Now is the Time to Redesign Your Limit Switch Systems

Those of us who have been around for a while have developed a reflex when confronted with unexpected challenges in business: Find the opportunity in the challenge, and focus on it until better days arise.

This is not to minimize the challenge or human cost of the global health crisis we are facing. But part of doing our part has to be preparing for a resurgence of pent up economic demand, and making sure we have a healthy product line and healthy business to come back to.

Whether you are in the oil industry, or making cranes and other work trucks, or designing the next generation of construction vehicles or military vehicles, you are likely experiencing or will soon experience a slowdown in demand. I’m thinking that one of the universal opportunities this presents us all is this:

Time. Time to refocus, rethink, and re-engineer.

Refocus, in whatever that means to you. Refocus your product lines to better align with profitable markets. Rethink your supply chain to decrease your dependence on offshore parts services and raw materials. Re-engineer your systems so that the next generation of your products will be more reliable, cheaper, and easier to produce than the last. The resurgence in demand will come, the only question is: will you be better prepared for it than your competitors?

How CPI is Helping Manufacturers Re-engineer

For Manufacturers of almost every mechanical system, the intersection of the mechanical with the electrical is where CPI products live. Systems requiring monitoring of mechanical operation through limit switches of every kind, where durability, and survivability is a concern, are places for our comprehensive line of waterproof limit switches.

A great example is our J4 Waterproof Ball and Plunger switch. These switches have long been a staple of military and high end commercial vehicles in applications like neutral safety detection, door/hood closed monitors, safety alarm activation, position/proximity detection, fail safe sensors etc…

In 2019 at the behest of on of the worlds largest construction equipment manufactures, CPI reengineered this design into a cost reduced version suitable for the same types of applications, but the new J4414 costs less than half of what the original part did to produce. Our new J4414 Waterproof Plunger switch maintains the same great durability of the original.

• All stainless steel construction
• New unitized actuator and body construction.
• Internally sealed lead connections in any length
• Dual O ring exclusion seal at plunger
• Extreme electromechanical endurance ratings
• Ultra-precise travel parameter adjustment

Our original J4 design remains an option for those requiring operation in the most extreme environments, or mil-spec qualified applications.

Proudly Sourced and Manufactured in the USA

Another issue to consider in the design of new systems in these turbulent times, has to be the viability of your supply chain. Indeed perhaps more than any other single factor, this is driving many of the re-engineering efforts we are part of.

At CPI 98% of our raw materials, and 100% of our manufacturing happens right here in East Hanover, New Jersey.

Call us today to discuss how we can help you use your newfound time, to re-engineer for the future.

Originally posted https://www.cpi-nj.com/blog/now-is-the-time-to-redesign-your-limit-switch-systems/

Pushing Past Coronavirus

As we begin our journey into the uncharted world of commerce during COVID -19, CPI like other companies, has hunkered down, for the safety of our employees, for the safety of our community, and for the health and continuation of our business in a way that is as close to “normal” as possible.

CPI remains open for business. As a defense contractor we are designated an essential industry under the “Memorandum For Defense Industrial Base” from the Undersecretary of Defense.  As such we will continue to operate throughout this crisis.

Remember that while so much is uncertain in terms of timing, one thing is certain: This challenge will not last forever.  It has a shelf life which we can already largely predict. Those who weather the storm smartly, and without panic will almost certainly come out of this in a better position than they might have found themselves in otherwise.

Inside our New Jersey based factory, an elevated hygienics program has been instituted. Spacing between factory workers has been increased to reflect CDC recommendations and elevated workstation cleaning procedures are in place.  Doors are propped open to prevent surface to hand contamination’s and our cafeteria has been closed temporarily. Employees who can work at home, are encouraged to and anyone who is feeling at all unwell is asked to stay home or leave the building and get a test immediately. We are obeying all CDC and New Jersey Governor recommendations for social distancing, and our workstations and machines are being cleaned carefully at the start of every shift.

Time to Consider a USA Supplier for your Switches and Sensors?

A long time ago, the founders of CPI decided on a business model that continues to this day.

1. All CPI manufacturing will occur in the USA and our supply chain will be based on USA sourced material as much as possible. Currently all our manufacturing is in the USA and 98% of our raw materials are sourced in the US.
2. We reject the economics of commodity products and we choose to make the finest, most durable, and best engineered switch and sensor components possible. They will be for clients and applications who need uncompromised, quality-oriented solutions.
3. We will use innovation and ingenuity to drive down the manufacturing costs of our parts so that our parts are highly affordable in quantity, despite their world leading endurance, performance and overall high quality.
4. We will create a company environment that cares for its workers and puts them at the center of the quality equation. Because they are proud of the work they do, we get to be proud of the company we’ve created.

Final Thoughts

It is a great irony that the pandemic that distances us individually, in many ways has brought us closer together than ever. By maintaining a can-do spirit, rejecting panicky behavior, and looking calmly towards the future, we can and will help each other get past this.