| Letter
from the editor
Another
year is close to an end, and the holiday season
is already at our door. This year has marked some
changes within our organization, and amongst many,
we started this publication that we hope brings
a new taste to your day-to-day routine.
You
will find the following articles in this month’s
edition :
 Meet
Frank, our warehouse manager, written by Luc.
We often talk about it and many of us think we
apply this basic principle, so read how Mother
Nature uses teamwork and how we should follow
her example.
Have you ever heard of Promat ? Our US sales department
is getting ready for the largest material handling
exhibition in North America, written by Nancy.
Something new this month, a recommended book,
suggested by Frederic.
An article on physical fitness, written by Jacques.
And on a technical note, Luc tells us about the
methods used by Guitel to determine their products’
capabilities.
Happy
reading.
Signed,
Frederic Lagace
Editor |
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INTRODUCTION
OF BLEUTEC TEAM
Frank
has been with Bleutec since July 1994.
Through the years, we’ve discovered his
personality that hides behind the grouchy facade.
Always ready to lend a hand, even though he says
“no”, as well as being a good team
player, Frank is appreciated by his colleagues
and they all know that they can count on his help.
Warehouse
manager for close to 3 years now, Frank thoroughly
knows our products and customers. His experience
assures you that he will do his utmost to give
you the maximum level of professional service.
With his team, this is the objective that he sets
at the beginning of each month.
Luc Turcotte
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| Thought
for the month of December:
Indecision
and delays are the parents of failure.
by
~ George Canning ~
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What’s
coming up in the new year?
Bleutec, member of the Material
Handling Industry of America, will be amongst
the 650 exhibitors at the Promat show at McCormick
Place in Chicago from February 10th to the 13th.
Luc, Frederic, and I will be
heading to the windy city in our continuing effort
to promote Bleutec and our line of wheels and
casters.
If you are planning to go to
Promat, either as an attendee or as an exhibitor,
please make sure you stop in and say hello!
February 10 –
13, 2003
Booth #2449
Nancy
Allen
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« MENS SANE IN CORPORE
SANO »
A recent survey
conducted by the Canadian Research Institute
on physical conditions and lifestyles in 2001,
showed that 82% of workers are convinced that
regular physical activity stabilizes or reduces
stress. Furthermore, 84% of those polled state
that physical activity makes them more productive,
83% said that it helped them recuperate from
minor health problems, and 85% replied that
physical activity makes them more efficient
at work by increasing their level of concentration.
We don’t
need surveys to tell us of the benefits of physical
activity. When one’s physical condition
is at his or her best, a better quality of life,
both at work and at home, usually follows. On
the other hand, when one’s physical condition
is poor, general dissatisfaction and depression
are sometimes close by.
In
his book titled “Training for the Triathlon”,
Dr. Stephane Cascua recommends a cardiovascular
endurance sport, of medium intensity, for a
period 30 to 60 minutes, at least 3 times a
week. You have to admit that this is a small
price to pay for a better sense of well being.
So let’s stop zapping the remote, and
let’s go outside!
Jacques
Brochu
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MERRY
CHRISTMAS
TO ALL
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CHRISTMAS
HOLIDAY
For
the upcoming Christmas holiday, Bleutec will be
closed on December 24th, 25th, and 26th, as well
as from December 30th to January 2nd. We will
be back in the office on January 3, 2003.
The
entire Bleutec team would like to wish you and
yours a very happy and safe holiday.
Merry
Christmas!
Nancy
Allen |
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FOR
THE BOOKWORMS OUT THERE!
I'm not what you would call a bookworm, but sometimes,
I do like to read a good story or biography.  By
traveling more than the average bear I end up
having some time to spare while waiting for flights.
I recently bought Lance Armstrong's book. The
title is: " It's not about the bike, My journey
back to life". It may be the most inspirational
story you will ever read. To learn more about
cancer, the sport of cycling and about life and
how to overcome the odds, I recommend this one!
Frédéric
Lagacé |
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To test a
wheel/caster
Sturdiness,
ease, and user’s comfort are today’s
dominating characteristics to evaluate the performance
of rolling equipment. The wheel or caster holds
an ever more important place when selecting your
equipment.
Behind
the need to move a load, there lies numerous other
functions: support, stability, immobility, security,
and even aesthetics.
The
wheel or caster choice should be made upon conception
of a new product. This begins with the user’s
needs and conditions of use, 2 factors that are
often forgotten when buying wheels or casters.
Then, it is important to make sure that the wheel/caster
manufacturer meets the technical specification
norms of the product that is being made.
The
worldwide norm is that a material handling wheel
or caster has to be able to withstand, without
abnormal wear or permanent deformation detrimental
to its use, a test that is carried out in conditions
of use, of which the load capacity has been determined:
-
the test load constitutes the weight capacity
that has been determined
- at a speed of 2.4 mph (4 k/h)
- at an ambient temperature of 68°F ±
50°F (20°C ±10° C)
- on a hard and horizontal surface
- with hard material obstacles that are rectangular,
and are 4” (100mm) wide and have a height
of:
a) 5% of the wheel diameter for a soft tread (shore
hardness: A<90)
b) 2.5% of the wheel diameter for a hard tread
(shore hardness: A>90)
- the number of obstacles to overcome is 500.
- the test is comprised of continuous sessions
of several basic trials or cycles for a period
of 4 minutes.
This
norm is specified and must serve to determine
the nominal load capacities of material handling
wheels and casters. Therefore, it is important
to be assured that wheel and caster manufacturers
respect this norm before they display the load
capacities of their products.
Luc
Turcotte |
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LITTLE THOUGHTS
ON TEAMBUILDING
Have you ever stopped and wonder why GEESE
FLY IN A "V" FORMATION?
As
each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift
for the bird immediately following. By flying
in a "V" formation, the whole flock
adds at least 71% greater distance range than
if each bird flew on its own.
***People
who share a common direction and sense of community
can get where they are going quicker and easier
because they are traveling on the thrust of
one another.
Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it
suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying
to go at it alone, and quickly gets back into
formation to take advantage of the lifting power
of the bird immediately in front.
***It's a
good idea to stay in formation when we find
people who are headed the same way we are going.
When the lead goose gets tired, he or she rotates
back in the wing, and another goose flies point.
*** Being
out front is a highly visible position, and
it feels important. By the example of geese,
taking turns doing the hard jobs is the way
to tap into everyone's fullest potential.
The
geese honk from behind to encourage those up
front to keep up their speed.
*** What do
we say when we honk from behind ?
Finally, when a goose gets sick, or is wounded
by gun shots and falls out, two geese fall out
of formation and follow him down to help and
protect him. They stay with him until he is
either able to fly or until he is dead, and
then they launch out on their own or with another
to catch up with the group.
*** IF WE
HAVE THE SENSE OF A GOOSE, WE WILL STAND BY
EACH OTHER.
Frederic
Lagace
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