A Latch for All Seasons
What is a cam latch?
Cam latches are a simple, affordable, and highly customizable solution for opening and securing device access points. Cam latch designs include keylocking, tool actuated, t-handle, winged knob, and L-handle. The versatility of cam latches also means they are utilized on a wide range of applications. Just few of the common applications for cam latches are:
Common Cam Latch Applications
- Transportation/Automotive – Truck, Bus, Rail
- Computers
- Telecommunications
- Industrial Equipment
- Electronic Enclosures
The leading manufacturer of cam latches and access hardware in the world today is Southco. With over 25,000 standard items and another 50,000 custom items, Southco’s product selection is unmatched. Southco latches, hinges, and captive screws are available directly from authorized distributor, bisco industries. bisco offers online pricing and availability on thousands of Southco items including over 1000 cam latches.
View Popular Cam Latches
Panduit: A Reputation of Innovation
In over 60 years of business, Panduit has gained a reputation for innovation. Such inventions as wiring duct have provided clients with user friendly products that meet the highest quality expectations. Today, Panduit’s commitment to innovation continues with a dedicated research and development department. Panduit has a comprehensive holistic approach to research and development that focuses on creating better products from the ground up in addition to application specific products. Through collaboration with clients, academia, and industry associations Panduit works to better understand how technologies are being used and how they can be improved. As the video below explains, Panduit is constantly working to provide the lowest overall cost of ownership to their users.
Looking for Panduit Products?
Panduit products are available directly from authorized distributor, bisco industries. bisco stocks hundreds of Panduit items including cable ties, wiring duct, terminals, and ID solutions. Not only that but bisco offers online pricing and ordering on Panduit items, saving you time and money. Visit biscoind.com to search the complete Panduit catalog.
Southco Introduces New Lever Latch
Sealed Lever Latch Meets Door Ingress Protection Ratings
Southco’s new sealed C2 Lever Latch provides the same consistent compression and vibration resistance as the standard C2 Series, but features a sealed design that meets NEMA 4 and IP65 standards for water and dust protection, making it suitable for use indoors and out. The sealed C2 Lever Latch meets ingress protection requirements without having to adjust or change existing panel or door designs, and is an ideal solution for new installations as well as retrofits.
Lever Latch Features:
- Sealed design protects against water and dust
- Lever action enables easy, quick operation
- Flush, low profile design
- Locking options deliver increased security
Popular C2 Lever Latch Models:
Have access hardware challenges? Want design application solutions?
bisco industries is an authorized Southco distributor. We offer online pricing on hundreds of Southco items as well as a complete listing of all Southco products. Among the many Southco items we offer are compression latches, hinges, and captive screws. Visit biscoind.com today to find the Southco item that’s right for your application.
ABB’s PSTX Softstarter Recognized for Innovative Design
Polish magazine, Scientific-Technical Monthly, recently awarded ABB with the Product of the Year 2014/2015 medal in the category of “Motors and Drives” for their PSTX Softstarter. The PSTX Softstarter is one of ABB’s latest advancements in motor control and protection. It adds new functionality with increased reliability to motor starting applications, providing more control in a smaller space. ABB’s PSTX Softstarter combines many years of research and product development with extensive knowledge of application specific requirements and needs.
PSTX Benefits:
- Secure motor reliability
- Improved installation efficiency
- Increased application productivity.
PSTX Features:
- Three-phase controlled
- Operational voltage: 208-690 V AC
- Wide rated control supply voltage: 100-250 V, 50/60 Hz
- Rated operational current: 30-570 A (inside-delta: 987 A)
- Coated circuit boards
- Torque control for excellent control of pumps.
bisco industries is proud to be partnered with a world recognized leader in innovation like ABB and is a newly authorized distributor for ABB low voltage products, Interested in learning more about ABB products? Contact a bisco product specialist today!
A Partner for a Constantly Evolving Supply Chain
In a recent article for Global Purchasing, bisco’s Jon Pickard highlighted the necessary response of procurement teams to the growing skills gap among manufacturing workers. According to Pickard,
The growing scarcity of qualified workers will not only affect production, but procurement as well. It is likely that purchasing teams will see longer lead times and higher material costs as manufacturers work below capacity. With this grim outlook, purchasing teams should prepare by going back to the procurement basics:
Read the entire article here
Challenges like this one are nothing new to the supply chain. That’s why it helps to have a partner who understands the changing procurement landscape. With over 40 years of experience helping procurement teams overcome the challenges of dynamic supply chains, bisco industries is that partner. Learn more about partnering with bisco by contacting one of our 46 local offices.
bisco’s Indiana Facility Relocates to Better Serve Our Local Customers
The bisco industries location in Indianapolis, IN is moving to a new facility to better serve our clients in the area. Starting June 23, 2015 the Indiana sales office will be located at 9855 Crosspoint Blvd., Suite 138, Indianapolis, IN 46256. bisco’s Indiana facility is just one of forty-six sales offices located throughout the United States and Canada.
STREAMLINE YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN WITH BISCO
bisco industries offers extensive inventory from over 250 manufacturers housed in six strategically located stocking facilities. Our knowledgeable and experienced sales team provides localized service to customers from our 46 (and growing) local offices. In addition, bisco offers online pricing and ordering allowing you to increase your procurement efficiency. We also offer a wide range of value added services to streamline your supply chain operations. bisco’s value added services include inventory management, quality control, and one-stop shopping.
Receive quotes or place orders 24/7 by visiting our e-commerce store at www.biscoind.com.
Traceability and the Fight against Counterfeit Parts
Counterfeit parts affect the safety, reliability, and usability of end products. With the cost of counterfeit goods being so high, OEMs and distributors are making concerted efforts to stop the flow of counterfeit products. In addition, recent government regulations have also addressed the need to eliminate counterfeit components in the supply chain.
The most recent Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) took effect just about year ago which defined new measures suppliers must take to help keep counterfeit electronic parts out of the government’s supply channel. Awareness and implementation of DFARS is most prevalent in the military and aerospace industries although it impacts many other industries by extension.
Understanding DFAR Traceability REQUIREMENTS
Recently, there have been several meetings between prime contractors and the Department of Defense as to how to comply with the law’s reporting requirements. One area that has been clearly established is traceability. The laws clearly state that supply chain members must buy DFAR compliant products from authorized vendors and if unable to, must complete a variety of steps to prove that the product is genuine.
In a recent interview the COO of Electronic Components Industry Association (ECIA), Robin Gray, stated that, “There also is a widespread misconception that products from authorized sources are frequently not available, and that [buyers] have to go to the gray or black market to get them. The fact of the matter is, buyers have limited their sources to a small pool.” In many cases buyers view the risk of getting a counterfeit product and having a failure as low compared to the cost of shutting down production. Caught between these pressures buyers must learn to partner with suppliers who can locate hard-to-find products without compromising traceability. Buyers should consider the following factors when selecting a supplier:
Tips for Selecting Suppliers
- Track supplier performance versus quality standards and audit regularly
- Select suppliers who already have a quality management system in place
- Select suppliers who are certified to quality standards like AS9100/ISO9001
- Create a list of alternate suppliers that meet quality standards (these suppliers can be utilized when core suppliers do not have product available)
4 Types of Board-to-Board Connectors
Board-to-board connectors provide a reliable plug-able connection between printed circuit boards (PCBs). Board-to-board connectors provide particular advantage in that they allow PCBs to be easily replaced and upgraded. Although available in many configurations all board-to-board connectors operate on the basic premise of male pins mating with female sockets. Among the many variations in board-to-board connectors are fine pitch board-to-board connectors, SMT board-to-board connectors, right angle board-to-board connectors, and spring-loaded board-to-board connectors.
PcB connector Types
- Fine pitch connectors are ideal for electronic applications where space is extremely limited. Fine pitch board-to-board connectors offer low mating heights, narrow bodies, and allow for easy mating and assembly.
- SMT connectors allow PC boards that only have surface mount components to be connected quickly and reliably. SMT board-to-board connectors eliminate requirements for drilling and can undergo reflow soldering along with other surface mount components.
- Right angle connectors like their name insinuates allow connections at right angles. Thus vertical and horizontal PCBs can be connected without changing their orientation.
- Spring-loaded connectors contain springs that allow for a secure connection despite fluctuations in spacing between the boards. Spring-loaded board-to-board connectors are ideal for applications like portable equipment that endure constant movement and vibration.
bisco industries offers these board-to-board connectors and many more from leading manufacturers like Mill-Max. Mill-Max utilizes proprietary machining processes to reduce connector tolerances, increase manufacturing speed, and simplify product customization. To get pricing and order Mill-Max board-to-board connectors visit biscoind.com today!
Mill-Max’s top selling board-to-board connectors include:
Fine Pitch Connectors
SMT Connectors
Right Angle Connectors
Spring-Loaded Connectors
Sci-Fi Becomes Reality with Flike: The Electric Personal Flying Bike
Personal flight machines have long been an integral part of science fiction movies. Now those machines are a reality. A Hungarian team has developed a flying bike that looks very similar to the flying machines in films.
The all-electric vehicle dubbed “Flike” is powered by lithium polymer batteries, which allows it to sustain a 30-40 minute flight.
The developer of Flike, Bay Zoltan Ltd., is a state-owned applied research institute in Hungary. It recently tested its first manned flight at Miskolc Airfield in northeast Hungary. In the test flight, Flike stayed aloft for over a minute with a take-off weight of 463lb (210kg) and landed safely.
How does it work?
The lift is generated by six rotors grouped in counter-rotating pairs on three axes, equally located around a circle. The rotation speed of individual rotors can be adjusted, and an onboard computer maintains the craft’s stability.
According to Bay Zoltan, the craft’s airborne behavior is much like a helicopter…it can hover, drift, spin, turn and dive. The team claims flying the Flike will be as easy as riding a bike.
Innovation Starts In the Supply Chain
Behind innovations like Flike are supply partners who provide the top tier products and services that make these technologies possible. bisco industries frequently partners with engineers to help them find cutting-edge solutions for demanding applications. Our knowledgeable sales reps have extensive experience and access to resources from hundreds of manufacturers. In addition, bisco offers a wide range of value added services to help manufacturers reduce costs. Visit biscoind.com or contact a representative to learn more about partnering with bisco industries.
5 Features of Southco’s Squeeze Release Latch
Limited on space? Southco has added to their already enormous access hardware offering with a new squeeze-release latch. This compact latch uses thin sheet-metal panels to fit in small spaces. Installation is quick and simple. The latch body snaps into a single rectangular hole mount on the panel and mates into a single rectangular hole on the frame when the panel is closed. Once installed, you can open and close the panel quickly and easily. Simply squeeze the protruding latch tabs to open and push the panel/latch to close.
Features and benefits of the Squeeze Release Latch:
- Simply squeeze tabs on latch and pull to open panel, push latch/panel to snap closed
- Space-saving design is just 14 mm (.56″) wide
- Mounting panel thickness is 1.3 mm (.052″) maximum
- Combined mounting panel/frame thickness is 3.2 mm (.125″) maximum
- Corrosion-resistant black Acetal construction
Who can make use of this latch? Industry applications include:
- Appliances
- Computers
- Electronic Enclosures
- HVAC
- Medical
- Networking
- Telecommunications
Learn more about the squeeze-release latch and search the entire Southco product catalog at biscoind.com.