Leaping into Global Markets

Iowa manufacturer finds partners to expand markets.

Exporting offers a huge upside potential, but many small companies still find that many challenges arise when they first stretch beyond national borders. When PCT Engineered Systems redesigned a product and targeted Europe, technical issues, certification and cultural understanding were among the challenges that arose.

During its first 20 years, PCT rarely sold outside the U.S. But an acquisition in 2003 set the stage for an expansion that began last year. That's when PCT completed a targeted redesign of the system it acquired and improved substantially its competitiveness in the printing press market ... Read more

New Equipment Regulations Loom

Europeans will begin requiring more safety features in late December.

One thing that's certain about regulations: they're bound to change. Europe is making significant alterations to one of the primary ruling documents for production equipment, adding requirement that should improve safety while putting more focus on risk assessment.

The European Union's Machinery Directive (2006/42/EC) goes into effect Dec. 29, replacing the longstanding Machinery Directive (98/37/EC). “This is a major rewrite, the last one that was this broad was more than 10 years ago,” says Udo Heinz, Division Manager Industrial Machinery for TUV Rheinland of North America Inc., based in Carlsbad, Calif ... Read more

Partnering Aids Push into Global Markets

Web opens doors and highlights the need for international partners.

Globalization was well underway before the Internet began transforming the way international business is conducted. Now that companies can find and contact international suppliers using the Web in seconds, responding to intercontinental requests has become a critical part of a successful business strategy.

Barriers of all sorts have tumbled as Internet access made it easier to find information. In minutes, equipment designers and users can find far more specifications and pricing figures than they could glean in days using volumes of outdated catalogs ... Read more

Special Edition Video Cast: Automation Improves Logistics at Samsonite Europe

A video case study details the huge Belgium Samsonite Distribution Center and shows the transformation from a "highly-manual" operation to a state-of-the art automated facility with greatly improved operational efficiencies.

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