Customer #1
A prominent OEM in the food service equipment (FSE) industry approached Control Products with a common problem. They had an outdated controller in their piece of equipment that had been designed by an outside firm five years ago and was exhibiting an unacceptable return rate from the field. The design firm retained ownership of the printed circuit board files and software, making it very difficult for the FSE company to move the manufacturing and product support to a different company.
After several face to face meetings between the company and a team of Control Products product development specialists, a new specification was developed. This team approach enabled the customer to detail possible problems with the current design that would be addressed as a new controller proceeded in the design process. The expertise of Control Products' many senior engineers and decades of food service equipment experience helped eliminate current design issues, as well as provided the latest up-to-date and cost effective electronic technologies.
In the end, the customer retained ownership of all proprietary documentation, while at the same time benefiting from Control Products' electronics engineering and manufacturing support over the life of the product.
Customer #2
A mid-sized medical company was adding an advanced feature unit to their standard line of blood storage refrigerators. In addition to the usual basic requirements of precise temperature control and temperature alarm, they requested that the controller communicate real time temperature readings and alarm conditions via the Internet to a central monitoring location. Control Products was able to customize one of its standard electronic data gateways to interface with the existing controller's communication port, transferring data hourly to the home facility. This feature also enabled the customer to remotely troubleshoot the refrigerator's operation prior to initiating a costly service call. Read more about our custom medical electronics and sensors.
Customer #3
A commercial dishwasher company shared with us the fact they were receiving poor quality temperature controls from an Italian supplier. After looking at their application, we suggested they combine three different discreet controls into one custom design. In addition to giving them a more sophisticated look, it would decrease their cost by over 30%, resulting in a savings of $50,000 annually. Our development team completed the project in 12 weeks. The company has subsequently given Control Products several additional custom control design projects that have resulted in savings.
Customer #4
An ice machine company was experiencing higher than average return rates across their electronic control designs. They requested we analyze their designs and submit our recommendations. Our analysis revealed that the designs were outdated, manufactured poorly and utilized electronic components that were inferior in quality resulting in high return rates and excessive field repair costs. Control Products redesigned their electronic refrigeration controls and today the ice machine manufacturer has saved in excess of 15% of the unit price due to high customer product acceptance.
Customer #5
A customer requested that we research a means to electronically measure the weight of a fish for the consumer fishing market. The fishing scale had to be accurate for use in fishing contests and needed to sell retail for under $30. Our engineers developed a unique, single bridge strain gauge flexure design that allowed us to accurately sense the change in downward force to within one half ounce. The scale was totally automated in production, allowing us to cost effectively sell the scale for under $15. The scale quickly became the number one consumer fishing scale in the world and was sold through all major fishing supply outlets, including Wal-Mart.
Customer #6
A major global beverage company asked us to develop a means to measure the inventory in retail beverage coolers. Specifically, we need to be able to retrofit any cooler without modifying its structure and detect when a beverage was taken out or put into the cooler. The data then needed to be electronically transmitted to a central computer. This would allow the beverage company to measure product usage across different regions of the world. The project utilized IR sensors for detection of product movement along with RFID and internet gateway technology. The project was completed and tested successfully throughout the world.
Customer #7
A major global airline approached Control Products and shared with us the fact that vital parts of their airplanes were frequently freezing up while parked during cold winter nights. This would result in serious damage to water lines, decommissioning the plane for several days, and costing tens of thousands of dollar to repair. Control Products utilized cell based technology to monitor internal plane temperatures and transmit both a text message and internet alarm to the airline service personnel upon falling temperatures. The airlines could also receive up-to-date temperature data. During the first week of use, this product saved a commercial air craft from freezing, saving tens of thousands of dollars.
Customer #8
Wine vineyards frequently lose valuable crops due to freezing temperatures in the lower valleys of their vineyards. Control Products now provides a cell based freeze protection device that monitors and alerts of potential freeze-up. The vineyards are able to respond by turning on water sprinklers that coat and insulate the grape vines which protect them from being damaged. Our controls are now used in a variety of agricultural monitoring applications including orange and apple orchards, as well as measuring critical temperatures in animal confinement buildings.
Customer #9
A global transport refrigeration company needed to monitor both temperature and humidity for protecting produce stored in trucking containers throughout China. Control Products supplied both standard temperature and humidity controls along with a custom solution to monitor the environmental conditions of the food storage containers. Our controls transmit current temperature and humidity data along with alarm messages. The customer is able to guarantee the quality of their produce based on electronic records stored in the controls.
Customer #10
An industrial process customer needed their current control to dial out during the night if the process was interrupted for any reason. Control Products was able to adapt one of its many dialer devices to trigger a series of phone calls upon a power outage of five seconds or more. This ability gave the customer positive confirmation of the process' integrity.
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