What are some of the interesting or useful products that you have helped engineer at Antron?

We’ve designed some useful products for our own company that have U.S. patents such as pharmaceutical testing products that are used for pre-clinical needs and infrared reading devices. For customers, we’ve updated and redesigned many products.

This can range from military applications, laser rail designs, and delivery systems. Antron has done a lot in the medical field too. We’ll consult with doctors, go to a hospital to see their processes, and come back and design a prototype for them. We’ve worked with cardiologists at Harvard Beth Israel Deaconness Hospital to design bypass devices and mitro valve adapters for the heart.

What are some of the special engineering techniques you’ve created to make the tools and parts that Antron is known for?

We excel at helping customers solve problems. Antron uses design software such as SolidWorks and state-of-the art design and manufacturing processes to come up with concepts and is one of only a handful of shops that offer engineering and assembly expertise. Customers oftentimes come to us when they have an issue in their assembly or subassembly, and are having a hard time putting a product together or feel something is wrong. We’ll take the concept, evaluate it, get permission to make the changes, then build a prototype and test it. Clients will then test it on their own and likely we’ll take the product from there.

Antron has also helped businesses that have just acquired another company and need help with the product nomenclature or assistance from the assembly or engineering point of view. It’s a big strength that Antron can give high quality guidance on engineering and assembly techniques and help their business succeed.

How does Antron help give clients a competitive edge?

We help drive client costs down. Antron is known for its quick turnaround time. We make parts more readily available and deliver components and assemblies that work. 24-hour availability drives prices down and gives clients a leg up.

What are some of the biggest or specialized companies you have created products for?

Thermo Fisher Scientific calls on us to help 12 of their different divisions. Palomar Medical works with us too in creating specialized medical products. As a leading product assembly and precision machining company, Antron can assist clients in many different fields from defense, medical, aerospace, and many other industries.

What is a typical day at Antron like in your department?

Days are filled going over designs and working on them. We will go from tooling design for parts to working on assemblies. Each day is also spent optimizing things to make design processes better.

What challenges do you enjoy as the lead engineer/product designer?

I really enjoy helping clients resolve issues when they are having trouble fixing or designing a product.

What inspires your creativity to be able to address different manufacturer’s needs?

Anyone can machine a part from a drawing, but to be able to work with concept designs takes creativity. Solving customer problems sparks creativity. As a mechanical designer, I can find less expensive ways to build a part and add value. For example, we do a lot of laser designs. We can take it from concept to prototype to pre-production. The pre-production is so far along that it can save time in the manufacturing process.

This is a lot different from other shops that have to take it from a mechanical designer to a manufacturing engineer and must recreate the wheel all over again. We help clients with all their product needs under one roof. This includes giving them full documentation packages and assemblies that provide them a lot more of the product ready to go up front.

What techniques do you use to improve mechanical and/or electronic performance for a client’s needs?

Antron is all about value added techniques. Clients want their products improved and want to get it for a lot less than they are currently paying for. When they have problems in house and have reworking or product failures, a product can go from being a $500 cost to $1,000.

We can iron out a problem and deliver 100 percent quality or we won’t take it on. We will take a look at a year’s build for clients and be able to get a year’s worth of components so that when they need 30 units tomorrow, we can deliver. Antron provides clients a true fixed price and parts they need the next day. Not many competitors can deliver this way.

To learn more about Antron Engineering & Machine Co. Inc., visit http://www.antroneng.com or call 1.877.225.2362.

John Kauker, Executive Vice President of Antron Engineering, said that the exhibition was a great success.

“We were very pleased with the show and attendance was great,” said Kauker.  “I always enjoy meeting clients in person.  There is just no substitute for talking face to face with customers.”

Kauker added that the Antron team always looks forward to events like this and they have come to expect a constant flow of customers at the Antron booth, not only for the quality products, but for the fun giveaways.

“Our lighted pens were a big hit with the attendees and gave us a great opportunity to chat with people as they stopped by,” said Kauker.

Kauker said that he and other Antron personnel had many conversations with potential clients about their needs.

“The type of work discussed ranged from single item prototypes to more complex multi-part assemblies,” said Kauker.  “We like to hear what products people want to make and figure out how we can help them get the results they’re looking for.”

Kauker added that some prospective clients were looking to create new products, but others came by seeking improved quality and/or pricing.

Antron Engineering is currently offering a special promotion from the end of April 16th through June 1st.  Clients can click here to request a quote for their next project and enter to win an iPad 3.

To learn more about precision machining and contract manufacturing at Antron Engineering & Machine Co. Inc., visit http://www.antroneng.com or call 1.877.225.2362.

Explain the basics of cell process technology:

Cell process technology takes a conventional milling department, conventional labor department, and conventional assembly department and moves the equipment together from the different departments to create a cell. With this you can readily move from one machine to another rather than one department to another. This creates a very cohesive flow.

What types of components or tools can this type of technology help create?

Cell process technology helps create products for the medical, defense, electronics, and many other industries.

What machines are used in these processes?

Horizontal mills, vertical machining centers, and specialized lathes such as screw machines and live tooling lathes are used in this type of technology.

Does this type of technology allow you to work with special materials?

With this technology, you can work with high-end plastics, special carpentry materials, and apply heat treatments. This is especially useful in electronic applications. We have an $80 million dollar vacuum that treats parts. This technology can be used to machine products as well as design and assembly them.

Do any employees have special schooling in this type of technology?

Workers who use this type of technology know special software for design, CAD-CAM applications, and are educated in laser design, manufacturing, and testing the product results of this type of technology.

What types of semi-finished or finished products can Antron create for clients with this type of technology?

Products created with this technology include medical devices, supermarket and retail scanning devices, laser devices, and even products from the cryogenics industry. Antron has also created products for the beauty industry such as machines that automatically dispense hair coloring foils. We’ve also devised a hollow core drill for the Mars Lander that drilled Martian soil.

What are the benefits to using this type of technology?

This technology allows a concept to get to market quicker. Especially in the laser industry where products typically have a three-year lifespan, it is critical for the product to debut at a trade show and have the product be high quality. This technology can help with in-depth tooling design and get the prices down.

Clients come to us who have a frequent problem: they can find a good machine house but are having trouble finding a good design house, or vice versa. Antron has all of this under one roof. We can bring a concept to life quickly. We can go to a client meeting at 9 a.m., and then go back to the shop and design something. The second shift workers can then work on it, and by the next morning parts are ready to be put together. By 3 p.m. that day we can have a prototype to a client. This turnaround time, quality, and reasonable cost cannot be found any place else.

To learn more about Antron Engineering & Machine Co. Inc., visit http://www.antroneng.com or call 1.877.225.2362.

Antron recently launched new safety programs as they expanded their precision machining and contract manufacturing facility. With five new programs to ensure employees are trained, injuries prevented, and educational efforts continue, the company meets the Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s (OSHA) safety and health guidelines.

“We employ more than 80 people and are committed to excellence in the workplace,” said Antron executive vice president John Kauker, IV. “These programs allow our workers to safely use the latest in production technology and machining.”

These programs include:

• Hazard Communication Program – all shop employees trained
• PPE – Personal Protective Equipment – all shop employees trained
• Respirator Program – employees that work with this type of equipment trained
• Noise Conservation Program – all shop employees trained
• Spray Booth Training Improvements – employees that work with this type of equipment trained
• Fire Extinguisher Training – all employees trained

“Antron is committed to production consistency and efficiency,” said Kauker. “Worker safety and teamwork is essential to ensuring we are proactive about what it takes to be a premier manufacturing facility.”

Typical training sessions last an hour and involve identifying hazards and knowing how to prevent and control them. Education also includes knowing how to properly use devices and safety mechanisms and report worksite concerns. Continuing education and seminars are an important component of the company’s illness and injury prevention program too. Oversight of these programs is done by the company’s Quality Manager, Lead Engineers, and Supervisors.

Antron is a leading engineering and product assembly company, and manufactures everything from single machine components to large quantities of electromechanical assemblies for a wide range of industries and original equipment manufacturer clients nationwide. To learn more about Antron Engineering & Machine Co. Inc., call 1.877.225.2362.

“This was a strategic decision to enhance our branding and marketing,” said Antron executive vice president John Kauker, IV. “With our new logo, positioning line, and content-rich website, we feel well positioned to better serve both current and prospective clients. Ivy Creative helped us showcase our business strengths and reflect our goal of staying on the cutting edge of our industry.”

The creative services agency also assisted Antron with updated photography, signage, and a complete marketing campaign. Through Antron Engineering’s new website, visitors can view a photo gallery of their precision machining and product assembly facility and get the latest information about their engineering and contract manufacturing services.

“We are one of the nation’s best machine engineering companies with decades of experience supporting a diverse array of industries and project sizes,” said Kauker. “It was time that we enlisted a seasoned marketing company to help us improve our reach, and as a result help more companies create high-quality products at a great value.”

Ivy Creative CCO Steve Ratner said its collaboration with Antron is a great fit. “As a creative agency we love working with clients like Antron. They represent the latest in technology and engineering, and deliver excellent products for hundreds of satisfied industry-leading companies,” said Ratner. “They just needed someone to help get their story out, and as their partner we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to do that.”

“From our roots in 1985 with just two machines in a basement to expanding two times in the 1990s in Bellingham, our company has seen positive growth because of our commitment to clients and the latest in machining and production technology,” said Antron executive vice president John Kauker, IV.

To meet the needs of their clients in many diverse industries, Antron also recently added two new big pieces of equipment. A KIWA KH-45 eight-pallet horizontal machining center was added. This machine has a large tool capacity that allows Antron to keep jobs set up in the machine to quickly change over. The larger pallet capacity lets workers keep “resident jobs” in the machine. Overall, this helps to create faster production runs and reduced setup times. Also, a HAAS VF6 vertical machining center was installed. With its larger five axis capabilities, Antron’s ability to machine complex parts in one grip has been greatly increased.

“Antron Engineering is known for our machinery, computer and software abilities, compressor systems and high levels of testing and quality control,” said Kauker. “With this new equipment, we can take on even more projects from single machine components to big quantities of electromechanical assemblies.”

In late 2011, Antron also passed ISO 9001:2008 recertification. The recertification shows that Antron is in conformance with quality standards for design, manufacturing, sales and service. This covers their assembly of precision machined metals, ceramics, and plastics for electronic, medical, laser, and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) applications.

“For decades, we have consistently met regulatory requirements, continually improved our systems and exceeded customer expectations,” said Kauker. “The recertification shows that our quality management system meets international standards and client needs.”

For more information, please call us at 1.877.225.2362.

Many businesses want prototype models of their designs, but want to do so faster and more efficiently. For aerospace, medical, and automotive products, having access to a 3-D printer can take a concept from the idea to a finished design quicker. For marketing and business development it can be a powerful, functional model that makes a big impact on a business’ product offerings.

“Antron Engineering’s Dimension 3D Printer can create a part in one hour depending on the complexity and contours of the part,” said Antron executive vice president John Kauker, IV. “Clients like that they can have a working model or product proof more efficiently. They can make changes to make a part better by having something to test a lot quicker.”

Companies such as Thermo Scientific, EMC and Woodcraft have used Antron’s Dimension 3D Printer. Prototype models with their 3-D printer cost hundreds of dollars, not thousands like other methods used to create prototypes. The uniqueness of Antron’s 3-D printer is that it prints in a wide variety of colors and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene plastic (ABS) that performs well in rigorous functional testing.

“Antron’s ABS models create a nice master from the form fitting process that some of the most demanding industries need for their design departments to further their product line and functionality,” said Kauker.

Clients oftentimes call on Antron to create the prototype from their 3-D printer and thus becomes an integral part of their process from prototype to full manufacturing of parts and equipment.

Antron Engineering & Machine Co. Inc. has a 36,000 square feet, state-of-the-art precision machining and contract manufacturing facility based in Massachusetts. The company has the latest production technology and machinery, software, compressor systems and quality control programs in place to help a wide array of industries for all their machining and contract manufacturing needs.

To learn more about Antron Engineering’s 3D Printer, visit http://www.antroneng.com/products/3-dimension-printer/ or call 1.877.225.2362.

We’re very pleased to announce that once again Antron has expanded the footprint of our operation.  Our newly constructed shop area has just been approved for occupancy and we’re thrilled.

We immediately moved production items into the space and are already using it to produce products for our customers.  If you’re browsing our web site for the first time, please note that we now have even more space to make your product shine!

Environmental responsibility is also very important to all of us at Antron, and with that in mind we continue to find ways to make improvements.  We just upgraded the water-recycling feature on our tumblers, saving thousands of gallons of water per year.  In addition, we renovated more of our bathroom facilities adding waterless features that will make a big difference.

And lastly, several of us will be on the road this week visiting customers as a part of our goal to better understand their needs for current and future projects.

Sometimes in this internet-focused world, we are reminded how important it is to get out of the shop and meet in person, to discuss the work we do.   Whether current clients, prospective clients or other industry professionals, there are great benefits to speaking about projects in person, and this is something the Antron team always looks forward to.

Recently we had a great couple of days attending the 2011 Design-2-Part Show in Marlborough, MA, on November 2^nd and 3^rd.  Attendance at the event was great with a constant flow of people past the Antron booth.  As usual, our lighted pens were a big hit with attendees, and gave us a great opportunity to chat with people as they stopped by.

As is typical of these shows, the type of work being discussed ranged from single item prototypes to more complex multi-part assemblies.  It is fascinating to hear what products people want to make and figure out how we can help them get the results they’re looking for.  In some cases, prospective clients were looking to create new products but others came by seeking improved quality and/or pricing.

We are currently planning for our next show and will announce those details here when things are official.  Stay tuned for more info and hopefully we’ll see you there.

In the meantime, if you didn’t get a chance to speak with us at Design-2-Part in Marlborough, visit our Contact Us page or Request a Quote online.  We’d be happy to work with you.