Hi there All,
Delivery Updates
We’re at present as much as 31 items shipped! I used to be out final week which meant no machines shipped however progress was nonetheless made with QC. I’ve acquired 7 extra machines on the bench being examined this morning.
CE Cert
The certification lab has lastly completed verifying that each one of our components are in compliance with RoHS and REACH materials necessities which is critical to realize CE certification. We’ve acquired the ultimate documentation and can now begin transport internationally. This can be a big milestone that took 6 months to finish and we’re glad it’s out of the way in which!
Patent
Our utility patent US20230284817A1 has reached the subsequent stage of the method as a broadcast utility within the USPTO database. It may take wherever from 6 months to over a yr to be reviewed earlier than being granted.
Half Updates
Our new steam valve needles have arrived and we’ve been putting in them on all items instantly earlier than transport. Any beforehand shipped items will likely be receiving them freed from cost and we’ll have video directions on how you can swap the components accurately.
Staffing
We’re taking a brand new method with staffing. I’ve come to comprehend that I used to be anticipating an excessive amount of out of my 2 meeting technicians, anticipating them to maintain up with minor design or meeting modifications on machines in addition to the various sub assemblies and QC necessities all whereas I transfer issues round to arrange the store. Ridiculous, I do know! As an alternative, I’ve introduced on 2 new half time individuals.
One is devoted solely to bonding components together with magnets into aspect panels, plates, and drip trays, in addition to the entire wooden components onto metallic. This enables us to actually dial in our bonding greatest practices to make sure no steps are skipped or forgotten because it’s their solely focus.
The second position is concentrated on sub assemblies. I’ve discovered it’s troublesome for my machine meeting technicians to maintain monitor of our slight modifications in sub meeting components and keep the eye to element required on these smaller builds once they’re not executed each week. By having somebody devoted to sub assemblies, I can assure greater high quality whereas additionally bettering effectivity.
Whereas these roles don’t immediately enhance the QC bottleneck, they play essential roles in addressing among the points that result in the sluggish QC course of. Since QC is the present time consuming job, I’ve employed somebody devoted to serving to me with this position. In all actuality, the QC course of itself is just not troublesome or time consuming. What slows us down is the truth that we now have many already constructed machines that have to be partially disassembled to include the most recent updates in addition to carry out small ending touches earlier than packaging, equivalent to bonding on serial plaques and temperature dials. I’m nonetheless figuring out strategies to appropriately incorporate these steps earlier within the course of however that doesn’t assist the present backlog of constructed up machines. Having a further particular person assist carry out these duties ought to velocity issues up.
Air Bleed Valve Enchancment
The brand new addition to our workforce within the QC division can even have the ability to leverage their technical background to assist with prototyping and testing the brand new Piston air bleed design enhancements. Myself, together with 1 different buyer have been testing a restrictor orifice within the inlet tube mixed with a modified bleed valve for improved movement. This works nice for the primary 2 photographs, then has bother sealing with the decrease mass movement at decreased boiler stress. To beat this, we’re engaged on a variable movement restrictor that may change with boiler stress to take care of a close to equal movement charges throughout all boiler pressures.
Loving this White and Walnut!
Stacked minibar!
Sincerely,
Ross & William
