The Colorado Association for Manufacturing and Technology (CAMT) recognized Cascade TEK’s Front Range facility in Longmont, Colorado this month for our innovative product testing services.

Innovation at Cascade TEK testing facilities includes continued expansion and dedication to providing test equipment that meets the ever-changing needs of the Cascade TEK customer.

“Making sure we continuously expand test capabilities is crucial to the success of Front Range,” says Cascade Vice President Mary Babitz. “Our customer’s test requirements are ever changing. It’s our job to have the test equipment they need to help bring products to market as quickly as possible.”

By mid-January our Colorado laboratory will add several new pieces of equipment:

• 2500lb capacity incline impact tester for ISTA package testing.
• 40,000lbf electro-dynamic vibration system. (The 4th vibration system to come on line)
• Free Fall Shock Tower

Front Range has acquired certification from the International Safe Transit Association (ISTA)for package testing, and provides a broad range of testing services for the automotive, aerospace, electronics, medical and packaging industries.

Our Colorado facility offers a wide variety of testing services, including vibration, shock, temperature and humidity, thermal shock, sand and dust, UV exposure, salt-fog, altitude, rapid decompression, g-force acceleration, IP (ingress protection)and ISTA package testing.

Click here to read more about our Cascade TEK’s Front Range laboratory in the CAMT newsletter!.

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The push to remove 40 pounds worth of reference material usually found in airline pilots’ carry-on bags got a big boost this past July when the iPad 2 underwent rapid decompression testing at Cascade TEK’s test facility in Hillsboro, Oregon.

The testing concluded a project known as the iPad KABOOM!, a community effort led by PaperlessCockpit.com  to raise  money to have the iPad 2 tested to RTCA/DO-160 Rapid Decompression standards. The testing was used to gain FAA approval for cockpit use of the iPad and iPad 2 devices to access operating manuals, safety checklists, logbooks and more. Key issues in adopting the new technology for in-flight use include demonstration of the safety of electronic devices as well as the integrity of the products themselves. As F.A.A. Deputy Director John W. McGraw noted in a recent New York Times article, “Each airline must submit a unique proposal on how they want to use the iPad and prove that both the device and software application are safe and effective for that proposed use.” The iPad KABOOM! project offered participants shared access to testing results.

Cascade TEK conducted the DO-160 Section 4.6.2 Decompression test at its Hillsboro, Oregon location in July. In the first phase of testing Cascade TEK placed the iPad 2 in an altitude chamber for two hours. The second phase of testing simulated rapid decompression, with the altitude switching from 8,000 to 51,000 feet in under fifteen seconds. The iPad 2 remained fully operational and suffered no physical deterioration during the test. Success!

Use of the iPad and iPad 2 in lieu of paper reference materials offers many benefits for pilots, from reducing physical strain to faster access to information in emergency situations.

Rapid decompression testing is just one of the many Environmental Testing Services offered at Cascade TEK’s two locations in Oregon and Colorado providing reliable testing with full range of climatic and dynamic test simulations.

For more information about the iPad KABOOM! Project, visit PaperlessCockpit.com.

Learn more about the move towards a paperless cockpit in a recent article in the New York Times.Cascade TEK RTCA-DO-160 Rapid Decompression Testing

Adidas has recently announced the launch of its new miCoach SPEED_CELL, a small device designed to live in the sole of your sport shoe and measure the speed, distance and time for both forward and lateral movement to help athletes study and improve athletic performance.

The device, a newly improved version of previous technologies, was tested for ruggedness and durability at Cascade TEK’s Testing Facility located in Hillsboro, Oregon—where it was found that the new SPEED_CELL stands up to the worst environmental conditions as recognized by the MIL-STD 810 test requirements. Cascade TEK testing of the SPEED_CELL included a laundry list of testing services: everything from Vibration and Shock Testing to high/low temperature tests, salt fog and corrosion testing and humidity tests were conducted to ensure the miCoach SPEED_CELL could withstand extreme temperature and environmental conditions without product breakdown.

“As a runner myself, it was fantastic to see the latest in digital sports technology survive even the harshest of real world conditions,” says Mary Babitz, Vice President of Cascade TEK. “At Cascade TEK, we’re pleased to know our testing services can help companies like Adidas demonstrate just how rugged their products really are.”

The device was designed at Adidas America which is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and is being hailed as the “latest innovation in digital sports technology” by the German-based international company. Previous versions of MI Coach devices have been available since 2008.

To learn more about the miCoach SPEED_CELL, visit Allan Brettman’s blog at OregonLive.com.

We know you may still have questions after the decision to buy is made, which is why we’ve created a series of videos to get you started—from setting up your vacuum oven to advanced instructions for setting ramp and soak profiles and time to temp mapping. Whatever your question, these fun and instructional videos will help you learn the ins and outs of your new lab oven in record time.

Nine videos in all! Watch all nine to learn more about:

Changing your Watlow EZ-Zone from Celsius to Fahrenheit

Getting started with your Cascade TEK Oven Controller

Programming your Watlow EZ-Zone:  Simple Ramp and Profile

Programming your Watlow EZ-Zone: Advanced Ramp and Soak Profiles

Setting the high limit on a Cascade TEK Oven

Dry Scroll Vacuum Pump applications

Connecting a vacuum pump to a Cascade TEK vacuum oven (Part 1 and Part 2)

Introduction to the TVO vacuum oven control panel

Overview of rear vacuum connections

Get updates on newly-posted videos as soon as they become available! Subscribe to our Cascade TEK YouTube channel to be notified when new videos are posted.

An excerpt from the awards show, courtesy of Community Action Executive Director Jerralynn Ness:

When Doug was deciding where to locate his business Hillsboro appealed to him because of the proximity to potential clients and the sense of community.  After living all over the country, he was ready to put down roots and become active in his community.

Cascade TEK just opened a second facility in Longmont, Colorado specializing in environmental test services for a wide range of products. Many manufacturers turn to Cascade TEK to find out how products will hold up against environmental conditions.

Doug Barrett accepts Outstanding Business Leader Award

Helping his employees thrive by providing generous benefits and pay and an appealing work environment is a source of pride for Doug.  Cascade TEK cares about the entire package. This includes giving back to the community. Doug quickly became an active and engaged corporate citizen: “I had very humble beginnings–which is why I feel strongly about giving back.”

In providing leadership and support as a member of the board of St Andrews Legal Clinic, Doug has made a commitment to ensure that legal assistance is available to anyone, regardless of their ability to pay.

When asked why he gives so generously, he said “we’ve done well and we should share”.  And he went on to explain that “things come and go; I don’t care about that.  I want to leave a lasting difference.  I want Cascade TEK to be a good corporate citizen of Hillsboro and Washington County.”

ZF Marine throttle on bridge of Starship Enterprise

(The ZF Marine throttle is shown here on the bridge of the renowned vessel carrying James T. Kirk, Spock and the rest of the gang to their next faraway adventure in the 2009 Star Trek movie.)

Cascade TEK is pleased to provide comprehensive environmental testing services and product testing labs for all our clients–whether testing products for your next intergalactic mission or your next mission right here on planet Earth.

We are happy to note the Open House was featured in the August 17 issue of the Longmont Times-Call, and thrilled the local press could attend along with the 300 community members who made it out to visit the the new Cascade TEK Front Range facility and to check out our offerings and those of EMC Integrity.

Thanks, Times-Call, we’re glad you could make it out!

As advertised, there was food, drinks and prizes! Congratulations to Jess from Freewave on winning the iPad at Cascade TEK Front Range’s open house on Friday Aug 12th. (Pictured Below)

Cascade TEK iPad Giveaway Winner

A special thanks to Jayne Brennan for putting the whole thing together beautifully!

Below is a slideshow of images from throughout the day.

Testing Open House! Both Labs Open!

Complete EMC & Environmental Testing in Longmont, Colorado.

Friday, August 12th
11AM – 2 PM

Where:

Cascade TEK
1530 Vista View Drive
Longmont, CO 80504

EMCi
1736 Vista View Drive
Longmont, CO 80504

Map & Directions

RSVP NOW!

Cascade TEK
Jayne Brennan
jayne@cascadetek.com
720-340-7810

EMCi
Mary Burback
maryb@emcintegrity.com
303-776-7249

• Vibration & Shock
• Drop Shock
• Temperature & Humidity Testing
• Salt Fog
• Additional Capabilities are coming online weekly!

Meet The Team

Michael Bosica

Laboratory Manager
bosica@cascadetek.com
720-340-7810 x 302

Michael has been working in environmental test laboratories since 2005. He’s no stranger to getting our Longmont lab operational. Before joining Cascade TEK, Michael was responsible for the start up of a second laboratory in San Clemente, CA.

Although he knows how to run all the tests we perform, Michael is a dynamics expert. Our Colorado customers with shock and vibrationrequirements are in especially good hands. He has extensive experience in MIL-STD vibration and shock profiles. One of his favorites is running high-Grms rocket liftoff simulations. He also hasHALT/HASS experience.

Joe Fratiello

Applications Engineer
joe@cascadetek.com
720.340.7810 x204

Joe has been with Cascade TEK since 2009. He has extensive knowledge of many industry specifications including MIL-STD, DO-160, ASTM, SAE, IEC and ISTA. Joe holds a degree in Systems Engineering from West Point and is an Army Veteran. Photo depicts Joe hiking (or chasing something) through the Northern California Coast.

Garrett Harris

Assistant Application Engineer
garrett@cascadetek.com
720.340.7810 x230

Garrett is the newest addition to our testing quote and scheduling team. He is quickly becoming our resident expert in MIL-STD test requirements. Garrett holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Oregon Institute of Technology. Photo depicts Garrett tubing down the raging rapids of Rogue River, Oregon.