Mountain Stream Group Archives - Mountain Stream Group, Inc.

Introducing Fluid Power to Younger Students Is One Way to Stave Off Extinction

2012-04-01/in Company News, Published Articles/by Jeff Klingberg

This article was first published in the September 2009 issue of the now defunct Today’s Fluid Power magazine.

Fluid power isn’t sexy.

American Society for Quality/Harris Interactive 2008 Study Pie Chart

Source: American Society for Quality/Harris Interactive 2008 Study

That’s the conclusion the international fluid power industry came to in 2007 as the reason why there is a shortage of people with fluid power skills influencing design decisions regarding which motion control technologies to use. The fluid power industry isn’t the only industry seeing this image problem. It’s a systemic crisis that permeates the entire US culture.

A 2008 Harris Interactive study for the American Society for Quality found that 44% of kids, ages 8-17, don’t know much about engineering, and 30% of the respondents want a more exciting profession than engineering. While 97% of parents stated they believe that knowledge of math and science will help their children have a successful career, only 20% encourage/will encourage their sons or daughters to become engineers.

The study further reports that kids don’t feel confident enough in their math or science skills (21%) to be good at engineering — despite the fact that the largest number of kids ranked math (22%) and science (17%) as their favorite subjects.

OK. We now know what the problem is so how do we fix it?

The US fluid power industry decided to develop alliances with FIRST (Foundation for the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), Project Lead The Way, and SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers) Education Foundation to promote fluid power education in middle schools and high schools. They’ve created a ‘key school’ program, the Fluid Power Challenge, and the Fluid Power: A force for change video among other initiatives. The Fluid Power Education Foundation has scholarships for college bound student who will study fluid power.

I commend the US fluid power industry for their efforts, but there is shortsightedness to these educational outreach initiatives that I don’t think many engineering and fluid power industry leaders understand. Read more

Industrial Marketing: Can Social Media Play a Role? Can Social Media Work?

2011-07-21/in Marketing Communications, Uncategorized/by Jeff Klingberg

These and many similar questions are being asked and debated across the industrial marketing spectrum. And, there is no clear consensus.

The following is a look at why the answer might be maybe.

1. Fear is holding back adoption.

In general engineers don’t have a lot of spare time on their hands. Part of the reason for the lack of time on their hands to engage in social networking can be attributed to their inability to get to social media. The SAE International’s Do mobility engineers use social media? study surveyed nearly 1200 members and found only 55% said they use social media for work and only 52% of companies permit social media use during business hours.

Additionally, MarketingProfs What Works in 2011: B2B Marketing report finds that the number of companies restricting social media use is growing. Facebook, while the most popular of the social networking channels, is also the most blocked by companies.

Security and over exposure of information are the Top 2 fears of companies according to McAfee Inc.’s Web 2.0: A Complex Balancing Act – The First Global Study on Web 2.0 Usage, Risks and Best Practices Report. The study found over 60% of the respondents stated their company suffered losses averaging of $2 million related to security issues.

Portfolio Update: White Hydraulics Ad Illustration

2011-05-05/in Portfolio Updates, Uncategorized/by Jeff Klingberg

Mountain Stream Group created this illustration for White Hydraulics (now known as White Drive Products) for use in an print advertisement.

Ortman Fluid Power 3TH Cross Reference Guide

Portfolio Update: Ortman Fluid Power Cross Reference Guide

2011-05-05/in Portfolio Updates, Uncategorized/by Jeff Klingberg

Mountain Stream Group’s development of this 4-page cross reference guide for the Ortman Fluid Power 3TH Series cylinder line started with an Internet search to ascertain all the manufacturers of NFPA heavy-duty, hydraulic cylinders. Next, we downloaded catalog information about the part number coding for the various mounting styles, identified the series name and available bore sizes and then put the data into the easy to read table.

Satie North America Proclip Press Release

Portfolio Update: Satie North America Press Release

2011-04-19/in Portfolio Updates/by Jeff Klingberg

A press release written for announcing the launch of Satie North America’s Proclip and Prolight modular electrical panel frame and wire management system in North America. Click image or here to read entire press release.

Mountain Stream Group Expands Client Payment Options

2010-09-17/in Company News/by Jeff Klingberg

It used to be the only payment methods for businesses were cash or the company check. Then came along corporate credit cards. And, now the integration of the Internet with the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act (Check 21 Act) has changed the way we all do business and opened a whole new world of invoicing and online payment possibilities.

For several years now we have been sending our clients invoices by email, and have been accepting credit cards through PayPal. While this has been greatly appreciated by our clients, they’ve asked for more options. So, we’re pleased to announce the addition of a new online invoice payment options — QuickBooks Payments (formerly known as Intuit Payment Network).

With the addition of this payment methods, our clients now have multiple options to choose from when paying their invoices:

corporate or cashier’s checks through postal mail,
credit cards through PayPal, or
ACH or bank-to-merchant electronic payments through QuickBooks Payments.

All of the online payment methods are free of charge to our clients.

We will be adding links to our invoices — as they become available for our accounting system — that will let you select which online payment methods, if any, you’d like to use. In the meantime, if you are interested in using any of the online payment methods let us know and we’ll make the arrangements. If you have any questions or would like more information about our payment methods please contact us at info (at) mountainstreamgroup.com or call Jeff Klingberg at +1 847 453 8895 x701.

Updated: 09 June 2017

Satie North America ProClip electrical panel frame

Mountain Stream Group Adds Satie North America To Our Roster Of Clients

2010-03-01/in Client Additions/by Jeff Klingberg

Satie System ProClip electrical panel comparison

Satie’s Proclip system save up to 30% in space over traditional electrical panels.

We are pleased to announce the addition of Satie North America — the North American operation for Satie SAS (Satie System) — to our roster of clients. Satie designs and manufactures a modular electrical panel frame system with an integrated wire management system. The patented system helps OEM machine builders, system integrators, panel board builders, switchgear manufacturers and alike shrink space requirements, cut material costs, increase productivity and reduce weight — saving users up to 25% over traditionally designed electrical panels. To learn more about their products visit www.satiena.com.

We will be assisting them in developing a public relations campaign and trade show efforts among other services.

Mountain Stream Group Adds HYDROMECH To Our Roster Of Clients

2010-01-14/in Client Additions/by Jeff Klingberg

We are pleased to announce the addition of HYDROMECH to our roster of clients. HYDROMECH is a start-up company who has designed a new, patent-pending hydraulic lift system for recreational vehicles, boat lifts and residential construction. The proprietary hydraulic pump distributes the appropriate amount of fluid to each linear actuator to enable a synchronized lift action in applications like pop-up campers.

We will be assisting them in developing a corporate identity and marketing materials, and conducting business development and public relations efforts among other services.

Visimation GoShapes: Alternative Energy Suite

Mountain Stream Group Adds Visimation To Our Roster Of Clients

2009-10-01/in Client Additions/by Jeff Klingberg

Sample of Visimation’s GoShapes. Alternative Energy Suite

We are pleased to announce the addition of Visimation to our roster of clients. Visimation, Inc. is a software development company. They develop custom and standard shapes/stencils, add-on applications and templates for Microsoft Visio. They sell their Visio add-ons, shapes and templates through their ShapeSource.com store. Additionally, they conduct Visio training seminars and maintain a blog with tips on how to more effectively use Visio. To learn more about their products and services visit www.visimation.com or www.shapesource.com or www.visiozone.com.

We will be assisting them in developing and disseminating an email marketing campaign, and conducting business development and public relations efforts among other services.

Wake Up Fluid Power Industry Or Prepare For Extinction

2009-06-20/7 Comments/in Management Consulting/by Jeff Klingberg

A recent post in the Hydraulics & Pneumatics magazine’s discussion group on LinkedIn asks: Is fluid power on the decline?

As a person who worked in the industry for 10 years and has provided consulting services to the industry for the past 16 years, I believe it is—especially in the United States. And, if they don’t wake up immediately, they’ll find themselves in the history books and museums alongside dinosaurs—extinct.

Like a precision military assault, the fluid power industry is getting hammered on several fronts: technology competition, the environment, government regulations and knowledge loss. The environment, government regulations and knowledge loss have teamed up to open a gaping hole in the fortress allowing a full frontal attack by technology competition.

And, like Great Britain during World War II, the industry has done very little to combat the forces working against them. While some have acknowledged defeat and quit the battle, most of the industry, it seems, have yet to realize they’re under attack or their survival is at risk. Read more

Posts