Tag Archive for: #AmericanManufacturer

light bulbs

Inventions of Thomas Edison: Successes and Failures

Thomas Edison's Successful Inventions In the Beginning Thomas Edison had many inventions. However, in 1868, at the age of 22, Thomas Edison invented an "electrical vote recorder". This was Edison's first patent. This recorder was a very simple…
Proprietary Process

Hey Manufacturer, Let’s Scale Your Proprietary Process with eCommerce

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Scale Your Proprietary Process! How?  With eCommerce.  Let's discuss further.  eCommerce Answers the CallYes indeed, eCommerce allows you to Scale Your Proprietary Process. However, before we discuss eCommerce, let's take a look…
onshoring custom manufacturing

Onshoring Custom Manufacturing in the U.S. is on the Rise

  Falconer Electronics Inc. is seeing a strong upward trend in onshoring custom manufacturing. As a United States based contract manufacturer for over 30 years, we have witnessed many ups and downs in manufacturing. Recently, it seems…
tin can

The Cons of Doing Business with Foreign Countries

An American business purchasing products from foreign countries certainly creates many challenges. When working with a foreign company there can be some difficulty with achieving a positive final outcome. A few issues that can arise include:Misunderstandings…
Reshoring

The Reshoring Initiative Stresses the “Return-Manufacturing-Home” Message

The Reshoring Initiative! If you are a U.S. Manufacturer, the words "Reshoring Initiative" brings music to your ears.  For example, reshoring certainly looks to play a critical role moving forward following COVID-19 pandemic.  Especially…

American Made: Understanding “All or Virtually All”

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Many small manufacturers in the U.S. struggle to determine if the product that they assemble, manufacture or produce truly qualifies for the labels "Made in USA" or "American Made".Complying with American Made Standards The world is shrinking…
Best Kept Secret

Hey Manufacturers, Being the “Best Kept Secret” is No Longer an Option 

"We prided ourselves as being the "Best Kept Secret" for decades. However, the internet changed everything. Now what?" Unfortunately, I kept hearing this comment over and over from manufacturers. Especially from custom manufacturers. Many…
Direct

Options for Selling “Manufacturer Direct”…..to NOT Consider

"Manufacturer Direct"! It certainly has a nice ring to it, right? As a manufacturer looking to diversify, many exciting options exist for you to consider.  Especially when it comes to selling direct to end-users or consumers.  However,…

Wire Harness Testing: Striving for Perfection at Falconer Electronics

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Consistency as well as accurate Wire Harness Testing contributes significantly to our successful customer relationships.  Especially since wire Harness Manufacturing and Assembly runs through our veins. As a result, we have built literally…
dog in blanket

Business Mission Statement: “BECOME THE BLANKIE”

BECOME THE BLANKIE? What on earth does that mean? So glad you asked. As a child, did you have a favorite blanket (aka "Blankie")? Ah, the wonderful security blanket.  Holding tightly onto the Blankie each and every night. Unable to sleep…
Custom Electronics Manufacturer

Competitive Edge: Partnering with a U.S. Custom Electronics Manufacturer

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Custom Electronics Manufacturer in the U.S. Since 1985 Falconer Electronics, Inc (FEI) has proudly served its community as a U.S. Custom Electronics Manufacturer since 1985. Our customers love the convenience as well as the flexibility of working…
Metal Power Strip

Metal Power Strip Lineup

What do the College Football Playoffs and the Heavy Duty Metal Power Strip product line at Falconer Electronics have in common? Lots! But we will get to that in a minute..... For all college football fans, the College Football Selection Committee…
groundhog

Staying Grounded on Groundhog Day: No Toasters in the Tub Please

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Groundhog Day! A wonderful time of year. Ski and snowboarding season is still at full throttle. Yet, the whispers of spring are just around the corner. Not to mention, a reminder of one of our favorite movies of all time, Groundhog Day. A classic…

Case Study: Converting a Proprietary Process into an eCommerce Product Line

Converting a proprietary process into an eCommerce product line has certainly served as a game changer for Falconer Electronics.  As a custom manufacturer (aka Job Shop), life can be extremely challenging.  A custom manufacturer makes products…

Helpful Tips When Soldering Printed Circuit Boards

With decades of experience, our expert staff brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise with soldering printed circuit boards. In particular, hand Soldering Circuit Boards which is a daily activity at our facility.  Our customers love the…

How We Started Selling Metal Power Strips Directly to Consumers

An interesting and unexpected phone call arrived. The caller asked, "Can I purchase one of your Metal Power Strips?" Hmmm, that was odd. This was a consumer who inspected one of our power strips powering a display at a major retailer. We have…
Industrial Magnets

Industrial Magnets

Heavy Duty Industrial MagnetsFalconer Electronics offers its signature line of Heavy Duty Industrial Magnets exclusively online. Customers love using our magnets in industrial settings. Each magnet is produced with a coating that is…
strips

Commercial Power Strips: Top Four Reasons You Need Them

There are multiple reasons to need commercial power strips. The most important of these have to do with their uses and their reliability. Power Strips are Rigorously Tested to UL Standards   Safety is the number one concern, especially when…
LED bulb

Lighting with LEDs vs. Incandescent

  With the changing technology, there is a lot of question as to what is the better choice when it comes to lighting. The main question is which is better; the new lighting option of LED (Light Emitting Diodes) or the well known Incandescent…
Surge

Surge Protectors, Why Are They Important?

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What is a Surge? A surge is an increase in voltage significantly above the design level in a flow of electricity. Any household product can also cause a power surge in homes. The main causes can be from a storm or single lightning strike near…

Offshoring: How it Affects Our Country’s Economy

Offshoring occurs when a company chooses to have their production outsourced to a country outside the United States.This is due to the hope that their labor costs will be lower.However, there's something these companies don’t realize.Their…

Creating Proprietary Product Line at a Custom Manufacturer

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As we continue our blog series on New Product Development, this post covers creating a proprietary product line. In particular, creating a proprietary product line from the perspective of a custom manufacturer.Our team at Falconer Electronics…
Grounding Wires Work

Grounding: Electrical Safety or Teenage Angst

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Grounding? You mean I'm grounded?! The word "grounding" is certainly never one you want to hear as a teenager. Especially from your parents. Grounding means no car. No smartphones, tablets or other devices. No sleepovers. You are basically under…

Crimping Wires: The Do’s & Don’ts with Wire Harness Manufacturing

Crimping wires is a core function for all Wire Harness Manufacturers. Consequently, at Falconer Electronics we like to say that crimping wires with strict accuracy and precision is an art form. Developing a highly skilled staff takes years. It…
custom ground straps | Made to order ground straps

Bonding and Ground Straps: What is the Difference?

Bonding and ground straps are terms that people often make the mistake of using interchangeably. However, they are not the same thing. While their jobs are similar in nature there are very important differences. Also, their functionality is…
grandmother

Heavy Duty Ground Straps: The Type That Grandma Would Be Proud To Use

Let's talk Heavy Duty Ground Straps! Not just any type of Ground Straps.We mean HEAVY DUTY Ground Straps. Hard Core. Fierce. Down and Dirty. Rugged. Tough as Nails. Relentless. Tenacious.Climbing Mount Everest.....without any oxygen....type…
Custom Cable Harness Estimator Picture - Custom Wire Harness Estimator Ribbon

The History of Ribbon Cables

The History of Ribbon Cables   The Early Years The Ribbon Cable was first discovered in 1956 by Cicoil Corporation. Its original design was to be flat to fit into computers. They were to replace the large and inflexible cables. Engineers…
Ribbon Cables

Ribbon Cables and Where You Can Find Them Being Used

What are Ribbon CablesRibbon Cables consist of multiple wires attached to each other in the form of a flexible ribbon. Due to their flexibility Ribbon Cables have many different functions. Also, they are a vital part of multiple electronics. …
Neil Patel

Need Help With Internet Marketing? Follow Marketing Guru Neil Patel

If you are new to Internet Marketing and Social Media for your business, you must follow marketing guru Neil Patel. Additionally, even if you are a seasoned veteran with online marketing strategies, you should still follow Neil Patel as well. You…
Blogging

WordPress Blogging Guide for Manufacturers: Getting Green in Readability and SEO

The History of Blogging The internet has been around since the 80's. However, blogging was first established in the mid 90's. The term "blog" wasn't recognized back then. Due to this, the first "blog" was a personal homepage of a college student.…

The History of Circuit Boards

History of Circuit Boards The Beginning of the Twentieth Century The History of Circuit Boards dates back to the beginning of the twentieth century. Albert Hanson, a German scientist, and inventor, first described the use of multiple layers…
Circuit Board

A Century of Experience Soldering Circuit Boards at Falconer Electronics

The team at Falconer Electronics, Inc (FEI) produces hundreds of thousands of circuit boards annually. This comes as no surprise since our soldering department includes an all-star lineup of a seasoned staff surpassing 100 years of experience…
Prototype

Start With a Working Prototype for Your New Product

Prototype! A well working Prototype!To continue our discussion on New Product Development by building "Building a Better Mousetrap", let's explore creating a prototype.When starting out with a brand new product, perfecting a working…
speakers

5 Things That You Didn’t Know Contain PCBs

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How often do we really think about the electric makeup of everyday objects? We use things every single day that contain printed circuit boards and we don’t realize it. We’ve collected a list of everyday objects that may surprise you by…
grounding wire | custom ground wires

What is a Grounding Wire and How Do They Keep You Safe?

What is a Grounding Wire? The process is simple: pick up a cord, plug it in, and voila—the light is turned on, the computer is charging, or the toaster makes toast. From a user’s perspective, the process of using an electrical outlet to…
lead-free

10 Things NOT To Do While Holding a Soldering Iron

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Avoiding Grief and Pain When Using Your Soldering Iron In a previous blog post, we discussed soldering safety tips. Our team brings over 100 years of experience with soldering circuit boards. Over the years, we have learned the best practices…
Electrical Engineer

How to Find an Electrical Engineer to Help Tackle Your New Product

Looking for an electrical engineer to help you create your new product?Recently, we discussed "Building the Better Mouse Trap". So let's just say that you have a brilliant new product in mind. A solution that customers will love!It's…
mousetrap

“If You Build a Better Mousetrap, the World Will Beat a Path to Your Door”

Building a Better Mousetrap That is Profitable  "If You Build a Better Mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door." American philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson is credited with that famous line from the nineteenth century.However,…

SHARP Program: Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program

The acronym SHARP stands for Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program. The SHARP program works with small businesses who have made a commitment to operate an exemplary injury as well as illness prevention program. There are many benefits…
Manufacturing eCommerce Success

Metal Mafia + Above the Fray = Manufacturing eCommerce Success

Metal Mafia + Above the Fray = Manufacturing eCommerce Success.  As a manufacturer, taking the plunge into eCommerce brings many challenges as well as lots of possible stress. Partnering with the RIGHT eCommerce firm plays a critical role…

AWG Wire Gauge Standard Vs. SWG Wire Gauge Standard

American Wire Gauge or AWG is the standard way of measuring wire gauges in the United States. However, in other countries, they use a different standard of measuring, SWG or British Imperial Standard Wire Gauge, for example. The availability…
Gauge

Tips for Choosing the Correct Gauge of Wire for the Job

How to Choose the Best Wire Gauge for Your Project Have you been looking into a wiring project? Do you know what gauge of wire is best suited for your needs? Our tips can help you in the choosing process of wires!**Always have electrical…
Supplies Components: Wire Harness Manufacturer

Who Supplies Components When Outsourcing Production? – Part 7

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Supply or not supply? That is the question for today. When outsourcing to a custom manufacturer, a common question occurs, "Who Supplies Components When Outsourcing Production?" Do you supply your own parts and materials or is it more cost-effective…
Touring a Wire Harness Manufacturer

Touring a Wire Harness Manufacturer – Part 6

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Part 6! We almost feel like the Harry Potter Series (my daughter would be proud of that analogy). Each week we have been addressing the due diligence and selection process when deciding to outsource wire harness manufacturing. Today we explore…

Discreet Questions to Determine Financial Viability When Outsourcing – Part 5

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Outsourcing manufacturing operations can deliver tremendous benefits to your business. Unfortunately, there are many risks attached as well. Today we continue discussions by addressing Discreet Questions to Determine Character Compatibility…

Interviewing a Wire Harness Manufacturer – Part 4

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Asking Challenging Questions Gains Valuable Information  When considering outsourcing services to a custom manufacturer of any industry, asking challenging questions is critical for selecting the best fit possible. Having a list of tough questions…
New Wire Harness Manufacturer

How to Find a New Wire Harness Manufacturer – Part 3

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Trying to Find a New Wire Harness Manufacturer? You have landed on the right place. As a Custom Wire Harness Manufacturer since 1985, our team at Falconer Electronics has worked with hundreds of customers ranging from numerous different industries.  This…
IMEC

IMEC Offers eCommerce Workshop Featuring Falconer Electronics

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IMEC, the Illinois MEP (Manufacturing Extension Partnership), teamed up with B2Btail.com to offer an exciting eCommerce virtual workshop for manufacturers which features a case study with Falconer Electronics.  Click here for registration: DRIVE…

Selecting a Wire Harness Manufacturer – Part 2

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Last week we discussed, when is the right time to consider Outsourcing Your Wire Harness Assembly Process. We have found several scenarios where a customer approaches us for the first time when they are Selecting a Wire Harness Manufacturer.…

Outsource Your Wire Harness Assembly Process – Part 1

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Is it Time to Outsource Your Wire Harness Assembly Process?  "Should we begin outsourcing our Wire Harness Assembly Process?" This is a common question that our new customers typically ask themselves before reaching out to us. Many times…