While current travel and visitor restrictions are upending the normal schedule of service calls to manufacturers, a remote maintenance session may be just the fix. Big Kaiser Precision Tooling Inc. is providing limited free maintenance support for all models of Speroni tool presetters.

The live, one-on-one video conference – using apps such as FaceTime, Microsoft Teams, or GoToMeeting – takes about an hour and includes a basic calibration check, analysis of potential corrective actions and customized operator training. This is a fraction of what a factory-trained technician can do in a full day onsite, however, this quick and easy checkup may keep the presetter performing to specifications until a service call can be scheduled.

The free, one-hour support session includes:

1. A guided calibration check with 7-step analysis of the camera and spindle

2. Detailed guidance on basic corrective actions specific to the machine model

3. Customized training on request (i.e. how to measure difficult tools or use various software features)

This remote support is one way that Big Kaiser is working to proactively and flexibly support manufacturers in critical industries across North America. If a video service call uncovers any issue that cannot be resolved through remote guidance, that company will be prioritized for an in-person service visit as soon as possible based on company policies and location.

Contact Big Kaiser at 224.770.2999 ext. 255 or tms@us.bigkaiser.com.

Register for this free webinar

Do you know what talent will be needed at your company moving forward? Or how to create a safe environment for those working the plant floor?

If you answered no to either of these questions, you’ll want to register for the free webinar, Restarting manufacturing in COVID-19 conditions. Taking place on May 28 at 12 pm EDT, Bill Currence, President & Managing Partner, and Dan Davis, Executive Consultant, Aerospace and Defense, Cornerstone Consulting Organization LLC, will discuss topics on how to re-think your supply chains to operate successfully in COVID-19 conditions.

As the industry moves forward in these unprecedented times, the information provided in this webinar will be crucial to understand how best to operate your business in 2020 and beyond.

Unable to participate on the day of the event? No problem. Each registered attendee will also receive a link to an online copy of the webinar. The link to the virtual conference content will be sent approximately 5 to 10 business days after the event.

REGISTER TODAY

That question was asked by a volunteer group organized by Jim Hofmann when in late March it became clear that healthcare workers needed PPE, specifically face shields that provide full face protection while treating COVID-19 patients.

Hofmann, a Newton High School technology teacher and robotics coach, started a project to 3D print face shields and named it “PPE Made In The USA.”. He reached out to colleagues, and soon the group of volunteers grew to 45 people. Within one month, they donated over 3,000 3D-printed face shields across northern New Jersey.

Initially the need for face shields was greatest at hospitals. But demand also increased at long-term care facilities, especially in Bergen County where Hofmann grew up. Currently Bergen County leads the state with the greatest number of long-term care facilities with outbreaks and the largest number long-term facility residents who are COVID positive.

The team ramped up production, and produced 1,000 face shields for Bergen County, where Hofmann’s sister was the point person to deliver them to LTC facilities. But how do you transport all those face shields sixty-miles?

Hofmann reached out via his brother, a retired long-time sales rep for Kuiken Brothers in Emerson, a distributor of residential and commercial building products. Nick Kuiken, vice president of sales, made arrangements for one of the company’s delivery trucks to handle the shipment to Closter.

When asked why they got involved Kuiken says, "It was a pleasure to assist Jim and his group of dedicated volunteers. When we heard about the work they were doing to help the front line medical workers it was an easy decision to provide the assistance they needed."

Kuiken Bros. posted photos and an article about the delivery on their blog.

Hofmann’s sister then delivered the 1,000 face shields to LTC facilities throughout Bergen County, including CareOne at Wellington in Hackensack. Charlotte Sodora, senior executive director, expressed her gratitude to the team of volunteers who made the face shields. She said “The quality is amazing and will definitely assist my team in protecting themselves and our patients from further harm and spreading of this awful disease. The team from Newton of amazing volunteers has truly inspired us. This donation also represents the good in people. A bunch of complete strangers is spending their time and resources to offer protection to my staff. This act of kindness does not go unnoticed and reaffirms my faith in humanity during this difficult challenge.”

A Go-Fund-Me campaign was established to cover the raw materials used to make the face shields. If you would like to donate, please visit www.gofundme.com/f/ppe-made-in-the-usa.

Anyone interested in helping with production, or any hospitals or long-term care facilities with a need for face shields can email ppemadeintheusa@gmail.com.

In the past week, Lockheed Martin continued support to critical industrial base suppliers, front-line medical workers, and local communities for COVID-19 relief and response.

Supply chain commitment

• Accelerated $307 million to 1,900 supply chain partners to promote a healthy defense industrial base.
• Hosted a webinar for more than 400 small business suppliers with the U.S. Army and have engaged with 8,600 small business suppliers in recent weeks to help navigate key resources to support and sustain their operations.

Workforce

• Lockheed Martin has hired more than 3,600 new employees across the United States since the COVID-19 crisis began. The corporation remains on track with plans to hire 12,000 employees during 2020.

COVID-19 relief efforts

• Continues to donate corporate air support to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). To date, Lockheed Martin has completed seven missions to support the federal government’s COVID-19 response and relief efforts, completing the fourth bone marrow transfer flight to and from Germany.

Helping communities

• Following Lockheed Martin’s announcement to donate $5 million to state and local organizations that support communities where it operates, several of those organizations announced those contributions, including in the Pennsylvania/New Jersey area (Cooper Hospital Foundation and Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance), California (Antelope Valley Hospital), Connecticut (CT Food Bank), and Texas (JPS Foundation).
• Across the country, produced more than 55,000 protective gowns and nearly 28,000 face shields and have donated PPE at more than 125 locations where frontline medical workers are caring for COVID-19 patients, and those at risk, including medically vulnerable seniors.
• Provided nearly 47,000 meals to the needy in local communities surrounding eight Lockheed Martin locations.
• Lockheed Martin has finalized $1 million grant agreements with the Army Emergency Relief, the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society, and the Air Force Aid Society to provide emergency assistance to make an immediate impact on servicemembers, veterans, and their families affected by the coronavirus pandemic, particularly where servicemembers’ basic living expenses and needs have been impacted by travel restrictions, loss of access to education and dependent care, and the economic downturn.