You may be asking yourself “What exactly is a desiccator cabinet, and why would I need one?”

The answer to the first question is easily definable;

Desiccators are sealable enclosures containing desiccants used for preserving moisture-sensitive items. A common use for desiccators is to protect chemicals or materials which are hygroscopic or which react with water from humidity.

The answer to the second question is more in-depth, the use of desiccator cabinets depends solely on your needs and products. Much of todays high-tech manufacturing requires extensive use of integrated circuits and other sensitive devices and sub assemblies. These packages are very durable but when stored in a typical manufacturing environment they become exposed to contaminates and moisture in the atmosphere causing corrosion and oxidation on the leads. The ultimate results can be poor solder contact and possible board failure.

There is your outline for needing a desiccator cabinet in your facility. Do you have sensitive products that can be easily damaged by humidity? Have you experienced your products failing inspections due to environmental damage? A desiccator cabinet would help maintain the integrity and quality of your sensitive components.

Production Automation carries only the highest quality of Dessicator Cabinets from the D.M. Semiconductor Company (DMS). DMS was established in 1963 and has a long history of servicing the electronics, defense and medical industries. Starting in 1979 DMS started producing small 1, 2 and 3 door acrylic desiccator cabinets and now manufactures, in the USA, a full line of quality desiccator cabinets.

DMS desiccator cabinets provides clear, clean moisture free storage. A mini-cleanroom isolated from the typical warehouse and manufacturing atmosphere. A cleanroom environment at a fraction of the cost. The input of nitrogen or compressed dry air into the cabinet displaces the contaminated air and provides a truly ideal clean, dry space for your components and devices. Due to reduced moisture within the cabinets, electrostatic charge becomes an issue for which DMS offers a permanent, transparent ESD coating which is applied in the manufacturing process. Grounded stainless steel bottom plates and shelving systems complete the ESD protection process.

Production Automation carries DMS’s full line of desiccator cabinets, making it easy to find a unit that will work best in your application:

- Single Tier Solid Wall Non-ESD Acrylic  

- Single Tier Plenum Wall Non-ESD Acrylic

- Single Tier Solid Wall ESD Acrylic

- Single Tier Plenum Wall ESD Acrylic

- Two Tier Solid Wall Non-ESD Acrylic

- Two Tier Plenum Wall Non-ESD Acrylic

- Two Tier Solid Wall ESD Acrylic

- Two Tier Plenum Wall ESD Acrylic

Lista Xpress includes an extensive selection of storage and workbench solutions, all shipping in 3-5 days of order. Virtually all available in your choice of three colors. So place your order today. We’ve got the Lista you need, in a hurry.

Choose from Preconfigured benches and workstations, or build your own personalized workspace with Lista’s Xpress ship bases, surface options, and accessories.

We also offer a large selection of Xpress ship cabinets in both stationary and mobile units. The cabinets are stackable making customization easy!

* Free shipping from October 1st, 2009 until December 31st, 2009.

Click any of the links below to start shopping for your new Lista products!

 Build your own Lista units

Lista Computer Cabinets

Lista Mobile Cabinets

Lista Stationary Cabinets

 Lista Preconfigured Technical Workbenches

Lista Preconfigured Industrial Workbenches

Aven, makers of the popular Mighty Scope Handheld Microscope brings you their iLoupe XL. The iLoupe XL is the second generation of the iLoupe digital camera/microscope combination.

A professional-quality digital microscope portable enough for you to easily use out on the factory floor, on your customers’ sites, at crime scenes, out in the field, and more. Easily document changes and problems, gather evidence, and take care of your customers.

Aven designed the iLoupe Digital Microscope system to take professional-quality digital images- for engineers, doctors, scientists, and technical photography specialists.

With built-in adjustable illumination, a very wide magnification range 3x to 300x and a built in 5 Mega-Pixel Camera, the iLoupe XL is one tool that you can have when and where you need it for a wide variety of situations.

Some of the features of the iLoupe XL are:

• The magnification range is 3x to 300x, a broader range than the original iLoupe
• A 5 mega-pixel high resolution sensor for detailed images
• A 2″ LCD display for easy viewing, capturing and recording of magnified images
• 180 degree rotated lens tube allows user to capture magnified images at any angle
• Includes a SD card for storing images and editing on a PC
• Easy to use touchpad controls
• The built-in 6 white-light LEDs and adjustable illumination ensure the magnified images are clear and bright
• Rechargeable lithium-ion battery, the microscope can be used continuously for more than 5 hours
• TV Video Out allows you to see images on TV

For more specifications please visit our site at www.gotopac.com and search for iLoupe, or just click this link: Aven iLoupe XL

The latest addition to our anti-fatigue section is a company called Alessco.

Alessco manufactures durable, waterproof anti-fatigue matting for retail or residential use. The SoftFloors and SoftWoods lines of products are both easily installed and germ resistant. Cleaned with a damp cloth or mop these flooring solutions will not harden or crack, and since they come in 2′ x 2′ squares, if one does get damaged it is simply replaced without disturbing the rest of the floor.

The SoftFloors line comes in 14 different colors to match any decor. SoftFloors is sold on our website in solid colors ranging from covering a four foot square area all the way to 1700 square feet. If you are interested in checkered pattern or a multi-color option please contact us directly at 888.903.0333 or email at info@gotopac.com, as those options are not on our website.

Alessco’s SoftWoods are also available for purchase on our website with the options of Light or Dark Oak.  SoftWoods are made of the same durable material the SoftFloors is but printed with a beautiful wood grain. Perfect for a more professional look in a retail setting or a classic look in your home. Other wood grains are available such as Cherry, Walnut, or Red Oak.

Please contact us directly for pricing of wood styles not featured on our website.

We are pleased to have recently added Superior Uniform Group’s Worklon® series garments to our website, which are now available for purchase.

Worklon® provides a comprehensive line of apparel for cleanrooms, controlled environments and ESD sensitive areas.  Markets served include Pharmaceuticals, Automotive, Semi-conductor and Food Processing.

Worklon® manufactures cleanroom and controlled environment apparel and accessories for the ultimate defense in particle control, electrostatic dissipation, fluid resistance and bacteria filtration for peripheral areas of the High Tech Industry. ESD Lab Wear is offered in a variety of fabrics and styles.

Choose from materials such as:

• Maxima High Density: A densely woven 100% polyester fabric. Maxima High Density offers excellent barrier protection against bacteria, fluids, and particles. This fabric is gamma compatible and autoclavable. (ESD Version: 99% polyester, 1% carbon yarn)
• Integrity 1800: 99% polyester and 1% carbon yarn creates a static dissipative fabric. This material is highly fluid repellant and contains an antimicrobial treatment to inhibit bacteria growth and reduce bioburden. This material is also gamma compatible and autoclavable.
• Burlington C3: A densely woven, static dissipative fabric made or 99% polyester and 1% carbon yarn. This material has excellent durability.
• More fabric options available including: Polyester Taffeta, Polyester Herringbone, Micro-Stat, and Work-Stat.

The Worklon® Series also carries a variety of boots and shoe covers, with a choice of hypalon soles or molded soles.

• Hypalon Soles: Polyester substrate with static dissipative hypalon coating. The material is flexible, skid/abrasion/chemical resistant. Gamma compatible and autoclavable.
• Molded Soles: Once piece injection molded, custom nitrile rubber. good resistance to slipping, scuffs and chemicals. Static dissipative and durable. Also gamma compatible and autoclavable.

For added protection in cleanrooms and for worker comfort, Worklon® offers Intersuits in both standard and ESD versions.

• Microdenier Sandwash with Nano-Dry Technology: 100% polyester microfiber fabric has a luxurious silk-like hand and appearance. Excellent opacity, drapability and moisture wicking capability. Gamma compatible and autoclavable.
• Microdenier Sandwash ESD with Carbon Yarn Grid & Nano-Dry Technology: 99% polyester, 1% carbon yarn that provides superior static dissipation and moisture control. Lightweight with a soft hand, this fabric is extremely comfortable and offers low particulation. Also gamma compatible and autoclavable.

Now that you have a better idea of the fabrics to choose from, please browse through the categories of products we have available in the Worklon Brand:

 Coveralls

Frocks

Hoods/Bouffants

Interclothing

Lab Coats

Shoe Covers

Uniquely Justifiable…

Designed with innovative polymers for longer-life product performance, easy-to-clean surfaces to promote a cleaner environment and higher level of food safety, interchangeable components for maximum flexibility, a truly unique way to improve operational efficiencies, productivity, and ultimately ROI.

Interchangeability: MetroMax i and MetroMax Q, shelves, posts, and most accessories are uniquely interchangeable making the iQ System adaptable to your specific application.

Longer-Life Durability and Performance: Corrosion proof MetroMax i has an innovative polymer design and the performance of stainless steel at half the cost. MetroMax Q has an advanced polymer and epoxy coated design that offers superior performance versus wire shelving. All shelves can be cleaned in a fraction of the time of wire for improved productive and ROI.

Improved Food Safety: iQ System shelves have removable polymer mats that are easily cleaned in sinks or dish machines. Cleaner shelves promote food safety.

Storage Optimization: iQ System accessories contain, compartmentalized, and organize your stored contents to maximize every square inch of storage space. Smooth polymer components protect fragile packaged items.

New MetroMax i

Uniquely Lifelong…

From top to bottom, a premium storage solution that is built to address food service operator needs for a lifetime. MetroMax i offers an innovative, corrosion proof polymer design at half the cost of stainless. Unique performance… shelves combine the strength of steel with efficient, quick-to-clean, lifelong components. Easy-to-clean removable polymer mats and smooth surfaces promote food safety. Open grid mats promote air flow and one-piece solid mats contain spills. Microban antimicrobial protection is built into the mats and all other high contact areas of the shelves and posts to inhibit the growth of microorganisms that cause odors, stains, and product degradation iQ system accessories organize the entire storage area. Lifelong durability, fastest cleaning, and well-organized storage enhance efficiencies and productivity to improve ROI.

New MetroMax Q

Unique Value…

A quantum leap from traditional wire shelving, a value-added storage system that offers superior cleanability and long-lasting performance. MetroMax Q is constructed of durable polymer mats and epoxy coated frames and posts. Easy-to-clean removable shelf mats promote food safety. Unique performance.. shelves easily adjust with the flip of the corner releases to maximize storage efficiency and hold up to 800 lbs.. For greater corrosion protection, a MetroMax Q unit may be configured with the interchangeable MetroMax i polymer posts. For applications requiring solid shelf surfaces, solid overlays are available. Microban antimicrobial product protection is built into the high contact areas of the shelves and posts to inhibit the growth of microorganisms, just like the MetroMax i system is.

Both of these products are available on Production Automation’s website, along with all the other products Metro has to offer. Purchase through PAC online at www.gotopac.com, or send us a request for quote by following the link on the right hand side of the page.

You can contact Production Automation by phone at 888-903-0333 or by email at info@gotopac.com. One of our knowledgeable sales staff can help answer questions and make sure you find the product best suited for your particular application.

Production Automation carries both hardwall and softwall cleanroom construction materials. Whether you are looking to start a new cleanroom or expand an existing one, you will find a wide variety of options on our website.

                                                                                        Hardwall Features:

Softwall Features:

Find these options and all of our other cleanroom construction components, such as air showers and communicators here: Cleanroom Construction at Production Automation

website: www.gotopac.com

For questions, info or quotes: info@gotopac.com

Production Automation is offering the best deal on Hakko 936-12 soldering stations!

For the month of August, Hakko 936-12 stations are priced at $75 a station with FREE SHIPPING! You cannot find a better deal on these stations anywhere.

The 936 soldering stationis an inexpensive, temperature adjustable station that you can stack to conserve valuable bench space. ESD safe by design.

• Station Specifications:
• Model Name: 936
• Power Consumption: 60W
• Output Voltage: 24V AC
• Temperature: 200°C – 480°C (392°F – 896°F)
• Temperature Stability: ± 1.0°C (1.8°F)
• Outer Dimensions: 4.7×3.7×6.7 in.
• Weight: 2.9 lbs.
• Iron Specifications:
• Model Name: 907 ESD
• Style: Medium
• Power Consumption: 24V AC/50W
• Standard Tip Included: 900M-T-1.6D
• Tip to Ground Resistance: < 2ω
• Tip to Ground Potential: < 2mV (Typ. 0.6mV)
• Heating Element: Ceramic Heater
• Total Length: 7.5 in.
• Weight: 0.09lb.

View the Hakko 936-12 with all available tips here: Hakko 936-12

Or visit our website: www.gotopac.com

Have questions? Need a quote? email us at: info@gotopac.com

Ergonomics is the blending of human biology, psychology, engineering and design. The aim of ergonomics is to develop and apply techniques to optimize performance while protecting the health, safety, and well-being of individuals.

The application and science of ergonomics is not a new one, ergonomics principles have been implemented since the 5^thcentury BCE, an example being a description Hippocrates gave on how a surgeon’s workplace should be designed. The term “ergonomics” is derived from the Greek word Ergon (work) and Nomos (natural laws), and entered modern lexicon in an 1857 article by Wojciech Jastrzębowski.

The science of ergonomics contains five separate aspects: safety, comfort, ease of use, productivity, and aesthetics.

In the work place safety should always be a top priority; production and morale are higher in environments where safety is implemented and insured. Providing a safe environment for workers also reduces costs to the company by preventing accidents and injuries.

Comfort in the workplace leads to more productive employees and less time loss due to fatigue and injury. Workers can focus more attention on their tasks when they are comfortable.

Ease of use pertains to the organization of employee workspace. When production floors or workstations are laid out in a way where a user has everything they need to complete a task set up in an efficient and ergonomic way, tasks are completed faster and more thoroughly.

Productivity in an ergonomic workplace comes from the implementation of the first three aspects. Once a workspace is organized, more efficient, and accessible, employee stress and fatigue goes down bringing productivity and safety up.  

The last aspect of ergonomics is aesthetics; workplace aesthetics not only leaves a good impression on visitors to your facility, but can raise company morale and pride and make working more efficient by not having to traverse unorganized workspace and storage areas or search for necessary products and materials.

 The basics of ergonomics can be addressed in any type of work environment, and Production Automation carries products that will help you focus on improving your facilities and providing for your employees.

Whether you are starting an ergonomic program from scratch, or improving on an existing program, Production Automation carries the brands and products you can depend on. We can help you improve your facility from the ground up with anti fatigue matting, highly customizable seating and footrests, work surfaces and shelving, monitor holders, and lighting.

We understand the importance of ergonomic thinking and planning and we strive to offer the best products and solutions to the problems of fatigue, injury, and strain.

These links are for our leading ergonomic product lines:

Flooring: Wearwell, a wide variety of options for any space and working conditions

Seating: ErgoCentric, for the office, cleanroom, and industrial areas. ESD options available.

Workbenches: Arlink, modular, customizable and fully adaptable systems. Layout and design planning available.

Workspace: ESI, providing ergonomic solutions for a wide variety of industries including office and healthcare.

You can view our entire website here: www.gotopac.com.

ErgoMates Mobile Anti-Fatigue Matting You Wear!

Each year hundreds of new products geared to the working population are brought to market. The majority of these products, however, rarely have a significant personal impact on the user. Many are designed to serve the employer’s  needs, and others only partially meet the user’s expectations. ErgoMates, an innovative mobile anti-fatigue matting system, have been designed to save employers money and drastically improve the health, safety, and comfort of employees.

The Problem: Pain, Fatigue, and Injury

The average person takes 8,000 steps per day, but for workers in industries like manufacturing, health care, and retail, that number is much higher. Studies have shown that up to half of the manufacturing and service industry workforce spends four or more hours a day standing or walking.

There are many health risks associated with extended periods of standing and walking on the job, such as:

Musculoskeletal Injuries: Injuries or disorders of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, joints, or bones caused by prolonged or sustained repetitive motions, awkward postures, forceful exertions, and/or limitations in motion or action. These injuries can range in severity from mild periodic symptoms to chronic and debilitating conditions.

Repetitive Strain Injuries: Injuries that affect the muscles, tendons, and nerves, and are caused by overuse, repetition, and awkward or static postures. Primary factors include ergonomically unsound workstations, prolonged periods of work with out adequate breaks, and sustained overuse from too much repetitive movement.

Impact Shock: The repetitive striking of the heel against the floor sends shock waves equal to two times a person’s body weight upward through the body, affecting the feet, knees, hips, and lower back. Impact shock can cause long-term damage and pain which may limit activity and, in some cases, require joint replacement.

Pain and Fatigue: Being the farthest from the heart, the feet generally have poorer circulation. Blood can pool in the feet, causing leg muscles to constrict and fluid to trap. At the end of the day, muscles are tired from holding a standing position, and feet and ankles are often swollen.

Slips and Falls: Slips and falls are the second leading cause of injury in the workplace. Hazards include worn or wet flooring, soles that are worn out, and items placed where they may be tripped over.

The Implication: Effect on Business

Employees who are tired, injured, or in pain can become a liability in the workplace in a number of ways:

• Diminished mental acuity, dexterity, and physical agility, causing workers to make costly mistakes
• Decreased attention to detail resulting in reduced productivity and quality of work
• Increased incidence of injury
• Increased absenteeism (sick days, time off for medical appointments or treatments, long and/or short term disability, or simply not showing up for work)
• Decreased employee morale

All of these issues have significant consequences to the employer, costing them additional profit and the competitive edge. A company’s image is negatively affected when their employees are frequently injured and in pain. Productivity is decreased when an employee is absent from work, and the company may have to pay replacement workers. Mistakes, poor quality work, and low productivity resulting from diminished mental acuity and physical stamina cost the company money in paying to have the work redone. When employees injure themselves and others, the company absorbs the cost of health care and worker compensation claims, as well as the cost of hiring and training replacement workers. Employees who experience pain and injury want to leave the workforce sooner, an issue that is especially serious in light of the critical skilled worker labor shortage anticipated in the near future as the boomers retire.

The Traditional Solution: Ergonomic Intervention

Ergonomics is defined as “the science of designing the workplace and the job to fit the worker…to ensure employees are not injured or made unusually uncomfortable when working”. Implementing ergonomic innovations in the workplace can help reduce injuries, compensation claims, absenteeism, and increase productivity and employee morale. Ergonomic intervention is a powerful incentive to keep valuable employees in the workforce longer. These strategies provide a competitive advantage and are an exceptional return on investment.

Redesigning the workplace

Workers should change position as often as possible to avoid fatigue and injury. Options for a standing mobile workforce could include a combination of standing and sitting, or standing and walking. Using a foot bar or foot rest also helps alleviate pressure on the legs and lower back.

Footwear

The feet act as the body’s foundation, stabilizing and maintaining balance while walking or standing. Footwear must be chosen carefully and provide proper comfort, cushioning, support, stability, traction, slip-resistance, and shock & vibration absorption. Footwear should be replaced as soon as the support and structure break down or they begin to wear on pressure points (usually 6-12 months).

Insoles

Insoles can help make footwear more comfortable by restoring structure and support, reducing impact shock and vibration, and increasing cushion. Insoles and orthotics should be chosen carefully with the assistance of a trained professional as some inserts can reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of safety footwear.

Anti-fatigue matting

A study conducted at the University of Pittsburgh concluded that anti-fatigue matting can reduce fatigue by as much as 50%. The mats are made of various materials including rubber, vinyl, or carpeting. They have found to successfully alleviate pressure, stimulate blood circulation, decrease impact shock, and dramatically reduce stress to the lower back, leg joints, and major muscle groups.

Limitations of the traditional solutions

While these ergonomic interventions are helpful, none of them offer a complete solution to the problems facing the standing and mobile worker.

• A combination of standing, sitting, and/or walking, or the use of a footrest, is not possible in every work environment.
• Most footwear is chosen on the basis of fashion instead of function, and often fit improperly. Insoles can help increase the comfort of footwear, but are usually made of large-cell foam which deteriorates quickly with heat and moisture from the body. Insoles can reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of the safety toe cap on safety footwear, and provide limited relief from shock, vibration, and fatigue due to thickness restrictions.
• The effectiveness of anti-fatigue is limited in workplaces where employees do a lot of walking. Unless the entire floor is covered with matting, workers are exposed to walking and standing on hard surfaces. However, it is incredibly expensive and impractical to cover the entire floor with matting. Only small portions of the mats are used at one time, and moving equipment cannot maneuver over or around them. The mat edges pose a trip hazard for mobile workers, and their weight and bulk make them difficult to clean.

The comfortable solution: ErgoMates

ErgoMatesprovide a comfortable solution to the problems of pain, fatigue, and injury in the workplace. The same factors that motivate companies to purchase anti-fatigue matting apply to ErgoMates as well. with the added benefit of mobility and slip-resistance. ErgoMates can be used on their own or as a complement to an existing anti-fatigue matting system. They are recommended for use in workplaces where employees are mobile  or where traditional mats are ineffective or inefficient due to moving equipment, space constraints, or sheer size. ErgoMates are the only product to exceed employer and employee expectations for comfort and safety.

How ErgoMates work

ErgoMates have a U.S. patent as the world’s first and only mobile anti-fatigue matting system. By strapping ErgoMates onto existing footwear, employees take the mat with them. When work is finished, ErgoMates is simply removed and stored for their next use. ErgoMatesare not replacement to existing footwear, but have been designed to prolong the life of shoes and boots while maintaining all CSA safety warranties.

ErgoMates‘ innovative 2-ply sole successfully reduces fatigue by as much as 50%. Wearing ErgoMateswhile standing or walking causes muscles to expand and contract, which increases blood flow and dramatically reduces fatigue. The cushioned outsole absorbs impact shock and vibration, and insulates the feet from cold shop floors.

ErgoMatesalso reduce slips and falls. Precision Testing Laboratory, and independent testing lab in Nashville, found ErgoMatesto be significantly more slip-resistant then most slip-resistant footwear. ErgoMates unique strapping system makes the product “one” with the shoe or boot. When the correct size is worn, there is no additional risk of slipping, tripping, or falling.

Return on investment

There is neither an insole nor outsole on the market than can duplicate ErgoMates‘ ability to reduce pain, fatigue, and impact shock. Employees who use ErgoMates enjoy greater vitality, mental acuity, dexterity, physical agility, and job satisfaction. As a result, employers benefit from increased productivity and quality of work, decreased absenteeism, compensation claims, and incident of costly mistakes. ErgoMates give companies the competitive advantage and provide a strategy for maintaining valuable workers.

ErgoMates are cost effective for an employer to supply or an employee to purchase. Each pair has an average lifespan of three to nine months, depending on the weight and usage of the person wearing them. For a cost that varies between 3 and 10 cents per hour, employees gain energy and vitality, and employers gain additional profit.

A recent U.S. study found that common pain conditions (back pain, arthritis, and musculoskeletal disorders) among active workers cost approximately $61.2 billion per year in lost productivity. Those suffering from back and musculoskeletal pain lose an average of 5.5 hours per week in productive time. For a worker in the manufacturing industry, whose average wage is $28/hour, the cost of lost productivity to the employer is $8000 per year (based on a 40 hour work week). At $0.03/hour ($62/year), ErgoMates provide a 129:1 return on investment (or 38:1 based on $0.10/hour). The cost of ignoring the issues of pain and fatigue in the workplace is far greater than the cost of a proactive approach.

Where ErgoMates are used

Industries that use ErgoMates include postal service, assembly lines, manufacturing plants, machine shops, retail, health care, and food processing. ErgoMates are so effective that six of the top ten Fortune 100 companies have purchased them for their employees, giving them the competitive advantage. Companies that use ErgoMates include Boeing, Lockheed Martin, USPS, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, Toyota, General Motors, Ford, General Electric, Exxon, Chevron, Delta Faucet, La-Z-Boy, and Hallmark Cards.

Availability

ErgoMatesare available in 5 sizes for men and women. They easily strap on to any street or safety footwear, and can be washed in the washing machine or dishwasher and air-dried. ErgoMates are available in standard and ESD safe models. ErgoMates can be purchased online at Production Automation.