Cascade Tek - Shake, Bake, and Share » product testing

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

admin — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:33:54 +0000

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.

CascadeTEK Testing Services: Now Serving the Starship Enterprise?

admin — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 18:12:20 +0000

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 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 One Step Closer To Colorado Test Lab

admin — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:49:41 +0000

Longmont’s Daily Camera Business Writer Alicia Wallace (303-473-1332 or wallacea@dailycamera.com) has been covering the product testing void left by Oracle and Cascade TEK’s expansion efforts to bring Cascade TEK’s A2LA Accredited, full -service product testing services to the Colorado region.

Alicia writes, “ In a separate move, Portland-based Cascade Tek on Monday put in an offer to purchase a nearly 16,000-square-foot building at 1530 Vista View Drive in Longmont, said Terry Candlish, the company’s vice president of operations. If the offer that includes an initial lease option goes through, the company would establish Cascade Tek Front Range, a facility to offer a variety of mechanical testing options such as shock, vibration, humidity and testing certified by the International Safe Transit Association, he said.

It would be Cascade Tek’s second facility and is expected to employ about three or four employees initially and eight to 10 people in the next three years”.

Click Here for a Virtual Tour of Cascade TEK

Hillsboro’s Mayor Takes The Tour

admin — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:55:41 +0000

Mayor Jerry Willey stopped by Cascade TEK for a tour of our environmental testing laboratory. His entourage included Deanna Palm, President of the Hillsboro Chamber. We had some interesting tests going during the tour, including vibration testing on man-lifts, altitude testing on night-vision equipment and damp heat storage testing on marine control systems.

Mayor Willey & Chamber President Deanna Palm Can't Believe What Goes On In Hillsboro!

MIL-STD Blowing Sand & Dust Test In Action

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 23:53:34 +0000

Tony "Dusty" Arbogast & Phan Tu Execute A Sand/Dust Test

Cascade TEK’s blowing sand and dust chamber has been operational now for a few weeks. So far we have tested products such as cell phones, door latches, filters and avionics equipment to the MIL-STD 810F Blowing Sand and Blowing Dust test specifications. Here is a picture of a test in action. It gives you a good idea of what this machine looks like.

Check out Cascade TEK MIL-STD 810 Blowing Dust for details on how the MIL-STD 810 Blowing Dust test is performed.

Check out Cascade TEK MIL-STD 810 Blowing Sand for details on how the MIL-STD 810 Blowing Sand test is performed.

Cascade TEK also performs SETTLING Sand and Dust testing, popular with automotive, avionic and entertainment component manufacturers. The SETTLING Sand and Dust tests we run most often are RTCA-DO-160, SAE J1455 and IEC 60529 IP5X and and IP6X. Exposure to fine dust causes problems with moving parts, forms conductive bridges and acts as an absorbent material for the collection of water vapor. Not good.

Check out Cascade TEK Sand and Dust Testing for details on all our sand and dust test capabilities. Also stop by our Product Testing Services Page to see our full suite of tests performed.

CascadeTek on KGW, News channel 8 in Portland

admin — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:46:19 +0000

In a video of about 2 minutes in length, our testing facility was featured on Channel 8 news in Portland with a segment called, “Product testing is the name of the game at Cascade Tek.” President Doug Barrett and Lab Manager Terry Candlish were interviewed, and quick demonstrations of testing procedures for popular products like cell phones and XBox 360 can be seen. You can also catch a glimpse of our capabilities and highlights here at the lab. Hulu here we come!

You can link to the full video below.

See the Full Video

CascadeTek’s Testing Capabilities featured in R&D Magazine

admin — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:59:27 +0000

In the October 09 issue of R&D magazine, the featured article titled “Understanding Contract Labs” calls on CascadeTek and our Vice President of Operations, Terry Candlish, to expound upon the benefits of third party environmental stress testing as well as the services, qualities and procedures of an expert testing lab like the one at CascadeTek.

The article states that, “Another reason a company might outsource their product is that they wish to have a third party do the testing. ‘A lot of companies that are instructing their vendors to do environmental stress testing usually want a third party to do the testing,’ says Terry Candlish, Work Laboratory Manager and Vice President of Operations, CASCADE TEK, Hillsboro, OR. ‘They want an unbiased party testing the product for integrity and strength, so that what is going to the market is a reliable product.’ ” The article goes on to further explain the importance of 3^rd party contract laboratories and using their testing expertise with today’s demanding and strict standards. The full article is out now and can be read here.

R&D magazine is a greatly respected magazine in the Research and Development arena and has been around for over 50 years. We are quite flattered to be called upon for our expert analysis and feedback in the Environmental Testing world. Visit our Environmental Testing Services page to read more about our world class testing capabilities and facility.