'Roost' Untangles Lead
Testing Requirements

Go 'Lean and Green'

Improve Production
Flow & Efficiency

New Products

The interactive forum is hosted by Bill Perdue, AHFA’s vice president of environment, health and safety. In the first “Roost,” held last October, ChemServe’s president and CEO, Jay Chrystal, explained the lead and phthalate testing requirements for children’s furniture contained in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, or CPSIA. Chrystal followed with a second “Roost” in December to discuss the details of CPSIA and how specific provisions pertain to home furnishings manufacturers. This month, in the first “Roost” for 2010, the ChemServe president was online for AHFA again, this time explaining the difference between handheld XRF technology and ICP lab testing for lead.

“We are covering other topics in our ‘Roost’ forums, but the complexities of the CPSIA regulation and the confusion over how best to meet its requirements have made these very timely topics for our recent discussions,” explains Perdue.

ChemServe is listed on the CPSC-recognized list of labs to test for lead in metal products and lead in non-metal products. This certification only became available by the CPSC in December 2009. The company is one of only 22 labs in the world with the official recognition.

“It is ChemServe’s goal to partner with our customers in the furniture industry to provide continued education and guidance on the CPSIA regulation, as well as to provide CPSIA testing and analysis services, including XRF,” Chrystal states. “Stay tuned for the continuation of our regularly-scheduled AHFA Roosts, during which we will continue to address regulatory changes and strategies to achieve and maintain compliance status.” Chrystal invites AHFA members to contact the company with any additional ideas or topics for future Roosts.

Eurosoft also announces the addition of ARDIS Inventory Management System (AIMS) software, which allows accurate inventory tracking and scrap management, even in environments where multiple users are accessing the same material inventory. AIMS incorporates ARDIS material optimization and real-time label printing to create a fully automated system of material utilization that can increase yield by 5 percent and minimize labor time. The software package includes bluetooth label scanner, label printer and an industrial stack light, as well as onsite implementation assistance and training.

Among the machinery demonstrated was the HBD 1300 Horizontal Bore, Glue and Dowel machine with four-foot work table. This numerically controlled machine drills, glues and inserts dowels on horizontal pieces with four loading zones. The OMAL “Sure Shot” revolver system guarantees a dowel is inserted every time, eliminating misfeeds. The HBD can run in barcode mode or it can be equipped with OMAL’s Precision Laser Sensor, which automatically measures the width of the panel and calculates the number of dowels needed based on a parametric program.

Delmac also demonstrated the Bonacin Closer Series of electric case clamps and the Level HD high performance single-sided edgebander. The Bonancin Closer Series has fast opening and closing speeds with a patented traveler system and steel reinforced belts. The Level HD edgebanders have heavy duty machine frames and are engineered for continuous use in the most demanding applications. Standard on the Level HD is a PC loaded with WinEdge, a Windows-based machine management software. This software provides easy programming to control machine setup, as well as machine diagnostics and production reporting. The PC also provides networking capability.

Spectrum Concepts' new on-line catalog allows you to “flip” through the company’s entire Flipworks® product line, providing up-to-date product and engineering details. The catalog also allows designers and factories to download up-to-date CAD models to drop into furniture drawings any time day or night. Each product file includes everything needed to ensure trays and media fit perfectly.

Video Instruction Guides from ShowUhow
The mere words “some assembly required” can cause stress to many consumers. But with an online video instruction guide, this obstacle can be removed. And for companies promoting their environmental stewardship, online assembly instructions reduce the use of paper and printing. AHFA members receive a 10 percent discount on ShowUhow’s setup and hosting fees. Contact Mark Schumka, 858/492-1222, or mschumka@showuhow.net.