ISSUE
QUARTERLY DEALER
1
NEWSLETTER
JUNE 2010
Inside this issue: Home Page
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Production Crew P 2 B-TEK Highlight
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Custom Fabrication
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Featured Dealer P 5 Q&A with B-TEK
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Welcome Dealers to B-TEK’s First Quarterly Newsletter Check Out Our Site Visit www.B-TEK.com to see B-TEK’s new website format Look at White papers on recent installs and events on the web Comment on The B-LOG by visiting the B-TEK home page
Contact us online Click on any of the links below to socialize with B-TEK Scales and receive live customer service feedback.
Find The “buzz” under item link
Coming Soon 2010 Price Books Dealer Information Packet
Let Us Know What do you think of B-TEK Scales? We appreciate your input. E-Mail us at: marketing@b-tek.com with your feedback!
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Production Crew
B-TEK Scales. LLC is a family owned, locally operated business in Canton, Ohio. With multi-generational trade experience B-TEK Scales brings over 80 years of industry knowledge to its dealers. Since its inception, B-TEK Scales has grown to manufacture scales locally and worldwide. B-TEK Scales specializes in customization and servicing their customers needs.
Meet the Crew Keeth Conrad
Gary Avitt
Keeth Conrad is our saw operations specialist who handles cutting raw steel materials received in. As an employee of 5 years, Keeth’s main focus is to ensure these materials are cut accurately for the next steps in production as well as keeping a record of inventoried steel for the reorder process. Keith appreciates the trusted, relaxed supervised atmosphere in which he conducts his tasks. Outside of work he likes weekend getaways and using his sports car and motor cycle. View Video: http:// www.youtube.com/ btekscales#p/a/ f/0/2Yi7AwcDKfs
Gary Avitt who is our in house steel shot blaster specialist who handles raw steel materials once they have been cut. Gary’s main focus is to ensure all mill scale debris is removed creating a profile on the steel’s surface which allows for optimal welding and paint adhesion. As a B-TEK employee for 11 years Gary enjoys the people he works with best about his job. Outside of work his interests include working with computers, camping and fishing. View Video: http:// www.youtube.com/ btekscales#p/a/f/1/ DkuSMNr7G6Y 2
B-TEK Highlights
High Impact Floor Scale This high impact weighing platform was designed to incorporate a fire brick weighing surface for use in a high temperature environment.
Scale Table This table was designed to weigh rolls of cellophane. It’s angular top helps securely keep the rolls in place while accurately weighing it.
Portable Hopper Scale This scale was designed as a portable weighing device for the agricultural industry used extensively to weigh grain, fertilizers and other granular products.
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Custom Fabrication
Electro-Mechanical Scale What was needed: A scale to weigh bundles of specialty alloy steel bars weighing up to forty thousand pounds. The scale needed to be able to handle the heavy weight without overloading it causing significant production down time.
Solution by B-TEK Scales: B-TEK Scales in collaboration with its distribution partner and a steel m ill, cu stom f abricat ed a n electro-mechanical portable scale for this application. This design includes a protective frame for the lever system helping protect and decrease overload issues. On the top of the platform bucks were mounted as a way to gather the steel bars loaded. Once the bars are loaded and weighed they are banded and transported. This custom fabrication successfully met the requirements needed for the customer application.
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Featured Dealer
B-TEK Scales Western Regional Representative Kent Sneller with Blackford Weighing Systems Owner Ron Blackford
From left to right: Matt, Ron, Mike, Eric and Dan
From left to right: Matt Ortega and Eric Johnson
Ron Blackford earned a 15 Year Award for his partnership with B-TEK Scales 5
Q & A with B-TEK Scales B-TEK Scales asks: How did you get your start in the scale industry? Ron Blackford responds: I was a National Contracts Manager with a company in Houston, Texas and they had a large political reorganization. They gave my job to the Vice President of Sales. They made me different offers. One was to take 6 months pay and find my own job. We had a very good friend that worked for Reliance Electric. That was back in the 80’s when Exxon owned Reliance Electric, Dodge and Toledo Scale. I visited the Regional Manager for Toledo and he took me out to watch some scale technicians work on a pit type truck scale. I said to myself that that would be the last job in the world I wanted. I was used to flying around the country in a suit. I didn’t like to get dirty. He made me an offer and I told him that I would need more money thinking he wouldn’t do it. Wrong – he called in a month and said good news Ron - I got the money you wanted. Well, 30 years later I’m still in the business. B-TEK Scales asks: When was your company established? Ron Blackford responds: We were established in 1993. I was the Western Regional Sales Manager for Fairbanks and they went from Regional Sales and Service Managers to only one manager. I thought about going to work for a local scale distributor but after a few weeks I thought I might as well try it myself. The local distributor was in bad shape. I thought why make them successful. So, I started selling scales out of the house. B-TEK Scales asks: What is your company’s strength (s)? Ron Blackford responds: As in most successful companies our employees are our strengths. It has been a challenge but today we have a wonderful crew. All of them are like family to my wife Allison and myself. I demand a lot out of them because we want to be the best scale dealer in the area. Not second best. This only happens when you do the job right. No excuses. The seven technicians and Candace, our executive assistant, has done a wonderful job taking care of our customers. B-TEK Scales asks: What has been your company’s most challenging project? Ron Blackford responds: I has to be the project where we sold and installed three Centurions, four single-single rail scales and two rail/truck scales. This was under the eyes of a lot of different parties. Between customer, his sub’s and OSHA, there was very little margin for error. The customer didn’t know anything about B-TEK. We convinced them that B-TEK’s quality and support were as good and better than the other scale companies they had used for other projects. B-TEK Scales asks: What is something unique about you personally? Ron Blackford responds: I take a lot of pride in the work I do. I don’t like to do thinks unless it is done correctly. I try to convince our employees to think the same way our customers do. What would you want if you hired a company to do work at your house or business? You want a company that represents a quality product at a fair price, you want a company that is knowledgeable, you want employees that look good and you don’t want them to have to come back if the work isn’t done right the first time. I am also very competitive. I don’t like to lose because there may not be a second chance. My standards are high but I’ve found an excellent team that shares those standards. Finally, I care about my employees, my customers, and the scale manufacturers we represent. I’ve learned to understand it is important to take care of your employees. They have to come to work with a good attitude. I need to make sure they and their families are happy. We have worked hard to try to have a good benefits for our employees. It is also very important to have a good relationships with your customers and with the scale manufacturers. Thank you Ron and Blackford Weighing Systems for being a valued dealer!
Blackford Weighing Systems, Inc. 850 W 62nd Ave Denver, CO 80221 Email: scales@blackford.com
Toll Free: 800-313-1648 Local: 303-430-4338 Fax: 303-650-1024 Website http://blackfordscales.com/old.htm 6