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Post recession business plans for the many of the distributor members of the Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) includes expansion into the Motion Control and Mechatronics area of factory automation.

Mechatronics is the confluence of electronics, control and mechanical action and is a critical component of any automated process. For many years, motion control was visualized as individual components - some mechanical, some electronic. According to the results of this new survey, the markets are rapidly merging.

Based on a recent survey sampling of PTDA distributor members, PTDA distributors view the motion control industry as a natural extension of their business. Nineteen percent of survey respondents indicate they are 'fully engaged' in the motion control business. Another 43 percent currently sell motion control products and plan to further expand their efforts in the post-recession months ahead.

Contrary to what one might imagine, much of the attention is focused on things electronic. Members surveyed are currently building a place for themselves in the related ancillary products - sensors (54 percent), PLC controllers and electronic machine guarding products (both at 50 percent) joined products like AC Drives, Servo Systems and high performance gearboxes in garnering the group's attention.

Specialists Lead the Charge
In previous years, distributors relied on their manufacturing partners for things like training, marketing direction and customer technical backup. Today, PTDA members are increasingly harnessing the power of specialists. Sixty percent of the PTDA distributors responding indicate they use a specialist in some part of their business. Additionally, 82 percent of these specialists carry the "heavy weight" credentials of either an engineering degree or 3+ years of in-the-trenches technical experience.

PTDA Members Seek to Broaden their Knowledge-Base
Knowledge-based distribution runs on information. Overwhelmingly

After the turbulence in the economy for the past year, more than 220 manufacturers and distributors gathered in Montreal from June 3 to 5, 2010, for the Power Transmission Distributors Association's (PTDA) 2010 Canadian Conference.
 
The successful conference has been retooled from the previous years' events, driven by input from PTDA’s Canadian distributor members. One difference was the inclusion of a product showcase during the welcome reception to provide an additional opportunity for channel partners — both new and established — to meet in an informal format.  It featured table-top exhibits of new products from PTDA’s manufacturer members.
 
The second, and most engaging, addition to the conference was an industry panel focused on distribution channel efficiencies. Opinions often clashed, but led by facilitator and former PTDA president Don Latham, Belterra Corp., the panel of top executives discussed the challenges and opportunities for improving the distributor/manufacturer-supplier relationship, concentrating on those factors that can improve the efficiency of the channel in serving the customer. Panelists Francois Arbique, Kinecor LP; Ali Moghadam, Canadian Bearings Ltd.; Dermot Strong, BC Bearing Engineers Ltd.; Randy Breaux, Baldor Electric Co.; Sean Hickey, Lafert North America; Tom Karch, SKF Canada Ltd.; and Jos Sueters, Tsubaki of Canada Ltd. explored how distributors and manufacturers can work together to streamline processes and reduce expenses.

After the panel session, PTDA vice-president of programs and services Ann Arnott commented on its importance. "It really takes a manufacturer and distributor working together to improve margins and bring the product to the customer in the way the customer needs it and the way the customer wants it."

She added that the talk went on four two hours, longer than its planned 90-minute run time, because the conversation kept going, touching on issues voiced by the opinionated

Chrysler Group announced it was to recall around 700,000 vehicles involving five models worldwide, U.S. safety regulators said on Monday. Chrysler Canada is recalling 29,000 Jeep Wranglers with 2007 to 2010 model years and 4,000 minivans in Canada over safety concerns, according to CBC News.

Doors that could catch fire, brakes that could fail and accelerators that could stick have prompted the recall. It has been quite a year for automakes, with Toyota facing several well-publisized recalls around the New Year.

Chrysler informed the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the potential safety issues last week.

Regardign the affected Canadian models, the Jeep Wranglers are being recalled due to a potential brake fluid leak. According to a statement from Chrysler, Wrangler brake lines could rub against the inner-fender well lining, leading to fluid loss that affects braking performance.

In the 2008-09 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan minivans a wiring harness could rub against the power-sliding side door causing a short circuit that leads over overheating of the door latch, and in some cases fire.

Chrysler says it is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the defects.
www.chryslercanada.ca

The British Institute of NDT is to relocate to the Newton Building, adjacent to the University of Northampton's Avenue Campus in St George's Avenue, Northampton.

After closely monitoring the NDT markets, both here in the UK and overseas, Oceanscan is again up there with the leaders in the inspection equipment hire market by investing heavily in phased array technology.