Straightpoint has Expanded
To be exact, we’ve expanded our head office and taken on additional staff!  The last few months have been extremely busy and our export sales in particular have been very strong.  In addition, we launched our hire division, introduced an ‘offshore’ arm, and taken on several major distributors, which have all added to the increased demand (whilst still keeping our speedy service!).  As a result, we’ve doubled our head office space and have recently added two members of staff, under a government-backed apprentice scheme.  Jess Hill and Josh Young are our Business and Engineering Apprentices, respectively.  I would like to welcome them to the growing Straightpoint team and I’m sure you’ll be speaking to them soon!

Straightpoint, Inc are pleased to announce the appointment of John Molidor as a technical sales engineer. David Ayling, director, said “John has a wealth of experience in technical sales, customer support and engineering roles and his broad experience will be invaluable as Straightpoint, Inc increase their North American market presence”.

Travels
As part of the Straightpoint global ‘roadshow’(!), I’ve visited a couple of our distributors recently – Rigmarine in Azerbaijan (who also represent Kazakstan) and Wolfgang from Pfeifer in Germany, showing them our new catalogue, products and desktop controller software.  If you have a business proposition and would like me to visit you, please do get in touch.

Mr Loadlink with Nighyar Taghiyeva – Sales and Business Development Manager, Rigmarine

Insight into a UK Weighing Federation Board of Directors Meeting. As I’m on the Board of Directors, I attended a recent meeting at the UK Weighing Federation, the UK’s national weighing industry trade association.  The meetings are great networking opportunities and everyone’s committed to providing the best weighing standards.  Amongst other items discussed, we talked about calibration code of conduct, and new EU directives which would improve EMC protection, affecting loadcells.  If you’d like any further information on the UKWF or the new EU directives, feel free to get in touch with me…

New Reference Loadcell
Previously, we employed two reference load cells for use with our 350 tonne test and calibration machine, which we interchanged, dependent upon the size of the job.  We’ve now invested in a brand new reference #loadcell which is suitable for all tests, up to 350 tonnes of compression and 350 tonnes of tension.  The reference #loadcell has been calibrated by the National Physical Laboratory against a master load cell, which is stored in London so that the load is always traceable, accurate and reliable.  We use the machine to test and calibrate all our products before being shipped to clients and distributors globally.

Have a great month!

DONORS Peter McGreal, left, and his business partner Dave Ayling (Mr Loadlink)

BUSINESSMAN Peter McGreal is calling on local firms to help pay off the charities owed cash by Pompey.

The News revealed yesterday how £8,400 is still outstanding to six charities, dating back to before the club went into administration in February.

The money relates to a £2 admin fee placed on tickets bought on matchdays from October to December 2011.

Now Pompey fan Mr McGreal, who runs Straightpoint in Havant with business partner David Ayling, is willing to put forward £1,500 of his firm’s own money to help pay the organisations back. And he wants the region’s businesses to follow suit and help make up the outstanding amount.

Mr McGreal said he was ‘absolutely disgusted’ to hear the news.

He said: ‘I’m a season ticket holder and have been for many years.

‘I just want to see if we can make a contribution to what’s happened. We’re absolutely disgusted.

‘We want to see if other businesses in the area would be willing to put enough money together and offer it as a goodwill gesture. We’re not happy at all about this.’

More on this here>

Executive Hire Show
Hot on the heels of the launch of our #loadcell hire division, we attended this year’s Executive Hire Show in Coventry, a trade-only exhibition for the tools, plant and equipment hire industry.
I bumped into lots of people who read ‘Mr Loadlink’ – hello again to you all!

A Large New Distributor
We have recently signed a deal with Traction Levage, France’s biggest lifting company, who are our newest distributor. The company distributes wire ropes, manufactures chain and wire rope slings and trades in lifting equipment and textile slings. Due to our expanding export market, with Traction Levage on board, we now have 22 distributors who provide our products to clients in every continent of the world.

Me with Christophe Fonvieille from Traction Levage

Visiting A Country Near You?!
Over the next few months, I’ll be visiting some of our distributors around the world (Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, China, Abu Dhabi and USA). If you’re based nearby and would like me to visit if you have a business proposition, please do get in touch…

A World First…
To coincide with our new catalogues, we’re launching a brand new wireless centre of gravity system, which we believe to be the FIRST off-the-shelf solution of its type in the world! Even before the official launch of the product, we’ve already fulfilled several orders. The system came about from requests from our clients.
Here’s what our distributor Pieter van Duijn from Van Gool in the Netherlands had to say about the product:
“The system has a real industrial, solid look. The centre of gravity feature is excellent for loading and unloading, especially offshore from the dock to the ship and from the ship to the rig. There’s nothing else like it in the market that I know of. Also, as the system’s wireless it’s really accurate as there are no wires that can be pulled out of the socket or can malfunction.”

Pieter van Duijn from Van Gool
The system is ideal for helping to ascertain the weight and centre of gravity of large structures or items. The system produces a ‘centre of gravity’ report through readings taken via the wireless dongle and PC software, which is connected to up to 8 compressive load cells. As it’s wireless, it’s quicker and safer than a cable-led system and it can be used on items up to 4000 tonnes in weight. Place your order now!

Other New Items in the Catalogue
As well as the new centre of gravity system, we’ve also introduced a few new items to the new catalogue. These include:
New capacities for our ‘loadlink’ #loadcell series of products (Radiolink, Loadlink, Wirelink and Compound), which include 35,75, 150 and 300 tonne. These new capacities are all in stock now and ready for despatch…

New wireless accessory – T24-AR Wireless Load cells aren’t always directly accessible from the handheld display – that’s why we’ve developed this product, which can bend or extend the signal range between the load cell and the handheld display. Simple!

New Website
Following on from our new logo we shared with you in our previous blog, we’ve also come up with a new-look website! We’d love to hear your thoughts on our new website – also, if there’s anything you think is missing that would be a useful addition, do let me know, too…
We also have more exciting news to share with you, although we are just finalising the details as I write, so I’ll update you in the next Mr Loadlink.
Until then, have a great month!

Here is a quick round up of the exciting happenings in January!

#Straightpoint nominated for a #Portsmouth Business Award
The Portsmouth Business awards are organised by the Portsmouth News and are an annual celebration of the successes, innovations and growth of great local businesses in the Portsmouth area.
This year Straightpoint have been entered into the category of ‘Exporter of the year’ and we are delighted to have been selected as a finalist for the second year running (must get the suit at the ready). The gala awards presentation evening will take place at the Guildhall Portsmouth on February 10. If we win I will be sure to let you know! Wish us luck!

New identity revealed
I am pleased to announce that Straightpoint have re-branded with an improved identity. The former Straightpoint logo has been around for over 30 years. Though traditional and established the management team here at Straightpoint have been looking to refresh the logo to something a little more 21st Century.
I worked with IGDesigns to have a few designs mocked up (several months and designs later…) here is the final version which we are all delighted with! You can expect to see this on all marketing material from 2012 onwards.
Do let us know your thoughts?

In the press…
Plant Engineer
Airbus PR
Loadcell Hire
Vertikal

A trip to La Rochelle
A few weeks ago I was in the lovely La Rochelle, France working with our client Traction Levage. We went over to the port at La Rochelle to assist them in lifting a ship out of the water for maintenance using our radiolink system.

Wireless Compound Plus Load Cell in use
Check out the great images below sent from our client Lambert Charges in France, they used our wireless compound load cell system with 4-way data logging PC software for crane testing this dockside crane with their unique water weight system. The operator was able to monitor the loads of all four load cells simultaneously on their laptop and log into Excel – all at a wire-free, safe distance.

Straightpoint mug is on its way to Turier Scales!
Turier Scales (S Turier & Sons Ltd.) have been established since 1891 and are the largest independent manufacturer of industrial platform and floor scales in the UK. They import a comprehensive range of electronic balances, microbalances, counting scales, weighing instrumentation, indicators, load cells, industrial platforms and pallet truck scales. This month Nigel Newport Black, MD of Turier Scales sent us a customer picture of our products in use..
Nigel uses a Straightpoint boot bag and the image right shows a picture of his boots and boot bag prior to cleaning after the Cinderford Town v. Cheltenham Town Reserves match! We think this is one of the best pictures of the year!!

Hire Services goes from Strength to Strength
We launched our hire division in August 2011 to respond to customer demand and the service has flourished and become very successful. Our hire customers have increased month on month with more enquires coming in from new prospects too! We have also increased our selection of hire load cells so we can meet the growing demand. Remember if you want to find out more about hire visit: http://www.straightpoint.com/hire.html

What’s new in 2012?
In 2012 we will be releasing an updated price list to cover all products and in addition to this we will also be releasing some new capacity load cells to meet customer requirements! Watch this space for more news on these items!

Until then, wishing all our readers a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!
Mr Loadlink

Straightpoint Exhibit at Liftex

Liftex is an annual exhibition for the lifting industry and is now in its 7th consecutive year.  Straightpoint exhibited at Liftex on the 17th and 18th November. The event was a huge success for us – we met many UK and overseas customers and received a flurry of new business enquiries for our load systems, load cells and other force sensor equipment.

Evening entertainment included a BBQ and quiz – and provided a great opportunity to wind down and socialise. To not finish last was a relief for many (except the unlucky one!). Big congratulations go to team ‘Speedy’ for first place with a very brainy 45-point haul!

To find out more about the exhibition visit: http://www.leea.co.uk/html/liftex-2011/

Visit to Van Gool Holland

At the end of October I flew over to The Netherlands to visit our dealer Van Gool Holland who have just opened a brand new showroom at their factory featuring a dedicated Straightpoint area showcasing all our load products.

I was given a tour of the new showroom by Peter Van Dujin. The idea is that customers in the Netherlands can drive on down to Van Gool Holland, check out all the force monitoring equipment, place an order and collect all in the same day!

Below is a photo of Peter Van Dujin from Van Gool and myself standing in front of the Straightpoint stand.

Trip to Houston

Another great trip and this time across the Pond to Houston, Texas, to visit a Straightpoint Inc customer. Bishop Lifting is a Straightpoint Inc distributor and the team needed our help to train their new sales engineers. Whilst we were there, Mo from Bishop Lifting, found time to show us his new set of wheels. Not well known for my towering height, I needed a ladder to climb into it! Check out the image below…

Straightpoint Mug is on its way to Inspectech Ltd

Inspectech Ltd is an independent inspection company based in Niscosia, Cyprus. The company offers a range of NDT (Non Destructive Testing), industrial and marine inspection services to various sectors including:

•    Steel structure and construction
•    Marine and shipping industry
•    Oil and petroleum industry
•    Lifting appliances and accessories

As part of its dedication to using the most advanced testing technology, Inspectech is a proud user of Straightpoint load cells. Here are some great pics they sent us of our products in action – for industrial and water weighing use.

Just a note that also may be of interest, we featured on the BBC see our short film…

A ‘Wizard’ Event in Kansas
I’ve just got back from exhibiting at the AWRF (Associated Wire Rope Fabricators) general meeting in Kansas, which we attended with Straightpoint Inc, our US office.  It was a real pleasure to meet so many people and I’d like to say a special hello to Knut and Jay, who are avid readers of Mr Loadlink and are now new drinking partners!  The event itself was a great success and we had people literally queuing to place orders for our Radiolink and Shackle loadcell products!  We also had a visitor from The Wizard of Oz’s very own lion…

Loadcell hire division now launched
Due to demand, we recently launched a hire division for loadcells ranging from 500kg to 250tonnes, available immediately on a weekly or longer term basis.  Prices start from just £80 per week and the range includes both compression and tension loadcells, all pre-calibrated and supplied with certificates and, as standard, our 12 month Straightpoint warranty.

Straightpoint welcomes new UK Sales Manager, Steve Woodhead
Steve has recently joined Straightpoint, liaising with lifting equipment distributors throughout the UK and Ireland.  I’m delighted to welcome Steve to the team and I also asked him for his findings so far!:
“I’ve worked in the lifting equipment industry for many years.  A lot of people think they can only buy economically-priced products if they import them from China.  That’s not true!  Straightpoint’s comprehensive range of loadcells are both economically-priced and made to high UK quality standards, making this well-established brand a key player in the global market.  I’m really pleased to be working for Straightpoint.”

A Straightpoint Mug is on its way to Clayton Engineering Ltd!
Clayton Engineering manufactures launching equipment and specialised launching vehicles, and also offer a design and manufacture capability for high quality mechanical engineering products built to order. They used Straightpoint’s 25 tonne loadcell to monitor the loads when recovering the RNLI Tamar lifeboat during new boathouse commissioning trials.  If you would like to win one of our Straightpoint thermal mugs, simply send us some images of our loadcells in use in situ with a brief description…

Further Recent applications:
Straightpoint’s loadcells were put to good use in Falmouth Harbour for granite block mooring weighing:

Straightpoint’s loadcells were used for a crane test in Cyprus:

Beware…
We’ve recently heard that there are a few new Chinese-sourced loadcells available in the UK market at knockdown prices.  I’d just advise to check the quality of the materials used and the standards of their manufacture for safety reasons.  If a loadcell fails, the results could be catastrophic and could cause untold damage to operators of machinery as well as the equipment and container contents, so it’s worth buying from a reputable company or a specialist.  (NB Straightpoint’s products are built using aerospace-grade materials with accurate calibration that can be traced back to a National Physical Laboratory-based master load cells.  In addition, all our products and work come with a 12 month warranty as standard.)

And finally…
Steve from LCM Systems and I have an annual golf challenge.
Steve wins every year, although I hope to have the cup in my hands one of these years!

A Straightpoint Mug is on its way to Inspectech Ltd!
We recently offered clients an exclusive Straightpoint thermal mug if they could send us some images of our loadcells in use in situ.  Thanks to Inspectech Ltd of Cyprus, who sent in some images of our loadcells carrying out water weight crane testing.  Inspectech undertakes thorough examination and proof load testing of all types of lifting equipment for local industries, offshore and a wide range of marine vessels.

Straightpoint supplies loadcells to an oil refinery
Recently, Straightpoint supplied 20 Radio Link Plus loadcells to Survitec Service & Distribution Ltd (SSD), who then supplied them to an oil refinery for lifting a tank, where the client needed to know the weight at each point (20 points around the tank).  As Straightpoint keeps a large range of equipment in stock, we were able to supply these loadcells within 2 days of the order, supplying colour coded stripes on the equipment and all the certificates and codes within the specified time.  Key Account Manager at SSD, Jo Stamp said
“we’re extremely impressed by the efficiency of the team at Straightpoint – the equipment information requested was exactly what the client was looking for and the high quality equipment was supplied within the very short timeframe for this urgent job.  Well done Straightpoint!”

I shall be in China for some of September/ October with one of our new distributors, although will be picking up my emails as usual.  The rest of the team will be on hand to answer any queries, too.

Until next time,
Mr Loadlink

New Straightpoint division launched in Aberdeen:
Straightpoint Offshore Load Monitoring Ltd.

We set up this new division to serve the oil and gas industries in North East Scotland, as well as globally.  Although our wireless and cabled loadcell products are being used for multiple types of applications by various types of company, some offshore companies are utilising them to check that cranes can safely and accurately measure the weight of the containers being loaded onto boats heading for the rigs.  Some docks are also using them to accurately charge per tonne for loading containers onto boats, although these are only a couple of types of the many applications they can be used for.  Our Radiolink plus product is proving very popular for the offshore market due to its extended battery life and as it hangs from a hook, it’s perfect for use with cranes loading the containers.

Director of Straightpoint Offshore, Jim Murray, will be attending Aberdeen’s Offshore Europe event in September, so feel free to drop him an email if you’d like to meet up with him there…

Mr Loadlink with Jim Murray, Director of newly launched Straightpoint Offshore in Aberdeen

A First for a Loadcell Company!

It’s not often companies can say this, but we’ve also added extra features to our loadlink products, without adding to the purchase price!  We’ve teamed up with global giants The Crosby Group and believe we’re the first loadcell company to include their radio-frequency identification (RFID) tagging within all ‘link’ style loadcells – and at no extra cost.  The RFID tag wirelessly transfers automated inspection records from the product onto a secure computer database, saving up to 65% processing time – plus, you won’t have to decipher illegible handwriting from manual records ever again!

Crosby Europe’s sales and marketing director Richard Oldknow said “I welcome the steps taken by Straightpoint to harness the power of RFID and further strengthen Crosby’s Quic Check system as a valuable inspection tool.”

Mr Loadlink, proud owner of the new RFID tagged loadcells.

The past month has kept me very busy at Straightpoint with many global visits over the past few weeks, after four weeks travelling I’m really looking forward to creature comforts like a cup of Tetley tea and beans on toast when I get back!

On my travels, I recently visited General Lifting Engineering Co Ltd (GLE), a lifting company based in China, and following this visit I am delighted to announce that GLE are now our new distributor for the Chinese regions.

This is the 22nd overseas distributor for Straightpoint Ltd UK, and this expansion will allow us to extend our services to our new clients.

I also visited existing dealers whilst away, including Intermarine in Singapore as well as Australian Calibrating Services.  We had meetings with both their sales teams and conducted technical training with their engineering staff.

'Mr Loadlink' and the GLE team in China

Tim Kennon, CEO of ACS with ‘Mr Loadlink’

Training at Singapore’s Intermarine with ‘Mr Loadlink’

Radiolink Plus Remote

Straightpoint have also made a few enhancements to their products; the Radio Link Plus this now has a range of 250 meters and a continuous battery life of 1600hrs.

The RLP is the perfect loadcell for use when the operator needs to be at a safe distance and is used in many lifting, pulling and testing applications worldwide. The price for the RLP range remains the same, however with the development on the previous specification, it’s ‘forcing’ its way through the competition!