• VIBCO Vibrators at the World Of Concrete in Las Vegas

    by Edward Huff | Feb 05, 2013
    VIBCO Concrete Vibrator Guy Giovanni

    The VIBCO Concrete Vibrators crew is at the Las Vegas Covention Center and The World Of Concrete. If you are in the area be sure to stop by booth O31544 or N2555!

    VIBCO Concrete Vibrator Guy Javier

    The new VIBCO Concrete Vibrator Tshirts are AWESOME!  Order yours today!

    VIBCO Concrete Vibrators TShirt 2013

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  • VIBCO's President is Helping Rhode Island

    by Linda Kleineberg | Jan 14, 2013


    VIBCO's President, Karl Wadensten, has been in the news lately... there's speculation that he's weighing a run for Rhode Island Governor in 2014. While speculation about the gubernatorial race is the topic-du-jour for the local news outlets, Karl's real passion and message is a vision how we can make it easier to do business in Rhode Island...  

    Want to know more? Listen and watch these interviews. Scroll down to listen to Karl on Buddy Cianci.

    Wadensten Interviewed by Helen Glover on WHJJ-RI

    Wadensten Interviewed by Vincent "Buddy" Cianci on 630 WPRO AM/FM

    Karl Wadensten Interview with Buddy Cianci (audio)

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  • Spooky Happenings at VIBCO Vibrators

    by Linda Kleineberg | Dec 27, 2012


    At just 1,212 square miles and with a population just over 1 million people, VIBCO's home state of Rhode Island is a place where interesting connections and chance meetings happen... A LOT. 

    Here's a classic Rhode Island story...

    Fans of the SYFY network show Ghost Hunters know that Jason Hawes, TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) founder, is from Rhode Island and that TAPS is headquartered in Warwick, RI. This picture appeared on Jason Hawes' Facebook Profile on Christmas Eve... see the post here  I'll warn you that some of the comments likely landed a few folks on Santa's Naughty List...  

    A few fun notes about VIBCO's Rhode Island "eerily" close connections to Jason Hawes/TAPS:

    • TAPS filmed an episode at Hoofinfeathers Carriage Inn in North Kingstown, RI in 2008 - which at the time was owned and operated by Chef Linda Wadensten - the sister of VIBCO President, Karl Wadensten Episode 416, Original Airdate 9/17/2008 "The Boy in the Brothel"
    • A former VIBCO employee, John Paul Endicott, wrote a short VIBCO Ghost Story on 5/18/1996... Click Here to see a scan of the original story

    Happy New Year!

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  • It's Holiday Time at VIBCO!

    by Linda Kleineberg | Dec 03, 2012

    The whole VIBCO team had so much fun writing "VIBCO-ized" versions of some popular Christmas Tunes last year... we loved them so much that we had them professionally recorded!  Listen to them here or enjoy them while you're on hold waiting for your VIBCO service agent or technical support person to come on the line!

    VIBCO Silent Sam Santa


    We're Shakin Up Your Concrete VIBCO Xmas Song




    The VIBCO Team Xmas Song




    Let it Shake! Let it Shake! Let it Shake! VIBCO Xmas Song



    It's VIBCO! It's VIBCO! It's VIBCO! Xmas Song



    Frosty the Millwright VIBCO Xmas Song



    VIBCO Vibration Nation Xmas Song
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  • Make Someone's Day!

    by Linda Kleineberg | Nov 29, 2012


    "Thank god! You've got my vibrators!" yells the purchasing agent.VIBCO Boxes

    The whole room turns to look... including the young woman texting on her smartphone, the salesman preparing to present his pitch, and a young man waiting for a job interview... every eye is on Gary as he crosses the room carrying a white box with huge black and red "VIBCO VIBRATORS" printed all over it. Smiles creep onto each face as the realization sets in that the vibrators in question are VIBCO Industrial vibrators... not the other kind.

    The purchasing agent - we'll call her Cindy -  is in her "mature" years and normally a very proper, well-mannered soul... so what got her so excited?  

    It turns out that on the previous day at around 3:00 pm, the engineered plastics firm where she worked had a line go down due to a vibrator failure. The company supplies injection-molded plastic components to the automotive industry. They needed a replacement vibrator and they needed it right away...  it was Cindy's job to make it happen.

    So Cindy called Gary, her local industrial equipment supply salesman. Gary immediately called VIBCO, knowing that same-day, next-day shipping was possible. Through the magic of emailed purchase orders and UPS Red overnight service, Cindy got her vibrators the very next morning, Gary got to share a funny and memorable moment with his customer, and the VIBCO team got to make someone's day

    So why is this story important?  Because the happy ending was made possible by an organization that cares, that works to improve each day, and who is genuinely Happy to Do It.

    As a complete team, VIBCO employees read FISH! Tales a few years back and decided that we had no intention of being or working in a "toxic energy dump"... that we wanted to enjoy our time  together and create great customer experiences. So we love it when we get to make someone's day.

    What have you done to make someone's day today?

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  • Athena or Not - the First Nor'easter Means It's SandBuster™ Time!

    by Linda Kleineberg | Nov 07, 2012


    The first Nor'easter of the season arrives on our doorstep, one thing is certain - salt and sand trucks do a better job with more consistent ice control with a VIBCO SandBuster™ spreader hopper vibrator on board.  And since the operators and drivers get to stay warm and safe in the cab vs. clearing clogs out in the cold... it's a win-win-win for all!

    Learn more about VIBCO SandBuster™ Vibrators right now!

    vibco sandbuster spreader hopper vibrators


    The Athena Controversy explained...  sort of.

    The Weather Channel is calling the first Nor'easter of the 2012 winter season "Winter Storm Athena" (See the explanation from www.weather.com) and the National Weather Service is not playing along...  here's an image of their notice to employees:

    text on naming winter storms from the nws

    Seems interesting to have another battle of semantics in the weather world so soon after the controversy with the National Hurricane Center NOT posting hurricane and tropical storm warnings for Rhode Island... choosing instead to use High Wind Warnings. Anyone in the area knows that we were hit with a hurricane...  

    Stay tuned... it will be interesting to see if the marketing folks at The Weather Channel win this battle and force the NWS to start using names for winter storms...

  • VIBCO is Touring VIBCO... Finally!

    by Linda Kleineberg | Sep 19, 2012

    VIBCO is Touring VIBCO... Finally!

    VIBCO Assemblers Tour

    Most people familiar with VIBCO Vibrators know that we open our doors and regularly conduct plant tours to help other organizations see how improvement can happen and find inspiration for their own improvement efforts. To date, more than 5000 people from more than 400 organizations have toured our facility, met and spoken with our employees, and been amazed and encouraged by the end-to-end genius of VIBCO employees.

    Imagine our embarrassment when we realized that we hadn't actually toured our own employees through the entire plant so they, too, could benefit from seeing the whole picture. We're a pretty close-knit group, so we just assumed that everyone had an idea about what everyone else did. We've collaborated on countless projects, we've shared great moments together, we've gotten through difficult challenges together... but we somehow forgot to share the incredible tour experience within our four walls.

    Not anymore!

    Last Thursday, about half of the VIBCO assembly team spent the morning "going to the gemba" to see how the other parts of VIBCO function - reception, sales, accounting, shipping, machine shop - the whole enchilada. In the coming weeks, every VIBCO employee will take the famous VIBCO tour. 

    "I didn't really know how everything worked up there in the office... they do a lot!" was one comment. 

    "Wow - I didn't realize how much the office was using Lean - that was awesome!" said another.

    Already, we're seeing an improvement energy boost and improved communication across the organization. Just this morning, assembler Lucy Manley was proud to show off an improvement that was inspired by her tour through sales and marketing.  Lucy collaborated with Sue, Amy and Ron to change the way she receives and organizes her job orders. 

    job order improvement folders

    This is just the first of many improvements that will certainly result from the VIBCO employee tours.

    Want to inspire your team?  If you're interested in taking a tour of our plant, please send an email to linda@vibco.com 

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  • The Dragon Pants Story Has Legs... Video Now Available!

    by Linda Kleineberg | Apr 13, 2012

     

    Who knew that one pair of interesting, "bold" pants would stir up so much interest?  The social networks have been buzzing about the guy who asked GOP Presidential Candidate, Mitt Romney, a question while wearing "dragonpants". 

    Read the real story about why Karl wears "fancy pants"

    The burning question...  What did the "Bold Pants" Guy Karl actually ask Mitt Romney?

    In the true spirit of The Lean Nation and The VIBCO Vibration Nation, Karl asked Mitt Romney about what policies Romney supports that will help to reshore more manufacturing to create jobs and opportunities, specifically for small to mid-size producers who don't have huge resources or tax incentives on their side. 

    Want to learn more about reshoring?  Harry Moser and his team are leading the charge: Go to www.reshorenow.org

    Now for the video and some links to online stories and comments:

    WPRI Providence: Romney says he wants to win RI in November

    Up close shot of #dragonpants by Maeve Reston of the LA Times

    Fishbowl DC:  The Man with the Dragon Pantaloons

    Buzzfeed: Romney Questioned By A Man in "BOLD Pants" 

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  • Karl's "Bold Pants" are a Hit with Mitt. Here's the real story behind the pants

    by Linda Kleineberg | Apr 12, 2012

     

    Karl's "Bold Pants" are a Hit with Mitt... now for the real story behind the pants

    VIBCO President asks GOP Candidate Mitt Romney a Question Wearing Bold PantsVIBCO President, Karl Wadensten's "dragon pants", were a big hit with GOP Presidential candidate Mitt Romney at a town hall meeting at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick, RI on Thursday night.

    While Karl's pants are buzzing around the social network sphere (check out this link to the original photo), the real story is why Karl started his practice of wearing bold pants in the first.  So here it is...

    Back in 2003-2004, VIBCO Vibrators was at a crossroads.  Was the company going to be like every other struggling manufacturer, or was it going to become something special?  Was the status quo good enough or did VIBCO need to dramatically change how it operated?

    The answer was clear to VIBCO President, Karl Wadensten.  VIBCO needed to change... and the change needed to start with the hearts and minds of every single employee.  VIBCO's culture was at the center of it's operations and it was where Karl focused his leadership. Learn more about VIBCO's Cultural and Lean Transformation now

    One of the very first pieces of inspiration came in the form of an email blast that caught Karl's attention.  The message was clear, simple and profound.  It quickly became (and still remains to this day) the mantra of the entire VIBCO organization.  It is the real inspiration behind Karl's bold pants.

     

    "I JUST WANT MY PANTS"

     

    The following blog post is by Jeffrey Gitomer, #676 Are you always right or wrong? Probably right. Too bad.  You can read the full post and visit Jeffrey's site at www.gitomer.com

    When a customer calls and has a question, a concern, a complaint, or needs an answer, the first words out of your mouth set the tone for the transaction. And these words lay the foundation for the future of the relationship.

    The bad news is: more than 90 percent of the people that respond, either in sales or service, don't give an answer; they give an excuse. The only good news inside that bad news is that 80 percent of the 90 percent is your competition. So all we have to do is fix the 10 percent-which happens to be you.

    I went to return a pair of pants that had a hole in the pocket. All I wanted was another pair of pants. On the surface it seems pretty simple. Except for the fact that the store has policies and procedures that precluded me from getting a pair of pants.

    Here's the exchange: Did I have a receipt? No. Did I buy them on a credit card? Yes. Did I have the credit card number? Yes. We'll look it up in our central bookkeeping office. Unfortunately, the central bookkeeping office has no record of your purchase.

    I said, "Keep the pants. If you ever figure out what to do, here's my card."

    Yesterday I got a call from the store's general manager telling me all about how their business operates and why the poor salesclerk could not give me new pants. I told the general manager I wasn't really interested in how the store operated; I was only interested in pants. Could she get me some pants?

    She began to tell me about her procedures and I said, "Stop! You have my address, you have my pants. If you can send me a new pair that would be the greatest, if you can't, I totally understand. Just keep them, send me the new pants, and keep my business for the next 20 years."

    Three pairs of pants arrived today. I could select the one I wanted and send the other two back. No charge. No papers. No procedures. Just pants.

    The sad part of this is that they could have done this from the very beginning, and could have scored WOW on the service meter. But no, they chose to "satisfy" me at the last moment, after almost all hope was gone, in an effort to salvage my business (for the next 20 years).

    The moral of this lesson is the same as it is in your business. Every day your customers call with a problem or complaint. The first thing you do is tell the customer why it happened, why it wasn't really your fault, why the computers went down, why the credit department made an error, why your order didn't get shipped, or some other excuse ad nauseam.

    REALITY: All the customer wants is friendly, helpful service. And an answer.

    It's even worse in sales. Salespeople will make promises, not confirm them in writing, and fail to deliver. The customer has an expectation. The salesperson or the company does not meet the expectation. The customer, somewhere between angry and disappointed, calls the salesperson. Does the salesperson try to recover? Or does the salesperson give an excuse? Answer: excuse-every single time.

    MAJOR CLUE: No one is interested in your excuse. Not your customer, not your boss, not your mother, not your teacher, not your children. No one wants to hear your excuse. All they want is friendly, helpful answers.

    If you just begin the conversation in response to your customer with my three words, "Oh that's horrible" followed by, "I hate when that happens, but you're in luck because I'm the best person to handle that. Here's what we are going to do..." all would be wonderful.

    Should you apologize? Yes, if the situation warrants it, but the customer is one billion times more interested in the solution and the outcome than in the apology. In fact, the apology means nothing if it's not followed with an action or a solution that resolves the situation, completely. And if you want to keep the customer, resolve the situation memorably.

    HERE'S THE SECRET: The secret is knowing the difference between offense and defense. In sports it's very clear. In football, they even change players. But in business, it's a lot more subtle. When you're making excuses, or casting off blame, or giving your version of why it wasn't your fault, that's the defensive position. You're defending the fact that you were wrong even though in your mind you thought you were right. In the customer's mind you were wrong, and that's the only mind that matters.

    The offensive position is the one that's friendly and helpful. The offensive position is the one that provides the solution and omits the (lame) excuse. The offensive position is the one your customers want you to take every time they call. They called for help. They called for answers. They called for understanding. They called for friendly. They called for a solution.

    Nowhere in that set of words do you find "excuse." If you want to build your business, if you want to make more sales, if you want to retain loyal customers, all you have to do is admit your mistakes, harmonize with the customer, figure out how to get them what they want, deliver it, and then take an additional memorable action that proves to them that you're the greatest.

    And, if you're worried about how much it will cost you to remedy customers problems and provide real solutions, let me remind you of my customer service adage: It never costs as much to fix the problem as it does to not fix the problem.

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  • Increase sales and build customer loyalty with VIBCO

    by Linda Kleineberg | Apr 11, 2012

    Keep more customers calling you and only you!

    Let's face it. Budgets are tight and increased cost controls are wreaking havoc on your business. Customers are "shopping around" and it's difficult to maintain your key sales relationships. So how can you keep more customers calling you and only you?

    Give them exceptional service that consistently solves their problems and keeps your name top-of-mind. Here's a recent example of how VIBCO helped one of our dealers to do just that...

    The Situation.sandblasting truck

    A sandblasting contractor had extremely slow material flow though shallow hoppers on a sand and paint chip recovery truck.  From bondo on the hopper corners, brooms, shovels... you name it, they'd tried it. Their dealer saw the problem and recommended installing VIBCO vibrators. Happy to have a solution, the contractor made the purchase.

    VIBCO received a desperate call from the dealer – his customer installed the dealer-recommended vibrators but was still having flow problems! They needed help and they needed it fast…

    VIBCO Had a Rapid Solution.

    Within 48 hours, VIBCO had a field technician at the contractor’s location to provide on-site assistance. The VIBCO tech quickly determined that the vibrators were not in the correct position.  He worked with the contractor to reposition his vibrators and it worked like a charm!  Take a virtual tour of the installation site

    The Result.

    Repositioning the vibrators immediately and significantly improved material flow.

    The VIBCO Story.

    Solving your customers’ problems is VIBCO's top priority. We will stop at nothing to make sure that your customers are happy with our product’s quality and performance. We have decades of experience engineering vibration solutions. That means that you and your customers get the most effective, most efficient, best performing vibrators on the market. Bring us with you on your next customer visit  to see how a VIBCO expert can help you increase sales.

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  • Identify Your VIBCO Ball or Turbine Pneumatic Vibrator

    by Linda Kleineberg | Apr 11, 2012

     

    Identify your VIBCO Ball or Turbine Pneumatic Vibrator in a few easy steps!

    It can be difficult to tell the difference betwen ball vibrators and turbine vibrators, nevermind between all the different VIBCO models of ball or turbine vibrators available.

    Here are a few easy steps to help you identify whether you have a VIBCO ball or a turbine vibrator, and which model/style you have:

       STEP 1: Does your vibrator rattle when you shake it?

    If it does, then you have a ball vibrator.  VIBCO offers three styles of ball vibrators - BBBV and V models.  If the unit does not rattle, then you have a VIBCO turbine vibrator.

       STEP 2: Does your vibrator have a "foot" style mount or a single-bolt mount?

    If your vibrator has a single-bolt style mount, then it is either an FBS or BBS turbine vibrator, or a BB ball vibrator.  If it has feet, then it is a BVS or VS turbine vibrator, or a BV or V ball vibrator.

     

    STEP 3: Stand your foot-mount unit on it's mounting base (where the bolt holes are).  Does the air port in from the top down, or from the side?

    If it is top-down with a threaded exhaust port, then you have either a BVS turbine vibrator or a BV ball vibrator.  If it is a side inlet with or without a threaded exhaust port, then you have a VS turbine vibrator or a V ball vibrator.

     

    Do you have a ball vibrator? Consider replacing it with a VIBCO Silent Turbine Vibrator... here's why:

    Lower Noise — average turbine vibrator is around 72 dB

    Lower Operating Costs— turbine vibrators do not require lubrication

    Lower Energy Consumption — turbine vibrators use 50% less air

    Longer Life — turbine vibrators typically outlast ball vibrators 3 to 1

    Greater Efficiency — turbine vibrators maintain speed and efficiency throughout life vs. ball vibrators that start to lose speed and efficiency from the very start

    As always, VIBCO Vibrators technicians and customer service agents are ready to help you select the right vibrator for your needs.  

    Call us at 800-633-0032 in the USA, 800-465-9709 in Canada, or 401-539-2392 from outside North America for help right now!

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  • "Paying it Forward" to Support Growth and Learning

    by Linda Kleineberg | Apr 04, 2012

     

    Pay it forward. It's a simple concept. We share what we've learned so that others may benefit. 

    Yet time and time again, I'm met with incredulity when I talk to individuals, reporters, and social network acquaintances about VIBCO's commitment to helping others succeed.

    "You do what?"

    "Are you guys for real?" 

    "What's in it for you?"

    I can understand the cynicism hidden behind those questions... as a society, we've been conditioned to question motives and to trust sparingly.  So here's the real scoop on VIBCO.

    "You do what?"

    We share our customer focus and show others how we're improving processes every day to remove waste and increase value to customers while holding pricing.  We open up our doors and invite other manufacturers, public officials, and service providers to get up-close and personal with our internal processes and our employees... for free.  We never charge for our plant tours.  We spend a tremendous amount of time and energy sharing our lessons learned with anyone who will listen.

    And we love it. 

    It's our way of helping to sustain and grow a vibrant, innovative and thriving manufacturing community.  It's our way of helping our public officials understand that there are ways to improve constituent services without the need to raise revenue. It's our way of helping to create better opportunities for all; of working to support a happier, more engaged, better trained workforce; and it's our way of saying thank you to all who have freely shared their knowledge and help with us.

    "Are you guys for real?"

    Yup! We really do believe in the power of each and every person to be brilliant and that our very survival depends on supporting employee engagement and creativity. Our customers want and need rapid delivery, low prices, quality products, and responsive support.  Those things don't happen by magic - they are only possible because we innovate all the time. We do things that skeptics and cynics think are strange or "out there" or "wacky," and that may appear to be an industrial fairy tale.  We've even had people ask if the employees they met on our plant tour are actually paid actors. 

    Let me assure you that VIBCO is 100% authentic.  Throwing a fish around the shop, decorating a bar stool, wearing silly hats, spray painting graffiti on the wall, doing a conga line through assembly, smiling, stretching together each morning...  they're all very, very real.  And they help us to achieve our real business goals.  Innovation and creativity can't be mandated, they have to be nurtured and practiced.  Our relentless commitment to customers can't be programmed, has to be lived.  At VIBCO, those emotional connections to our business come from being uniquely, strangely us. 

    "What's in it for you?"

    If you look at the investment we make in sharing, touring, and having fun from a traditional P/L, ROI standpoint, you won't see a huge financial benefit.  Most of the people who come to visit the VIBCO factory are not current or potential customers.  We don't charge for tours or speaking engagements, and we don't use our web TV show as a revenue stream. 

    BUT... and it's a big BUT... we do, in fact,  reap incredible rewards from our efforts and so do our customers. We get to support and develop a learning, growing, innovating and thinking organization that is creative, engaged and enthusiastic about PROCESS IMPROVEMENT. We get to demonstrate behaviors and values that reinforce the need for each and every VIBCO employee to question the status quo and seek opportunities to improve value to our customers.

    And really, with great products, competitive pricing, and a culture of improvement like ours, why the heck would you buy your vibrators anywhere else?

    Go comment!
  • Recipe for Harmony

    by Linda Kleineberg | Mar 21, 2012

     

    A Recipe for Harmony from the VIBCO Cultural Cookbook...

    Tim, a VIBCO Machine Shop team member, wrote this.  It's so worth sharing...

    Harmony

    Ingredients
    2 People

    Diections
    Say the words, "I cannot be you, you cannot be me"
    Appreciate each person for who they are
    Mix the 2 people together gently but firmly
    Allow the mixture to rest

    Serve with a dash of humility, a dollop of wisdom, a few sprigs of humor, and a healthy portion of positive thinking

    Serves: All

    Nutritional Information
    Amount per Serving  Calories 0  |   Total Fat 0  |  Cholesterol 0 

    Go comment!
  • Top 5 Tips To Get Best Performance from Pneumatic Vibrators

    by Linda Kleineberg | Mar 12, 2012

     

    5 Tips to Get Best Pneumatic Vibrator Performance

    You want to get the best, most efficient performance out of your VIBCO pneumatic vibrators... we want that, too!  So here are the Top 5 Tips from the VIBCO Expert Vibrator Guys

    TIP #1: Mount Your Vibrators Correctly

    Sounds simple, right?  You'd be surprised at how many times we come across vibrators that are improperly installed.  Make sure that you get it right the first time so that you can get the best performance and longest life out of your VIBCO Pneumatic Vibrators.  We include easy-to-follow, detailed instructions with every vibrator.  But if you need more help or you just want to be sure, just send us a photo!  We'll be happy to mark up your photo so you can see exactly how your VIBCO Vibrator should be installed on your equipment.

    One of the ways you can ensure a good mount is to select the correct mounting plate and channel for your bin. Here is a useful section from our Turbine Vibrators installation guide  See All VIBCO Installation and Service Manuals

    TIP #2: Make Sure That Your Air Line is in Good Shape and the Right Size

    Kinks, holes and leaks in your air line can easily degrade the performance of your pneumatic vibration equipment, causing it to run and then stop unexpectedly. Vibrator performance can be degraded if your air line is split between units ("T" junction) or used to run multiple vibrators. Best practice is to run separate, correctly-sized lines for each unit in operation and to perform periodic checks for kinks, leaks and holes.

    TIP #3: Use Correct Air Pressure (PSI) and Air Flow (CFM)

    Insufficient or too high air pressure flow can cause unit failures. So if you're serious about getting great vibrator performance, then an air pressure gauge is your best friend.  VIBCO Pneumatic Vibrators typically run on 60-80 PSI... so make sure that's what you are giving them!  Some of our vibrators can run on as low as 40 PSI or as much as 120 PSI, if those are your requirements.  Just ask a VIBCO tech for help recommending the right vibrator.

    Vibrator CFM requirements vary by vibrator model and size, but are clearly marked on the vibrator housing or on the shipping box.  If you have any questions, just call us.  We have the information readily available to share with you.

    TIP #4: Check Your Vibrator Mounting Fixtures Periodically

    Most VIBCO Pneumatic Vibrators are virtually maintenance-free, but as with any mechanical equipment, you should periodically check to make sure all's well.  Mounting bolts, welds, plumbing connections and other hardware can fatigue over time, so you want to discover the issue BEFORE you have a problem.  And ALWAYS make sure to check that your safety cable is securely fastened to the bin, hopper or other structure.

    TIP #5: Make Sure That Your Ball, Roller or Piston Vibrators are Properly Lubricated

    Unless you're using a VIBCO Silent Turbine Vibrator, then chances are you may need to lubricate your vibrator.  Ball vibrators, piston vibrators, roller vibrators and high-frequency vibrators all require lubricated air.  Too much distance between the lubricator and vibration equipment can cause too little or no lubrication to reach the unit - your lubricator should be no more than 5 feet away from the unit. For best results, VIBCO recommends using air tool oil. You may also use SAE 10 or lighter machine tool oil, Marvel Mystery oil, or automatic transmission oil.

    Just so you know, VIBCO has a direct cross-over turbine vibrator for just about any air vibrator application.  So if you're looking to eliminate the need to lubricate, just ask a VIBCO technician for a crossover today.

    Contact VIBCO's technical support staff 24 hours per day, seven days per week at 800-633-0032.

     

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  • 5 Ways That VIBCO Vibrators Lower Industrial Production Costs

    by Linda Kleineberg | Feb 24, 2012

     

    5 Ways That VIBCO Vibrators Lower Industrial Production Costs

    Do vibrators really help that much?  Yes!

    Vibration is an absolutely critical part of most industrial material flow systems including bins and hoppers, conveyors, feeders, weigh-batchers, tote bins, and packaging systems.  Here are Five Ways that you can lower your costs by using VIBCO Vibrators...

    METHOD #1: REDUCE PRODUCT LOSS AND IMPROVE CONSISTENCY OF MATERIAL FLOW

    Vibrators help promote good material flow.  They break the friction between material and container walls, which aids gravity and allows material to move freely.

    You will save money by reducing the product loss caused by material left in containers and overspill, completing cleanouts faster, improving batch accuracy, removing line clogs, and fixing other material flow problems.

    METHOD #2: IMPROVE SAFETY

    VIBCO Turbine Vibrators are virtually silent – that means no loud noise, no required hearing protection.

    Also, by eliminating most material flow problems, vibrators mitigate the need to put employees at risk swinging a sledge hammer, climbing up onto or into bins for clean out, etc.

    METHOD #3: MAKE PACKAGING AND SHIPPING MORE EFFICIENT

    Whether you bag or box material, vibration will help you to fit more material into a smaller container. Vibration compacts all types of material, so you can ship less air. It also will compact bagged material to produce a flatter, more uniform, and more easily shipped package.

    METHOD #4: USE LABOR, EQUIPMENT & MAINTENANCE FOR MORE VALUE-ADDED ACTIVITIES

    Time spent clearing clogs, cleaning overspill, using a sledgehammer on a bin, or correcting inaccurately weighed batches is waste. Using vibrators gives you that time back so you can use it on work that actually adds value.

    Many of the traditional and improvised methods to clear clogs - like using a sledgehammer - can lead to equipment fatigue and damage. Hammer rash, bin cracks and dents make sticking and clogging problems worse – and that means higher and higher costs.

    METHOD #5: LEVERAGE VIBCO'S LEAN MANUFACTURING PROGRAM TO HELP MANAGE YOUR INVENTORY COSTS

    The VIBCO Production System is designed to provide you with the product you want, when you want it, in the quantities you need.  We are an ideal supply chain partner because we know how important it is to eliminate waste and manage inventory.

    We will be happy to participate in Kaizen events, set up Kanban inventory systems for our products, and provide expert technical and engineering support for your improvement goals.

    Contact VIBCO's technical support staff 24 hours per day, seven days per week at 800-633-0032.

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  • World Class Customer Service courtesy of The Mouse

    by Linda Kleineberg | Jan 27, 2012

    You know when you experience great customer service...  and you know when you don't.

    I recently took my family on a five-day vacation to Disney World.  When it comes to World Class customer service, there are few that can rival The Mouse.  While the trip was purely for enjoyment and pleasure, I couldn't help but bring a few lessons and observations back to my home team at VIBCO.

    Observation #1 - The Power of Consistency

    Each and every employee (with a couple of notable exceptions... see Observation #3) referred to my 3 1/2 year old daughter as "Princess". 

    "How are you today, Princess?"
    "Are you excited to ride the teacups, Princess?"
    "What would you like for dessert, Princess?"
    "Have a lovely day, Princess!"

    By the middle of our second day, my daughter was absolutely convinced that she was a princess.  That's the Disney magic... and it was incredible. 

    Observation #2 - The Power of a Personal Connection

    Upon our arrival at The Grand Floridian Hotel, I was the first out of the car. A cast member immediately and quietly asked my last name before the others in our party (my husband, daughter, mom and dad) were within ear shot, then...

    "Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!  Hey everybody... The Kleinebergs are here!  Welcome to you!  We've been waiting for you all day!"

    We were swept up in a flurry of attention and a gracious welcome that was just on the right side of overwhelming.  Perfection.

    Observation #3 - The Danger of Misalignment

    When you provide great service, your customers (in Disney's case, guests) expect great service.  When that service doesn't happen... especially on multiple occassions with a particular department or group... it's glaring, it's obvious, and it means that your customers will have unanswered questions about your organization.

    "Does this group not receive the same training as everyone else?"
    "Are the people who work in this area unhappy?"
    "Why is there such a difference between this experience and all the others?"
    "I wonder if there's some sort of labor dispute..."

    None of those are questions that The Mouse wants it's guests to be thinking... but that's exactly what we were thinking whenever we rode a Disney Bus.  There was a Dramatic (with a capital D) difference between the demeanor of Disney Bus drivers and every other cast member we met.  The difference was profound and it was consistent.

    I shared these observations with my team upon returning to the office... and I was delighted at their reaction.  Every person immediately and clearly understood how we can continue to improve and work toward our own version of Disney's World Class service. 

    VIBCO's World Class Service doesn't involve us calling our customers "Princess", but it does mean that we need to consistently show them that they are important to us, that we are all working together to provide them with an easy and fun customer experience, that we appreciate them and will do everything within our power to make their day, and that we absolutly want to know about and work on those things where we fall short.

    Cheers to The Mouse for a great vacation and for the inspiration.

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  • An Offer of Assistance to Grain Handling Facilities

    by Linda Kleineberg | Jan 27, 2012

    In February 2011, OSHA issued a letter to grain handling facilities warning about the dangers of grain entrapment and reminding operators that it is their responsibility to recognize and prevent workplace hazards.

    The letter was sent after a number of tragic and near-miss grain entrapment accidents including the following.

    • July 2010, two teenagers (ages 14 and 19) were killed in a tragic incident involving a grain elevator in Illinois. Both young workers suffocated after being engulfed in a grain bin they had entered to help clear. A third young worker was pulled out of the storage bin alive, and was hospitalized after being trapped for 12 hours.
    • November 2009, OSHA fined a grain elevator facility more than $1.5 million following the May 29, 2009 death of a teenage worker at the company's grain storage operation. The youth suffocated after being engulfed by grain in one of the facility's bins. The company also exposed three other teenage workers to the cited hazards.
    • May 2010, OSHA fined a growers association in South Dakota more than $1.6 million following the death of a worker who had suffocated after being engulfed by grain. OSHA's investigation found that five additional workers were also at risk of being engulfed when they were sent into the bin to dig the victim out.
    • August, 2010, OSHA fined a facility in Wisconsin $721,000 after a worker was buried up to his chest and trapped in frozen soybeans. The worker was ultimately rescued after a four hour ordeal.
    • January 2011, OSHA fined two companies in Illinois, following the deaths of three workers, including two teenagers. The workers were killed when they suffocated after being engulfed by grain. The fines to both companies totaled $1,284,000.
    *source: http://www.osha.gov/asst-sec/Grain-Letter-2-1-2011.html

    I was struck by the language of the letter, which mentions that these accidents are not rare and that the "trend is continuing".  The reality is that many of the reasons workers enter grain storage bins and silos is because of common material flow problems like ratholes, bridging, clogs,etc.  Most of these common problems are solved easily and inexpensively by installing material flow aids like air cannons and vibrators.

    So now we're on a mission... we are actively offering assistance to grain facility operators.  We offer a no-charge, no-obligation service called the VIBCO Virtual Van Visit that makes sizing and selecting the right vibrator a total no-brainer.  The operators simply fill out an easy online form at http://www.vibco.com/content/van-visit-request.php including a few photos of the installation area.

    We'll send them marked up photos and a referral to a nearby VIBCO Vibrators dealer to complete the purchase.

    Learn more about VIBCO's Virtual Van Visit program by watching this short video:

    Virtual Van Visit

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  • A long and winding road to get to the new VIBCO.com

    by Linda Kleineberg | Jan 27, 2012

    Going off the beaten path can be an exhilarating process... filled with danger, excitement, joy at conquering challenges, and the thrill of the unknown.

    But sometimes going off the beaten path just turns into a long, arduous slog through challenging terrain.  Such has been our journey to relaunch VIBCO.com.  But here's some encouraging news...  you're reading this blog post, which means we've finally reached a key milestone on our VIBCO.com adventure!  

    So what were the stumbling blocks?  What were our lessons learned?  What would we do differently if we had to do it all again?

    For our team, the biggest challenge was that, in partnership with our developers, we selected a content management system that was a release candidate versus a fully vetted solution.  We did this, in part, because the release candidate promised a level of functionality missing from the current version.  Robust search, fully accessible product database, easy edit ability, fully integrated blogware, and discussion boards (yet to be released now... harrumph).

    We made the mistake of hubris... that we'd "figure it out" and be able to quickly exterminate the inevitable bugs.  I'll just say that we needed the world's largest can of RAID.  We even needed more than Tony DeJesus and Nibbles Woodaway could do!  (non-Rhode Islanders should click this wiki link... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Blue_Bug)  

    Despite the massive extermination project, we're live and kicking and VIBCO.com is better than ever!  Some of the key improvements include:

    • more interactive content that allows VIBCO fans, users and dealers to comment and interact right on VIBCO.com
    • ability to easily share VIBCO.com content on any social network
    • strategic navigation that gives site visitors alerts and easy access to the newest content on VIBCO.com
    • an improved mobile user experience on VIBCO.com 
    • streamlined product pages with easier access to technical and dimensional data, accessories, and related manuals and literature
    • product testimonials and customer reviews appear right on the product pages
    • clearer, more specific product descriptions
    • improved site search functionality
    • enhanced galleries and an integrated application library

    In addition to these improvements, we finally have the ability to create dynamic, meaningful and relevant content "on the fly" so we can make sure that each VIBCO.com site visitor quickly and easily finds what s/he is looking for.

    Thanks for visiting the new VIBCO.com!


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