on the farm. The tailgate on the trailer was bolted shut and one of the original tailgate rams is used to fold the augers together. Paul uses the chaser to load lorries directly from the field before the crop is taken to three long-term storage sites up to 30 miles away. Since the photo was taken the machine has been sprayed in Baileys green.
Alex King from Ormiston, East Lothian, speeded up the job of shifting round bales by designing this bale frame. It fits a flat trailer and will transport 22 1.8m (6ft) diameter bales without having to use ropes or straps. The bales are held securely and comply with all the road transport legislation, he points out.
There’s a 1.2m (4ft) high frame on three sides of the trailer, with a second frame hinged along one long side at the top of the first frame. This second frame is lifted to a raised position by the front-end loader or telehandler before it starts loading the bales. The frame is held in an open position by spring catches.
Ten bales are placed on the base of the trailer, then the frame is lowered to form a cradle for a further 12 bales on top.
The weight of the bales is directly on the floor of the trailer, not on the frame, and cross tie-bars give strength to the frame. The transporter doesn’t involve any hydraulics or electrics of its own and needs only one moving part and two spring catches to work.
Craig Peddie has a 250-sow outdoor pig herd in Fife, Scotland. In winter the water pipes and troughs freeze up, so he used to drag around a 1,500 litre water tank and fill the troughs by gravity. However this took up to eight hours a day.
The answer was to make his own bowser. He attached a 5,000 litre water tank to the chassis of an old dungspreader, added a pto-powered water pump plus a 25m hose reel and side boom.
The side boom can be lowered so that he simply drives along the fence line to fill each water trough at the flick of a button. The water can also be diverted to a 25m hose reel, which is used for troughs a distance from the fence line or water tanks in the weaner pig accommodation.
He reckons the bowser saves about four or five man hours a day, not to mention improving morale significantly.
2011年6月26日星期日
ACROSS the BIG SKY
The Mine Safety Health Administration early Saturday lifted an evacuation and closure order for the Stillwater mine near Columbusa day after the mine was evacuated when smoke was reported at the underground platinum mine.
Amy Louviere with the Mine Safety Health Administration said the mine has reopened.
All of the miners made it to the surface on Friday, and no injuries were reported. Louviere said a mine rescue team reached the source of the smoke and found a broken hydraulic hose that sprayed fluid on a piece of machinery.
Hamilton man charged with stealing tiger pelt from Daly Mansion
HAMILTON — An 18-year-old Hamiltonman who police said broke into a historic mansion and stole a tiger pelt has been charged with felony burglary.
Authorities said police matched shoe footprints at the Daly Mansion with shoes being worn by Mitchell James Gouse. He was charged Friday.
Authorities said that they later recorded a phone call in which Gouse confessed the burglary to his father.
Gouse is scheduled to appear in district court in mid-July.
The Daly Mansion is the former home of 19th century industrialist Marcus Daly. It was purchased by the state of Montana in 1986 and is open for public tours.
Washout closes Yellowstone road
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. — A road in Yellowstone National Park's Lamar Valley has been closed after some 30 feet were partly washed out by high water.
Park officials said rushing waters at the confluence between the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek damaged a section of the eastbound lane of the park's Northeast Entrance road just west of Soda Butte.
Visitors still can travel into the Northeast Entrance of the park from Red Lodgeor Cody, Wyo., over the Beartooth Highway or the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway.
The National Park Service closed the road late Friday evening. A spokesman said it's unclear how long it may take to reopen the road.
Idaho city trims trees for megaloads
MOSCOW, Idaho — Officials in the northern Idaho city of Moscow have issued a permit to trim trees along the route of two oil refinery equipment shipments belonging to Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil.
The Moscow-Pullman Daily News reports that the city's Parks and Recreation Department issued the permit Friday for the trimming of 18 trees which planned to start Sunday.
Parks and Recreation Director Dwight Curtis said the oil refinery loads will move down Washington Street.
The oil company earlier this month received permits from the Idaho Transportation Department to transport two modules through Moscow on U.S. Highway 95 and then to Interstate 90 starting Monday.
More than 200 of the oversized rigs are slated to travel through Idaho and Montana over the next year to the Kearl Oil Fields in Alberta, Canada.
Amy Louviere with the Mine Safety Health Administration said the mine has reopened.
All of the miners made it to the surface on Friday, and no injuries were reported. Louviere said a mine rescue team reached the source of the smoke and found a broken hydraulic hose that sprayed fluid on a piece of machinery.
Hamilton man charged with stealing tiger pelt from Daly Mansion
HAMILTON — An 18-year-old Hamiltonman who police said broke into a historic mansion and stole a tiger pelt has been charged with felony burglary.
Authorities said police matched shoe footprints at the Daly Mansion with shoes being worn by Mitchell James Gouse. He was charged Friday.
Authorities said that they later recorded a phone call in which Gouse confessed the burglary to his father.
Gouse is scheduled to appear in district court in mid-July.
The Daly Mansion is the former home of 19th century industrialist Marcus Daly. It was purchased by the state of Montana in 1986 and is open for public tours.
Washout closes Yellowstone road
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. — A road in Yellowstone National Park's Lamar Valley has been closed after some 30 feet were partly washed out by high water.
Park officials said rushing waters at the confluence between the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek damaged a section of the eastbound lane of the park's Northeast Entrance road just west of Soda Butte.
Visitors still can travel into the Northeast Entrance of the park from Red Lodgeor Cody, Wyo., over the Beartooth Highway or the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway.
The National Park Service closed the road late Friday evening. A spokesman said it's unclear how long it may take to reopen the road.
Idaho city trims trees for megaloads
MOSCOW, Idaho — Officials in the northern Idaho city of Moscow have issued a permit to trim trees along the route of two oil refinery equipment shipments belonging to Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil.
The Moscow-Pullman Daily News reports that the city's Parks and Recreation Department issued the permit Friday for the trimming of 18 trees which planned to start Sunday.
Parks and Recreation Director Dwight Curtis said the oil refinery loads will move down Washington Street.
The oil company earlier this month received permits from the Idaho Transportation Department to transport two modules through Moscow on U.S. Highway 95 and then to Interstate 90 starting Monday.
More than 200 of the oversized rigs are slated to travel through Idaho and Montana over the next year to the Kearl Oil Fields in Alberta, Canada.
2011年3月30日星期三
Features and benefits of Case Construction King backhoes
The new Construction King backhoes are the most efficient and productive ever. Every machine offers up to 10 per cent savings in fuel consumption and improved transportability.
The incredibly comfortable cab includes fully adjustable control lever towers and a suspension seat with adjustable lumbar support as standard and internal noise levels are just 77 dB(A). All four cab windows can be fully opened for improved ventilation and the rear screen can be tilted up to provide a clear view to the working area.
Load sensing hydraulics ensure that power is available on demand, contributing to up to 10 per cent reduction in fuel consumption and lower engine noise levels.
Overlapping backhoe boom cylinders provide a transport height under 3.5 metres and a slim boom profile for improved visibility. This 22-centimetre lower transport height will cut downtime on site and result in faster movement of the machine between operating areas.
The outer dipper section of the Extendahoe is powered by a sturdy hydraulic cylinder and the curved main boom profile ensures easy truck loading and improved digging ability. Boom and swing cylinders come with standard end stroke cushioning to prolong component life and reduce fatigue for the operator.
A larger, 145-litre fuel tank and 10 per cent lower fuel consumption mean that the average loader backhoe operator will be able to reduce downtime and increase productivity.
A standard Handling Kit comprises a safe lifting hook with hose burst valves on boom and dipper cylinders and an overload warning device.
The stabiliser legs are also supplied with safety hose burst valves, while rubber pads on the legs can be used to prevent damage to the working area.
All Case ST Series Loader Backhoes have daily check and fill points accessible from ground level, reducing daily maintenance and cutting downtime.
The new power braking system as standard assures less braking effort and better braking efficiency. The new brake system also uses the machine's hydraulic oil, so there is no requirement for a separate brake fluid reservoir, therefore reducing operating costs.
Common rail engines are now standard across the complete ST range. The Case Electronic Service Tool (EST) can be used with the common rail engines to rapidly diagnose any faults, reducing repair times.
The incredibly comfortable cab includes fully adjustable control lever towers and a suspension seat with adjustable lumbar support as standard and internal noise levels are just 77 dB(A). All four cab windows can be fully opened for improved ventilation and the rear screen can be tilted up to provide a clear view to the working area.
Load sensing hydraulics ensure that power is available on demand, contributing to up to 10 per cent reduction in fuel consumption and lower engine noise levels.
Overlapping backhoe boom cylinders provide a transport height under 3.5 metres and a slim boom profile for improved visibility. This 22-centimetre lower transport height will cut downtime on site and result in faster movement of the machine between operating areas.
The outer dipper section of the Extendahoe is powered by a sturdy hydraulic cylinder and the curved main boom profile ensures easy truck loading and improved digging ability. Boom and swing cylinders come with standard end stroke cushioning to prolong component life and reduce fatigue for the operator.
A larger, 145-litre fuel tank and 10 per cent lower fuel consumption mean that the average loader backhoe operator will be able to reduce downtime and increase productivity.
A standard Handling Kit comprises a safe lifting hook with hose burst valves on boom and dipper cylinders and an overload warning device.
The stabiliser legs are also supplied with safety hose burst valves, while rubber pads on the legs can be used to prevent damage to the working area.
All Case ST Series Loader Backhoes have daily check and fill points accessible from ground level, reducing daily maintenance and cutting downtime.
The new power braking system as standard assures less braking effort and better braking efficiency. The new brake system also uses the machine's hydraulic oil, so there is no requirement for a separate brake fluid reservoir, therefore reducing operating costs.
Common rail engines are now standard across the complete ST range. The Case Electronic Service Tool (EST) can be used with the common rail engines to rapidly diagnose any faults, reducing repair times.
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