The Q Source Resource

Friday, May 12, 2017

Dura 7000 Series Chairs Now Offer a Larger Weight Capacity

If you’re shopping for ergonomic chairs and need to consider weight capacity, please head over to QSource.com’s Bevco Dura 7000 Series Chairs Department. We think Bevco’s upgraded 7000 Series lineup may be just what you need.

These popular, durable chairs are more rugged and robust with improvements that include:

Higher 350-lb. Weight Capacity
Stronger Bushings
Available 20” Adjustable Chrome Flat Footrings

In addition to these upgrades, Bevco’s Dura Chairs feature a polyurethane that is impervious to water, oil, and most chemicals; are made to meet ANSI/BIFMA standards, and are GREENGUARD GOLD certified. Plus, they come standard with Bevco’s 12-year warranty.

Available in standard and cleanroom versions, these chairs offer a variety of options for use in schools, labs, and other industrial environments. And, as with all of Bevco’s chair lines, the Dura 7000 Series allows you to create the exact chair to meet your needs.

Please visit our Bevco Dura 7000 Series page to purchase your chairs. You may also contact us by phone (800-966-6020), email, or via our Web site.

Thank you for reading. Please leave your comments, questions, and suggestions for us by clicking on “Post a Comment.” We also encourage you to share this post via the social media icons below.

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Tuesday, February 14, 2017

How Well Is Your ESD Flooring and Footwear System Working? – Guest Blog

Figure 1: System Resistance Test

by Craig Zander, Transforming Technologies

Craig’s latest Q Source Resource Guest Blog looks at how a Walking Voltage Test reveals how well your ESD flooring & footwear system is working.

The ESD flooring and footwear system is an effective way to ground people that need to be on the move in a factory. ESD footwear, when worn properly, is designed to drain the voltage from a person to the floor and then to ground. Periodic testing of both the floor and the footwear is required to verify proper functioning.

Until recently, a System Resistance Test (ANSI/ESD STM97.1) was all that was needed to qualify an ESD control flooring and footwear system. If the resistance was less than 35 megohms, it was assumed that the person’s voltage would not exceed 100 volts (the upper limit for ANSI/ESD S20.20). However, this testing is done with the person stationary and having both feet flat on the ground. What happens when the person starts moving and the entire foot is not making contact with the floor?

Figure 2: The Walking Test Pattern

The most recent version of ANSI/ESD S20.20 now requires a Walking Voltage Test (ANSI/ESD STM97.2) be performed when qualifying flooring and footwear systems. The test consists of measuring body voltage generated during a six-step pattern used to simulate moving throughout a facility. This test will determine the actual voltage on the person while moving. Research has shown that when tested separately, ESD floors and footwear systems may pass the resistance test, but when used together, can greatly exceed the 100-volt threshold.

Determining the maximum voltage generated by people moving on the factory floor is very valuable information. By knowing the maximum voltage generated you will know that your flooring and footwear investment is performing as designed. You may also be pleasantly surprised to find out that the system is working quite well and you are able to handle devices with much lower Human-Body Model (HBM) damage thresholds.

WT5000

Equipment is available to accurately measure and record the walking voltage. One such instrument is the WT5000. The WT5000 Walking Test Kit (Warmbier WT5000 Electrometer Walking Test Kit) measures and records the walking voltage while providing a graphical readout. The instrument connects to a PC using any Windows version for easy data collection. The WT5000 identifies the peak voltages per the requirements in the standards.

The two-in-one EFM51WT (Transforming Technologies 7100.EFM51.WT Warmbier EFM51WT Field Meter Walking Test Kit) meter holds the PEAK value of the measured body voltage, as well as the LIVE static voltage measured on the operator’s body. The kit includes the EFM51 static field meter, walking test adapter plate, hand probe and conductive carrying case. The EFM51 is a fully functional field meter that, in addition to the Walking Test, measures and detects electrostatic fields, surface potentials, and discharge times (with optional charge plate accessory (part number 7100.EFM51.CPS.SET).

EFM51

You have made the investment in an ESD flooring and footwear system so that people can be mobile while still protecting your products from ESD events. Determining your actual walking voltage generated is critical to knowing that your products are being protected.

CLOSING: Thanks, Craig! We appreciate you filling us in about the necessity of Walking Voltage Tests to ensure proper ESD protection for flooring and footwear systems. Your expertise is invaluable to our Q Source community.

For information about Transforming Technologies and their ESD control/monitoring products (including walking test kits), please visit QSource.com. you.

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Q Source VP Interviewed at the 2016 Costa Rica Life Sciences Forum

The Costa Rica Life Sciences Forum 2016 is being held this week in San Jose, Costa Rica. Q Source’s Vice President, Gus Lugten, was part of an interview filmed at the forum and posted on the CINDE (Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency) YouTube Channel.

Lugten commented on the high level of education in Costa Rica, the impressive lineup of companies present in the country, and Q Source’s role in providing solutions to the challenges those companies face:

CINDE is a private, non profit investment services organization that has attracted more than 250 high-tech companies to Costa Rica over the past 32 years. Costa Rica is the second largest medical device exporter in Latin America and the Life Sciences Forum is their dedicated MedTech event for the Life Sciences sector in the region. The 2016 Life Sciences Forum event is the third edition of this gathering of reps from leading manufacturers, researchers, consultants, and government officials focused on the latest advances and achievements in this sector.

Q Source, Inc., formed in 1984, is a distributor supplier of products addressing the commercial industrial assembly and production environments. Most notably working with the Electronic and Pharmaceutical Industrial sectors, our product supply offering is now utilized in almost all industrial type manufacturing.

For more information about Q Source please contact us via our Web site, phone (800-966-6020), or by email.

Friday, October 7, 2016

Lgi Cleanroom Labels Added to QSource.com

QSource.com has recently added Lgi Cleanroom Labels to our Labeling & Identification offerings. Lgi, known for their CleanMark® labels, are innovative experts in label manufacturing and print technology.

Lgi CleanMark labels can be customized for size and used with either direct thermal or thermal transfer printers. They’re built to withstand extreme hot or cold temperatures, harsh chemical solvents, and physical abrasion. They feature the ability to indicate sterilization processes, such as autoclaving; may be pre-sterilized, and will not contaminate clean or sterile environments with particulates, outgassing, or microbes. CleanMark labels will firmly adhere to or easily peel from challenging surfaces.

Lgi’s CleanMark line of labels are easy-to-move, can be printed on with cleanroom pens or by any standard thermal transfer printer, and includes:

CleanMark Labels
CleanMark EZ-Peel Cleanroom Labels
CleanMark Printers & Ribbons
CleanMark Autoclave Labels
CleanMark Cryogenic Labels
CleanMark High Temperature Labels

As mentioned, Lgi’s CleanMark labels can be customized for size, adhesion, type, and removability. If you have specific requirements, please contact one of our cleanroom specialist for further assistance by calling 800-966-6020. Please consider the following when requesting a customized label:

For what cleanroom classification will your labels be used?
Is pre-sterilization required?
Are extreme temperatures a possibility?
Will there be chemical or solvent or exposure?
Do you need your labels to cycle through changing environments?
What type of surface will your labels adhere to (flat, cylindrical, conical, material, etc.)?
Do you need permanent or removable labels?
Do you need blank or pre-printed labels?
What type of printer (thermal transfer, direct thermal, or Laser) will be used?

Monday, August 29, 2016

Seven Steps to Creating an Ergonomic-Rich Working Environment - Guest Blog

by Carissa Harris, Marketing Communications Coordinator, Sovella, Inc.

In Carissa’s first Guest Blog for the Q Source Resource, she focuses on how you can create an ergonomic workspace.

Proper ergonomics play a vital role in workplace productivity.

When it comes to productivity and efficiency in the workplace, proper ergonomics play a vital role. A workplace that focuses on the well-being of their employees will find an increase in their output, leading to greater profit. Ergonomics is about more than just posture and arm reach. It takes into consideration all aspects of a worker’s movement, eyesight, noise level, and more. By having all components and areas in easy reach and at comfortable distances, it minimizes the amount of bending, twisting, and reaching workers need to make, and consequently reduces strain, stress, and discomfort, leading to a more relaxed positions and greater efficiency.

Here are seven steps that can guide you in creating an ergonomic-rich environment at your company:

Research and Develop a Plan of Action – Implementing a proper, ergonomic workplace requires research into the correct products for your company and your employees. Understanding the fundamentals of ergonomics will help when it comes time to selecting the best products for your environment. Creating a plan of action ahead of time will also reduce the risk of purchasing products that will not benefit employees in the long-term. It can be beneficial to look to other companies with ergonomic environments and see how you might replicate their successes.
Conduct Interviews with Employees and Observe Their Behaviors – To see where you have fallen short in the past, conduct interviews with employees and review any prior injury reports. This will provide the insight into the current problems and assist you in purchasing the right equipment in the future. Some risk factors in ergonomic-poor workspaces include: awkward postures, over-exertion, straining eyes, poor ventilation, and improper lighting. These can lead to worker injuries, including carpal tunnel syndrome, muscle cramping, slipped discs, and tendinitis. Understanding these risks and injuries will lead to better purchasing decisions and happier staff.
Gather the Team – Getting everyone on board will make the transition to ergonomics smoother and quicker. Employees will be open to the change when they are informed of the benefits, including less stress and strain.
Consider the Not-So-Obvious –
- Should employees be sitting or standing for their particular work? Or given the option for both? Tasks with little lifting or reaching may benefit from sitting with the option to stand, while jobs that require heavy-lifting, continuous movement, or parts retrieval will benefit from standing with the option to rest. Height-adjustable benches and proper seating are essential.
- Is the bench surface correctly positioned and does it cater to various heights? Body size and leg space are factors to consider.
- Which style of chair is best? Comfort and adjustability are important in choosing the best chair for the job. A chair that is ergonomic will be adjustable to accommodate all body types.
- Are the monitors in the correct position? Consider viewing angle and distance. Screens should be well lit and in focus to prevent strain on the eyes.
- How does lighting affect work? Shadows, brightness, even color of light can affect the well-being of employees. Proper lighting can prevent headaches and fatigue.
- Consider keyboard distance, reach distance for tools, placement of equipment, ventilation, etc. Managers should also encourage good posture and breaks to avoid strain, tension, and fatigue, as well as stretching. Remember, all employees are not created alike, and body type should be taken into account.
Be Sure Vendors Can Meet Your Ergonomic Needs – Choose furniture that can be properly adjusted and explore customizations to best suit your employees. Vendors should be able to demonstrate the functionalities, calculate benefits, and give references. Think about long-term use, and pick a sustainable option. Select a vendor that provides the best solution in a timely manner, with the best support.
Happiness is the Goal – Quality workspaces make for happier employees. If they feel better, they will perform better, in turn boosting your productivity and profitability. Ergonomic-rich environments have employees that take fewer sick days, report fewer injuries, and are over-all more satisfied.
Measure and Improve – Understand how employing ergonomics has improved productivity, reduced injuries, and created a happier staff. Compare output before and after, and survey your employees to determine any improvement and increased happiness. It is important to evaluate the workplace and make improvements as needed. By continuing to improve, you will continue to develop a better system that continues to function and produce at the highest possible level, founded upon proper, modern ergonomics.

An ergonomic-friendly workstation project takes an initial investment of research time, budget, customization, and more, but turns those investments into an opportunity for business growth. By using baseline data and key performance indicators (KPIs) to analyze your investment decision (both before and after), you’ll be able to justify the effect ergonomics has on employees and their work. You can also start small and increase investments with proven results paving the way to continue.

Great tips, Carissa! Thank you for providing a solid plan to implement ergonomics into the working environment. We look forward to learning more about the topic and how Sovella can assist in such an implementation.

For information about Sovella ergonomic workspace products, or to place an order, please visit QSource.com. You may also contact us via email or phone at 800-966-6020 and we will be happy to assist you.

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