Industry News

Industry News – July/August 2008

GROUND BREAKING ADDITION FOR FLOW-RITE CONTROLS

Byron Center, MI – June 4, 2008
Just two and a half years after doubling in size and moving into a newly constructed building, Flow-Rite Controls is once again proving that manufacturing is still alive in Michigan.  Today they broke ground on their newest addition which will nearly triple the size of their manufacturing facility and should be complete by the end of the year.  

 

“Growth is not new to us.  We’ve been averaging 20% year over year growth since 2002” says company president Dan Campau.  “Growing at that rate isn’t always easy, but is sure is fun.  We’ve been able to add 10 full time production workers, 20 temporary production workers as well as 6 more to our engineering, and sales staff in recent months.”

 

 

Flow-Rite has shown that thinking globally, growing locally is not a thing of the past.  Last year was the first for a new sales office in Australia and they have seen continual growth into Japan, Canada, and Europe as well as here in the states.  Flow-Rite has again made a commitment to grow the production of their products locally.  “Keeping the production in house allows us to keep tight reigns on the quality of our products as well as allowing us to react to customer needs quickly.  Since we produce everything in house we can keep inventory and associated costs low” says operation manager Mike Semm. 

 

Early next year Flow-Rite will release three new products that have added to the need for expansion.  Square footage is quickly becoming scarce in the current facility and is needed to house machinery that will produce the new products and for growth of the existing ones.  With the expansion of their building Flow-Rite is showing that their “Made in the USA” label is not just a logo but the way they will continue to do business.

 

For more information please contact, Ron Earl – Marketing Director at rearl@Flow-Rite.com or visit www.flow-rite.com.

 

ON BOARD SOLUTIONS DEBUTS PROTECH-C SERIES BATTERY CHARGERS

Advanced Charger Series Offers Cutting-Edge Technology to Commercial and Industrial Markets

Portsmouth, N.H. – On Board Solutions, a privately held charging systems Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and sister-corporation to the marine industry’s leading charging system manufacturer — ProMariner, announced today a new line of multi-stage commercial and industrial grade battery chargers, the ProTech-C Series. Designed for integration into commercial and outdoor products such as scissor lifts, cleaning machines, mobility vehicles and golf carts just to name a few, the ProTech-C Series battery chargers are built to withstand the abuse and punishment common to these demanding applications, while efficiently delivering power charging and conditioning to OEM battery sources. The ProTech-C Series is compatible with all major battery types – Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM), Gel and Lead Acid, and is designed for use in 24- and 36-Volt DC applications. With flexible charging capabilities, wide power capacities and rugged construction, the ProTech-C Series battery chargers are the ideal choice for OEMs who want the best performance for their products.

ProTech-C Series battery chargers use high-frequency, solid-state technology, powerful charging and conditioning algorithms and innovative design methods to maximize installation flexibility and deliver superior charging performance. Available in five models to suit different charging requirements, each rugged, high frequency charger, is housed in a protective, compact extruded aluminum casing and has global AC inputs for worldwide use. On Board Solutions’ ProTech-C chargers are easy to integrate, and radically simplify OEM inventory and design considerations by using connectors on the input/output, and allowing the same unit to switch between portable and onboard applications. On Board Solutions studies each battery manufacturer’s specific charge requirements and ensures OEM customers’ ongoing satisfaction by continually improving charging methods under various scenarios.

“ProTech-C battery chargers are an innovative new wave of products reflective of commercial and industrial customer input,” said Michael Chames, director of new business development, On Board Solutions. “Rising metal prices, outdated performance criteria and shear weight make older ferro-resonant chargers undesirable. Our ProTech-C Series combines a compact, lightweight, solid-state design, and advanced charging and conditioning algorithms into a package that is certified for worldwide use. It is the most competitive, customer-driven solution of its kind on the market today and a natural extension of our existing product line.”

For more information on the ProTech-C Series battery chargers, the location of authorized distributors, pricing, or to learn more about On Board Solutions and its entire product line, please visit www.onboardsolutions.biz.


SEE “HOW IT’S MADE” AT ididit!
That’s right, steering columns from ididit, inc. will be featured on the popular T.V. show “How it’s Made”! Filming took place for over twelve hours on May 23rd and the show will air this summer on the Discovery Channel. The film crew followed a steering column from raw material to finished product in great detail. We were thrilled to be offered the opportunity to show off our quality American made product to the masses and can’t wait to see the finished production. We will announce the air date on our website at www.ididitinc.com when the producers finalize the date.

 

CLUB CAR’S SPONSORSHIP OF JUNIOR TOURNAMENT SHOWS SUPPORT FOR GOLF AND COMMUNITY

AUGUSTA, GA – Club Car’s celebration of its 50th anniversary includes sponsorship of Augusta’s first American Junior Golf Association event and the company’s pledge to support junior golf programs in its hometown.

 

Preceding the Club Car Junior hosted by Charles Howell III, which will be held at Champions Retreat in Evans, Club Car and the AJGA will conduct a junior-am fundraising tournament on July 7. Proceeds from the event, which is similar to a PGA TOUR Pro-Am, will benefit The First Tee of Augusta and other Augusta-area youth golf programs as well as the AJGA’s Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant

 

Over the past decade, AJGA junior-ams have raised more than $1 million for junior programs in communities across the U.S. Club Car Chairman Phil Tralies said junior golf was a natural beneficiary to help the company recognize its 50th anniversary milestone.

 

“The golf industry has been good to our company, and we’re honored to give back to the game and our community,” said Tralies. “We believe golf can be a catalyst for great things in a young person’s life, and we’re excited to help The First Tee and other local golf programs bring youngsters to the game.” For more information, go to www.ingersollrand.com.

 

Ididit WRAPS IT!

You won’t miss us rolling down the road with our new cool trailer. It has a giant design that includes our beautiful art deco store front, owner Ken Callison’s hot 1965 F-100 Truck and 1937 Chevy Sedan, and of course, steering columns! “Sign Language” of Adrian, MI did a fantastic job wrapping it and we have gotten rave reviews! We have even been asked if the trailer could be used as an attractive aisle divider at the Louisville Nationals. It is definitely a work of art. If you see the ididit trailer on the road this year, give a honk and a wave to your steering column specialists! Visit us online at www.ididitinc.com to view more cool new pictures of the trailer wrap and other great things that ididit is up to!

 

GOLF INDUSTRY SHOW RANKED 82ND LARGEST OF THE YEAR
The Golf Industry Show received the No. 82 ranking from Tradeshow Week 200 for its strong performance in Anaheim, Calif., February 2007.

Tradeshow Week compiles data submitted from trade shows and ranks the 200 largest annual trade shows in the United States. Rank is determined by net square feet of paid exhibit space. Show listings include: net square feet, number of exhibiting companies, number of professional attendees, number of exhibiting personnel, space rates and location. The ranking covers the 2007 calendar year only.

The Golf Industry Show is presented by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) and Club Managers Association of America (CMAA), along with supporting organizations Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA), American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) and the National Golf Foundation (NGF).

The total attendance was 23,109, including 981 exhibitors covering 291,250 square feet of exhibit space. Officials were pleased with the final statistics and reviews, given that the West Coast traditionally attracts fewer attendees and exhibitors.

Sponsoring organizations had the following comment: “This is validation of what was a very successful show. Although the inaugural show was in 2005 in Orlando, the 2007 show in Anaheim was the first of the current form, since it was the first year with CMAA participating. The 2007 show also provided momentum heading into the record-setting 2008 show in Orlando.”

The 2009 Golf Industry Show will be held Feb. 5-7 in New Orleans. Visit www.golfindustryshow.com.

 

A RISING ‘STAR’ AND ANOTHER AMERICAN DREAM COMES TRUE

For 2006 and 2007 two years in the row, JH Global Services, Inc. has been on the top of the chart for Fastest Growing Company of the year in State of South Carolina. Not only SC noticed a rising STAR, the industry of Golf cars, electric vehicles also start taking notice of this fast growing company for only 4 years of age.

 

JH Global Services, Inc. is an America company, it is owned by three owners: Jane Zhang and Jun Hu, who are a couple immigrated from China almost twenty years ago as Graduate students, Bob Weist, who has been an entrepreneur for his whole life, been one of the owners for a few successful business specializing in fabrications of machining industrial parts.  The company is formed at end of 2003 by Jane Zhang and Jun Hu with a simple idea of providing industrial outsourcing services. By an occasional opportunity, they concluded that Golf cars, or battery powered electrical vehicles could be a good product for America because market is huge, and it is pretty dominated by the big three companies: EZ-Go, Club Car, and Yamaha.  The industry needs some new comers and more competitions.  So, with this in mind, the STAR brand name is given its birth by JH Global Services.

The three owners wish this STAR rising up to be noticed and become a bigger player in the industry. The STAR also represents the Chinese’s couple’s American dream as a newly emigrate coming from a country that is so different from America. The couple started their life in America with almost nothing materials, but almost everything spirituals.

They have the good education background (Jane Zhang has three Master Degrees: mechanical, electrical and MBA; Jun Hu has a Doctor degree in Electrical Engineering), excellent hard working ethics, a determination for big success in life, a sense of responsibility for society, community and loved ones to be a row model, true example for others to follow as smart, decent human beings with drive for big success. Yes, it is a big American dream for the first generation of immigrates coming to USA, barely speak the language, nor understanding the cultures, political and government structures. Everything is new and everything is a challenge. However, it seems that Dream finally come true for them not only successfully survived in American society, corporate world, but finally owned a business, even more so for the business to take off so well in just a few years.

 

STAR Electric Vehicles have been recognized by dealers in the industry with good reputation in product quality and product services. Just as the slogan says: Exceptional value and Great Products, the STAR products have so many features as a standard offering, so many models for different applications. The STAR Electric Vehicle offers 7 colors, seatbelts, side mirrors, split windshields as standard choices.   For the 4-Passenger to 6 passengers, it has the aluminum plated flip seats on the back as multi-functional. The most worth to be mentioned here is its patented design called “2 in 1 Combo Seat”, which offers function with golf bag holder and the seat for converting a 2-passenger car to a 4 passenger vehicle when the car owner does not need to play Golf. This design is so welcomed by dealers and recognized by end customers and it is an immediate hit of success as soon as it is introduced. Jun Hu and Bob Weist are the patent holders.

 

Beside the regular 2 to 6 passenger models, STAR also offers 8 to 14 passenger buses, industrial vehicles and also hunting vehicles. The sales of the multi-passenger buses are rising dramatically and alone it will add a big grow point for JH Global. The buses have 4 gear transmissions that is giving plenty power to haul people around at locations of hotel, resort, development sites, air port, down town city, etc. The potential for these buses are beyond any one’s imagination.