Posts Tagged ‘cascade tek’

Colorado Association for Manufacturing and Technology Recognizes Cascade TEK Front Range for Innovative Product Testing Services

Friday, January 6th, 2012

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 humiditythermal 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!.

Cascade TEK Helps Adidas Demonstrate Ruggedness of New Device Designed to Measure Athletic Performance

Monday, October 31st, 2011

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.

Cascade TEK President Doug Barrett Honored at Celebration of Community Spirit Awards

Monday, October 3rd, 2011

Cascade TEK President Doug Barrett was honored with the Outstanding Business Leader Award at the Celebration of Community Spirit Awards June 1, 2011. This event spotlights key partners who stand with Washington County social service agency Community Action in the battle to end poverty in Washington County. Doug received the award for being an active supporter of Community Action, including participating and sponsoring many events.

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.”

CascadeTEK Testing Services: Now Serving the Starship Enterprise?

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

Well, ok, maybe not the actual Starship Enterprise, but we do provide testing services for ZF Marine’s throttle, generally reserved for use on boats but–as we’ve just found out–moonlighting from time to time in service of the Federation.

ZF Marine throttle

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.

Cascade TEK Front Range is Open for Business

Thursday, May 19th, 2011

CALL NOW FOR COLORADO TESTING – 720.340.7810
After months of renovation and expansion our new testing facility in Longmont Colorado is ready to begin testing for:

  • 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

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

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.

Cascade TEK Front Range test lab near Longmont ramps up

Saturday, January 8th, 2011

Here is an article from the Boulder County Business Report, highlighting our expansion into the Denver area. Cascade TEK’s new product reliability testing lab will be operating out of Longmont.

From the article: “Cascade Technical Sciences Inc., which is based in Hillsboro, Oregon, is opening a testing facility at 1530 Vista View Drive in the Vista View Commercial Center, located east of Longmont in Weld County. The company, which will do business as Cascade Tek Front Range, will perform mechanical and environmental tests for clients.

Cascade Tek took possession of the building this week and plans to open by the end of March or early April, vice president of operations Terry Candlish said. Cascade Tek is equipping the 15,525-square-foot space with about $1 million worth of equipment.”

http://www.bcbr.com/article.asp?id=55433

Overview of Cascade TEK’s Product Testing Services.

Wednesday, December 15th, 2010

Here is our latest information on the new Cascade TEK Front Range, environmental, product testing facility in Longmont, Colorado.  This document will help you learn about Cascade TEK’s services, and accreditations as a full service product testing facility.

 

Our New Address:

Cascade TEK Front Range 

1530 Vista View Drive

Longmont, CO 80504

www.cascadetek.com

Engineers & Their Toys

Thursday, May 27th, 2010
Anthony's Very Cool Copter

Anthony's Very Cool Copter

Anthony Vo, Mechanical Engineer at Rockwell Collins is our guest today.   He brought in the coolest remote controlled helicopter we’ve ever seen. It’s a T-REX 700 with a size 90 motor.  It can fly inverted, backwards and inverted AND backwards.  It took Anthony about 6 months to learn that skill.  Many crashes, too.  Total flight time is about 10 minutes, before burning through the two nitro (alcohol based) fuel tanks.  The helicopter has a range of about 1/2 mile and he’s taken it to about 500 ft altitude.  Costs about $2K.  

Cascade TEK does quite a bit of testing on aircraft components.  RTCA- DO160 is the test standard most common for avionics.  Let us know if we can help with your flying machine.

Cascade TEK Adds MIL-STD Blowing Sand and Dust Testing Capabilities

Friday, December 11th, 2009

Cascade TEK’s new Blowing Sand and Dust Chamber is the first of its kind in the country.  It is designed to perform the blowing sand/dust tests called for in MIL-STD 810F.  What makes our Blowing Sand and Dust Chamber unique is that it’s able record test temperature, humidity, wind speed and particle concentration values in REAL TIME.  This is unlike any other sand and dust test data available.   Our next step is to have our Blowing Sand And Dust testing audited by A2LA and added to our list of accredited tests Cascade TEK performs.

Why conduct sand and dusting testing?
Sand and dust create a harsh environment for chassis, under-hood, and exterior mounted devices, and can be a long- term problem in interior locations, such as under the dash and seats in automobiles.  Exposure to fine dust causes problems with moving parts, forms conductive bridges and acts as an absorbent material for the collection of water vapor. Some electromechanical components may be able to tolerate fine dust, but larger particles affect or totally inhibit mechanical action.  Cascade TEK performs a wide variety of Sand and Dust Testing.  For more information, visit our sand and dust test page.

We are always looking for better equipment and ways to improve our testing services.  Check back soon for the latest from Cascade TEK or subscribe to our RSS feed.

Cascade TEK’s SVO-501 Tailors to Unique Drying Requirements

Monday, August 25th, 2008

Cascade TEK recognizes the market’s demands for vacuum ovens that can be easily tailored to meet unique drying requirements. After reevaluating our mid-sized vacuum oven design, we created the new SVO-501, a five cubic foot vacuum drying oven, and made specific improvements to the temperature uniformity and increased process automation features. These changes translate into improved drying time, greater batch consistency and ease of use for our customers.

Since consistent bake-out results rely on uniform temperatures, we improved the temperature uniformity of the SVO-501, to +/-3% of the user set point. As well, we incorporated an optional touch screen data logger to make real time temperature, vacuum and independent thermocouple data more accessible and easy to download. Making adjustments to accommodate for various drying requirements is easier.

Like other Cascade TEK vacuum ovens, the SVO-501 offers digital independent over-temperature control and protection, built-in serial communication outputs for both temperature as well as vacuum and smart alarms to notify the operator if required specifications are not being met.

View more information here about the SVO-501 features and specifications.