Stork TCT grows in Des Moines.

New faces, new ideas—the summer of 2006 has been the busiest season in a long time for the materials testing experts at Stork in Des Moines—and it's only half over! Read the articles below to learn about the people who have joined us, about the new services and capabilities they're bringing, and about the broad range of resources available through the Stork laboratory network—online and off.  

Controlling the flow: Stork helps brake hose manufacturers prepare for December Federal Standard deadline Read how Stork experts in Des Moines keep the juices flowing by evaluating these critical automotive components.   Stork in the furniture-moving business? Products get to market faster with Stork quality support Read more about the "furniture-moving" division of Stork TCT's product evaluation department.

LEAD ARTICLES StorkSMT.com: a "virtual" resource Read more about Stork's free online technical library of downloadable articles, case studies, and papers. A leader in the lab: Stork TCT brings in full-time operations manager Ben Brandt Read more about Des Moines' new technical and business development officer.   Safety glazing: Stork tests architectural and automotive glass Read more about specialized services for the construction and transportation industries. Stork TCT promotes longtime employee Brian Escherich Read more about the Product Evaluation Department and its new manager. Storing the New Fuels Meet a Stork customer and renewable fuels supplier, Winbco Tank of Ottumwa. What have we done for you lately? Read more about Stork Service Excellence, our 2006 customer service initiative.

"We've been using the Des Moines laboratory
for years.
We count on Stork . . . "

David Hull, Winbco Tank, Ottumwa, Iowa

Controlling the flow: Stork helps brake hose manufacturers prepare for December Federal Standard deadline

Industry is developing more and more advanced automobiles to cope with the world's energy and environmental needs. Cars may change every year, but brake hoses still follow the same working design—safely housing and insulating brake lines and fluid from wear, heat, corrosion, and other destructive forces.

"Hoses are basically made of the same materials they always were," says Stork TCT Product Evaluation Manager Brian Escherich. "We are starting to see more high-pressure applications—stainless steel braided hoses instead of rubber and yarn, for example, as newer high performance cars are requiring more stopping power and bigger brakes. Cars like that go faster and involve higher temperatures, but the basic set up is the same, whether hydraulic, air, or vacuum brake hoses."

Stork TCT clients for brake hose testing services are usually manufacturers seeking United States Department of Transportation certification. "We supply test results and our clients submit these results to the DOT. Our accreditation in the U.S. is through the Automotive Manufacturers Equipment Compliance Agency, Inc., or AMECA. The test standards we use to reach that certification are accepted by the Australian and Canadian governments as satisfactory for their standards. We've also tested brake lines from Italy, Spain, and other parts of the world." 

Local or international, a hose is a hose is a hose. But, come December 20, 2006, all brake hoses sold in the U.S. must meet a new Federal Standard (FMVSS 106). Adds Escherich, "The new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard is more stringent and rigorous and will definitely impact our clients. The new standard is sort of a marriage of 2 existing standards—the Society of Automotive Engineer standard and the previous Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS). The new standard is not very new to us, because we've performed all the tests already for different clients in different projects. It will be nice to have them merged into one document; the standard is tougher, but it will actually simplify the testing process for many of our customers."

"The deadline is already having an effect. Everyone's dotting their i's and crossing their t's, so they're not left behind at the end of the year. We're working hard to fit in everyone who needs a testing program and doing our part to make sure no one gets left behind."

Stork experts are standing by to help you answer your brake hose testing questions and launch your customized compliance program for the new Federal Standard. Contact info.tct@stork.com to learn more about product evaluation for your industry.

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StorkSMT.com: a "virtual" resource

A message from Charles Noall, Chief Operating Officer, Stork Materials Technology

Years ago, the way to find information on a subject was one phone call at a time. A call to the library, a call to the trade organization, a call to a university, or to a friend in the business. We "let our fingers do the walking," through phone directories or reference volumes.

Now, we're just a few clicks away from mountains of material on every possible subject and from every possible corner of the world. For example, when a part breaks, it's a simple matter to type "failure analysis" into an internet search engine. What's not so simple is finding exactly what you need among the 1,670,000 records that show up on your screen.

Stork knows how
At Stork Materials Technology, we expect the 600+ scientists, engineers, and technicians working in our laboratories to serve our clients with high-quality and efficient testing and inspection services—and they live up to our expectations day after day.

So, we've asked for a little bit more.

We understand that Stork doesn't just provide tests, we provide knowledge and advice to clients from almost every industry—aerospace, oil and gas, power generation, medical and pharmaceutical, construction, machine manufacturing, and more. Our website needs to be more than a high-tech business card—we want it to become a virtual library for our friends and colleagues. So, we've published technical articles, white papers, case studies, and other useful reference works from our most experienced and learned staff—our "brain trust."

The more you know
Whether you're reading about the processes your part undergoes in a material properties analysis, or about new regulations and standards that specifically impact your business, technical knowledge allows you to make informed decisions and focus your attention where it's most needed.

We've found that informed customers better understand the value of the data that testing generates, including new marketing opportunities that emerge as more is learned about a product's potential and performance. Our regular clients know from experience that they can cut costs—in production stoppages, recalls, and even litigation—by investing in well-designed, customized testing programs.

The experts at Stork Twin City Testing laboratories can handle your materials testing questions, and the entire Stork Materials Technology network stands ready to help you learn what you need to grow your business in 2006. Come visit us at http://www.storksmt.com/

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Stork moves furniture? Products get to market faster with Stork quality support

If it seems to you as if the world is becoming more and more regulated—you're probably right. Today, a manufacturer's route to the open market is complicated by numerous quality assurance detours. Even simple, basic goods—a table or a bookcase, for example—have standards to meet.

Reliable materials testing providers can shorten the route and decrease the detours; Stork experts in Des Moines are hoping to get the word out about their product evaluation and furniture/cabinet testing capabilities, to help Midwestern designers, inventors, and manufacturers get to market faster.

"Outsourcing your product testing to an independent laboratory like Stork TCT is usually the best way to get objective data about your product," says Product Evaluation Department Manager Brian Escherich. "The global economy means that your goods could go to an end-user anywhere around the world, but it also means that the business community is relying more heavily on recognized standards to ensure that the quality of these goods is measurable and understandable locally and internationally. A third-party lab is where you go to find the expertise and documentation you need for quality testing."

Michiel Graswinckel, Product Evaluation Department Manager for Stork TCT in St. Paul adds, "Standards are becoming more stringent and more far-reaching. In St. Paul, we're helping mattress manufacturers with a new U.S. Federal Standard for flammability, but until recently these rules only applied to mattresses sold in California. Standards like these keep us busy helping our customers comply to their particular quality requirements."

Furniture and cabinet testing services are an important part of Stork TCT's service portfolio. Stork experts test office furniture, filing equipment, seating, panel systems, and other units to ANSI/BIFMA and other standards. Then, Stork TCT customers use the generated test data to tweak designs, select materials, or market their products' features and performance. 

"Our product evaluation customers use Storkview to get their job results and certifications faster," says Graswinckel. Storkview is a secure, web-based jobs portal offered free to Stork customers. Clients log in securely and are able to view their jobs' status, download certs, and even archive reports. "The instant online connection means one less step to go through." And one less detour on their route. [See the following article for more about Storkview.]

Click on the links for more information about Stork TCT in Des Moines or about furniture and cabinet testing by Stork Materials Technology laboratories.

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Jobs status and test reports now available in real time, online

Stork TCT would like to offer you online access to your jobs and reports. With StorkView, our secure web portal, your key employees can monitor testing projects in real time, download certs or reports, and check on job status. A simple 3-step process—register, retrieve, read—and your essential testing results will be at your fingertips, and on your desktop.

Whether your testing is done at Stork TCT in Des Moines or one of our many laboratories across the U.S., StorkView brings you secure, 24/7 information about your project. Visit our StorkView page to get started, or ask your representative for more details about this free service.

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A leader in the lab: Stork TCT brings in full-time operations manager Ben Brandt

Stork Twin City Testing in Des Moines proudly welcomed Ben Brandt this summer as Operations Manager for the materials testing laboratory.

Brandt, a native of northern Minnesota and alumnus of Ridgewater College, joined Stork TCT in 1997 as a Level II nondestructive testing technician. He worked in the NDT department for several years, conducting magnetic particle, radiography, ultrasonic, and liquid penetrant inspections on a wide range of materials and components, and then moved into sales and business development as a technical representative in 2005.

J. Doehring, Stork TCT Chief Operating Officer, was instrumental in assigning Brandt the task of managing Des Moines operations. "I am excited to have the opportunity to put Ben in Des Moines—he is someone who has demonstrated the leadership skills we need to be successful in the testing business. Ben will bring steady leadership, innovative thinking and a high energy level to the location and I am confident the employees and customers will appreciate and value all he has to offer."

Stork TCT Product Evaluation Department Manager Brian Escherich welcomes Brandt on board, "We went a long time without an onsite manager, and although we had frequent contact and visits from our sister laboratories, our growth was demanding attention. We earned Ben and it's nice to have him here to manage the administrative areas and develop the business. I know it's going to pay off to have him here, and I know that Ben's background will also come in handy down the road; it's very helpful for our customers to have someone so technically knowledgeable."

For more information about Stork TCT in Des Moines and our services, visit our website  or contact info.tct@stork.com.

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Safety glazing: Stork tests vehicle and architectural glass

Every day, for hours on end, glass is often one of the only things between you and the outside world, protecting you from wind, rain, heat, cold—and the occasional hurricane-blown tree limb or oncoming vehicle.

As a result, architectural and automotive glass is a highly-regulated material that must meet rigorous standards for safety. "Glass in buildings and cars have specific safety criteria that they have to meet," says Operations Manager Ben Brandt. "For example, when automotive glass shatters, the pieces have to fall within a size range or they're too dangerous as projectiles inside the vehicle. We help manufacturers confirm and document their compliance with these regulations and standards—a good testing program can help them avoid red tape, recalls, even litigation."

Architectural windows are tested for impact and breakage, but also for day-to-day performance. Stork experts measure energy loss, air and water leakage, and also evaluate the materials used in the frames and hardware. Adds Brandt, "New technicians at Stork TCT always like the idea of breaking windows and shooting the impact cannon, and it is fun to watch. Windows testing is a loud, messy part of the business, but it's an absolutely necessary part for our customers—and for anyone who buys, sells, or designs windows and doors."

For more information about architectural services or automotive industry services at Stork TCT, click on the links or contact info.tct@stork.com.

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What have we done for you lately? Stork rolls out a new customer service initiative

Members of the Stork Materials Technology leadership team were focused on you during their April meetings in Laguna Beach, California. Management is evaluating customer service performance throughout the network of U.S. laboratories, beginning with a two-part customer survey that was sent to clients in April.

"We have laboratories in the U.S.—like Stork Herron and Stork Twin Cities Testing in Des Moines—that have been in business since before the start of World War I," said Arnout Lijesen, Stork Materials Technology Director of Strategy and Operations. "Each laboratory in our network has its own longstanding culture and traditions and some of them have reputations for customer service that go back 50 years or more. The goal of the Stork Service Excellence initiative is to bring us all together to learn from each other in providing the best customer service in the industry."

Members of the leadership team reviewed the results of the first half of the customer service survey, which was developed by Moran Consulting, analyzed by Scantron data systems, and completed by almost 1000 Stork Materials Technology clients. After discussion of the survey results, Bob Moran of Moran Consulting led participants of the meeting through an all-day customer service seminar.

Moran said, "Our company provides executive coaching services—from leadership development to enhancing vision, communication, and decision-making skills. The work we did with managers is just the beginning of an all-company recommitment to excellence in customer service."

Lijesen adds, "We all have ideas of what good customer service means, but until we actually ask our customers to tell us what they want, we're just guessing. The survey showed us the many strengths and some weaknesses in our current programs, and many customers took the time to write in additional comments, which were very helpful."

Of the presentation by Moran Consulting, J. Doehring, General Manager for Stork Southwestern Laboratories and Interim Manager for Stork Twin City Testing, had this to say, "It was a very enlightening presentation, very energy-packed. I look forward to it being rolled out to all employees and enhancing our customer service culture. At Stork, service has always been emphasized, but this initiative really brings it to the forefront of all our thinking. Our clients probably won't notice anything dramatic, just subtle and pleasant enhancements in how we take care of them from day to day. I hope they continue to let us know what they think and what we can do for them."

Questions about Stork Service Excellence? Contact info.smti@stork.com.

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