Interface Devices Blog

January 10, 2012

Milford, CT—-How2Media, the producers of the television show “World’s Greatest!…”, announced today that they have recently selected Interface Devices, Inc. to be a part of the popular television series.

“Interface Devices is one of those companies that we like to feature on ‘World’s Greatest!…’. They use state-of-the-art facilities to build Air-Driven Liquid Pumps in a customized way, plus Gas Boosters and Zero Leak Valves. That kind of technology has offered ground support crews worldwide a cost-effective alternative to jet airplane oxygen bottle fills, leading to safer, quicker and more cost-effective operations. That’s what leaders do: they pioneer, grow, and lead. We think their story will be meaningful to our viewers” said Gordon Freeman, Executive Producer of the show.

As part of the show, How2Media will be sending a film crew to spend time at the company’s facilities in Milford, Connecticut, to find out what the story behind the story is with this great and growing company, and to show the “World’s Greatest!…” viewers why Interface Devices was selected as the best in their category, and therefore featured on the show. The show will provide a portrait of a business with which companies such as Hurst “Jaws of Life”, Emhart, and Westinghouse/ABB have chosen to partner in product development.

Founded in 1971, Interface Devices, Inc. is a world-class designer and manufacturer of air-driven fluid pumps, hydraulic valves and custom-engineered fluid power products. Mike Hotchkiss, Interface Devices’ Vice President of Sales and Marketing said, “As we continue to grow and develop, it is our aim to provide quality in our designs and manufacturing, while responding to customer needs.” More information on Interface Devices can be found at their website, www.interfacedevices.com.

“World’s Greatest!…” is a thirty-minute show dedicated to highlighting the world’s greatest companies, products, places, and people. Each show is a fast-paced tour around the world, featuring behind-the-scenes footage, informative interviews, and exciting visuals. This and other How2Media programming can be seen on national cable channels and local network affiliates across the country.

Mike Hotchkiss of Interface Devices concluded, “We are proud to have been chosen to appear on ‘World’s Greatest!…’. This exposure should help us become better known in the industries we serve, as well as in the community around us.”

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

Interface Devices’ new line of E, H and P Series air-driven liquid pumps has been getting lots of press lately. Read about the manifold benefits of this innovative line at the following selection of news outlets:

Automation.com

Global Plant Automation

ThomasNet

Hydraulic News

New Equipment Digest

One of the most complex and critical parts that go into every IDI Air Driven pump is the air spool that shuttles continuously while pumping to alter the flow of drive media from one side of the air piston to the other. This part was previously made with a Hardinge Conquest CNC Lathe. The material had to be loaded by hand, and runs of a few hundred spools required 5 to 6 days. Our new Mori Seiki machine with a bar loader can produce 1000 spools in the same amount of time, without any operator involvement.

Interface Devices is pleased to welcome the latest member of our production family – a Mori Seki NLX2500SY CNC lathe! It arrived in September and is a greatly anticipated addition to our manufacturing arsenal.

With 12 tool stations, this state-of-the-art high-rigidity, high-precision machine allows IDI to make longer part runs with fewer setups since this machine will make complete parts. With our previous equipment, we had to machine one side of the part then set up for the second side.

Specifications on this machine include a 20hp main spindle, 10hp sub spindle and 5hp live tooling. The NLX2500SY has a thru spindle capacity of 3.1 diameter and Y-axis travel.

According to President Mark Robinson, “This new Mori Seki with an integrated servo bar feeder allows us to run high production and will free up our shop for new products. Additionally, it will help to lower our production costs and shorten delivery times to our customers.”

For more information on how this new addition to our “family” can benefit you and your customers, please call Mark or Mike at 203-878-4648. You can also email us at info@interfacedevices.com.

Interface Devices’ E, H and P Series air-driven liquid pumps offer a plug-and-play design for quick and simple installation in applications requiring hydraulic pressures from 100 to 10,000 psi. A built-in air regulator allows for varying inlet air pressure from 0 to 125 psi and a wide range of hydraulic output pressures. This series can be customized in almost limitless ways.

One of the key benefits of the E, H and P Series pumps is their ability to maintain pressure while consuming little energy. The pumps, upon achieving the desired hydraulic pressure, maintain pressure for long periods of time with minimal energy consumption. When compared to traditional power units, these pumps are significantly cheaper to operate in periodic pressure applications. Compact and lightweight in design, these pumps are ideal for horizontal or vertically mounted pump applications, including:

• power workholding
• static pressure testing
• crimping
• tensioning
• pressing and braking

Read more about the benefits of Interface Devices’ E, H and P Series Air-Driven Liquid Pumps at our website: www.interfacedevices.com

IDI’s P-Series air-driven hydraulic pumps provide convenient, on-the-go hydraulic power without the need of external electrics or plumbing. Pair the P-Series pumps with a workholding solution, such as a swing clamp, and you have a portable, powerful, high psi solution to your mobile workholding needs.

This video demonstrates the use of a P-Series air-driven hydraulic pump to actuate a swing clamp. A hydraulic-to-air pressure ratio of 60:1 yields clamp pressures to 5600 psi. The integral air pilot operated zero-leak dump valve holds pressure for long periods without pump assistance. The unit’s self-contained reservoir and built-in air regulator make for a compact “plug-and-play” package.

Learn more about Interface Device’s P-Series air driven pumps:
http://www.interfacedevices.com/Air-Driven-Pumps.html

The Preferred Orientation and Displacement system, aka the PROD system, is featured in a recent article at Ocean-Resources.com. Designed and developed by Umoe Schat-Harding and manufactured by Yvon and Monique Houle at LanMar logistics, the PROD system and its 78-foot boom has become a necessity on offshore platforms where it provides a safe launch for lifeboats.

Interface Devices’ P030/30 air driven hydraulic pump is a crucial part of the PROD system, providing the ability for the PROD boom to be raised and lowered to allow helicopter access to an oil rig, if needed. Monique Houle, Vice President of LanMar, mentions IDI specifically in the article:
“Once Yvon found the ideal pump for this purpose, it sparked a wonderful working rapport with Interface Devices Inc. in Connecticut…They were able to offer us modifications and options to suit the marine offshore environment.”

IDI has worked with LanMar and the Houles since 1999, when Yvon first approached IDI about developing a pump for the PROD. At IDI we’re proud to provide the custom products and modifications that make life saving devices like the PROD system a reality.

Read more about the PROD system’s important role in Off-Shore Drilling:
http://www.ocean-resources.com/articles.asp?articleid=676

Read our own account of developing the P030/30 pump for the PROD, right here, at the Techno-Blog:
http://www.interfacedevices.com/whats_new/lanmar.html