 Figure 1. Florida Companies to Watch winners gathered together on stage at the GrowFL awards ceremony Pinellas Park, FL – March 18, 2019 – Custom Manufacturing and Engineering, a worldwide leader known for its electronic/electrical assembly, wire harness assembly, custom control/display panels, power supply assembly, special test equipment, encapsulation/potting services, and other expertise, has been named a Winner of the 8th Annual Florida Companies to Watch. The awards ceremony took place on Saturday, February 9 at the David A. Straz Jr. Center of the Performing Arts. With more than 300 attendees, awards were presented to the Top 50 Second Stage Companies in the state of Florida.  Figure 2. CME CEO Dr. Nancy Crews and the founder of GrowFL GrowFL is driven by one goal – to cultivate scalable second-stage growth companies across the state. Second-stage companies are the backbone of Florida’s economy and the definition of economic growth and prosperity. Second-stage companies are between $1 million and $50 million in revenue, with 10-99 employees. As the only statewide organization focused exclusively on second-stage and emerging second-stage growth companies, GrowFL’s philosophy is to identify, serve and celebrate these companies that have the best potential to contribute to Florida’s economy.  Figure 3. CME employees gathered together at the GrowFL awards ceremony Companies were evaluated on community involvement, financial success, and ethical business practices. In a competitive category with over 500 applicants, Custom Manufacturing and Engineering was honored to receive the 8th Annual Florida Companies to Watch Awards. Dr. Nancy Crews, President and CEO of Custom Manufacturing and Engineering, received the award on stage and when asked how to inspire future entrepreneurs and said, “Utilize support organizations along the way and grow your network as wide as you can.”
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What's a Watt?A watt is a measurement of how much power an electronic device uses. In this case, how much energy a light bulb uses. Technical definition: the SI unit of power, equivalent to one joule per second, corresponding to the power in an electric circuit in which the potential difference is one volt and the current one ampere. What you need to know: The higher the wattage of the light source the more energy it uses. What's a Lumen?A Lumen is a measurement of brightness. They account for how much visible light is being produced and also how large of an area the projection of the light covers. One lumen is equivalent to one candle’s worth of light. Technical definition: the SI unit of luminous flux, equal to the amount of light emitted per second in a unit solid angle of one steradian from a uniform source of one candela. What you need to know: The higher the lumen count, the brighter the light. What's a Kelvin?A kelvin is a measurement of light color. Technical definition: the SI base unit of thermodynamic temperature, equal in magnitude to the degree Celsius. What you need to know: The higher the Kelvin count the “cooler”, or more blue, the light color. The lower the Kelvin count the “warmer”, or more red, the light color. You can see the different light colors from warm to cool , with their Kelvin counts, in the picture below.  Figure 1. Color of Lighting with Corresponding Kelvin Count. Any-Image.com. www.any-lamp.com/lumen-to-watt.com What's the Difference? Why Buy Based Off Lumens?Essentially, watts tell you how much energy a light consumes, lumens tell how bright a light is, and Kelvins tell the light color. In the past you would use watts as an indicator of how bright your light is. However, lights have gotten much more energy efficient with the introduction of LEDs and CFL’s, so now you cannot tell how bright a light is based on watts alone. If you are buying a light based off of brightness, use Lumens to help guide your decision. You can see how Watts are not a reliable indicator of brightness below:  How Can I Convert Watts to Lumens? The U.S. Department of Energy has a useful converter for Lumens and Watts here Looking for lighting? SiteLites are very bright! The handheld model has 1,800 Lumens, that 22,626 candles worth of light! Click here to order.  
 You're almost there! It's nearly- or already Senior year and you're almost ready to pursue a career in your selected field! But there's one last thing you should definitely do before you move that tassel. Internships = New Connections  Exhibit 1: My Summer Internship at CME, and the other interns. Networking, networking, networking! It is the key to moving up the corporate ladder that the majority of new graduates struggle with most. Internships are a great way to gain these new connections and expand the reach of your LinkedIn profile, which, in turn, gets more recruiters eyes on you for future opportunities.  Exhibit 2: Content I was able to create with other interns! Internships are a great opportunity to make friends. I joined CME with a group of three other interns, and it was amazing how we all became fast-friends in the shared experience of beginning to venture into our respective career paths. It helped me feel less anxious about starting my professional career, to talk with other interns who were feeling the same way as well. Internships = Real Experience  If you are still working towards your degree, doing and internship is a great way to take the information your learning in class and put it to practice in a true work environment. Another bonus is when you apply what you learn in class, your more likely to remember what your learning and will get better grades. Something else to consider is that while technical knowledge will help you have the right information, practical knowledge gives you experience to draw upon when making decisions in the field. That "gut" feeling isn't something you are born with, its cultivated from past experiences that help you recognize what the right path to take is. Internships = A Standout Resume  Hard to swallow truth; Having a degree on your resume only gets your foot in the door. You need something extra to beat out your competition in today’s market. Internships are a great way to gain experience, specific to your field, that you can proudly display on your resume. So, when your interviewer asks, "Why should we hire you", you are prepared to list field-related experiences that an employer can easily translate to the needs of their own company. Bonus points for completing an internship at a small business, where you are most likely going to wear many hats and get experience in a variety of field-related tasks. While internships at large companies can be a great foot-in-the-door to the specific company, they can be very specific and you might be pigeon-holed into one narrowly-defined job. Where Can I Get One? Check out our career page for internship positions you can apply to today in Tampa Bay FL. Otherwise, you can search for internships through: Another avenue you might want to explore is a career page specific to your university. Your university will likely have their own career search page. For example, I used USF Handshake to search for an internship, while getting my degree. If you're not sure what your university's career page is, contact your university's career services department to find out more information. What do you think is the best reason to do an internship? Share your experience with internships below in the comments!
Two Days of Fun In The Sun! solar4STEM hosted a booth at the St. Petersburg Science Festival on Friday, October 19th and Saturday, October 20, 2018, It was a humbling experience to educate, and speak with over 10,000 teachers, parents, and students. We were enthused to have the opportunity to educate our community about solar energy, and electricity, and in return we were greeted by the enthusiasm of the Tampa Bay science community.
Time and talent are two wonderful gifts that every community can benefit from. Through the hard work of our solar4STEM crew from last weekend, visitors that stopped by the St. Petersburg Science Festival were able to participate in free educational experiences.  Exhibit 5: A student asking Engineer, Adam Berezansky a question about the solar panel that powers the solar4STEM 50. What do you think the future has in store for solar? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Solar energy is one of the few sources of energy that produces no carbon emissions and has the most potential for mass adoption. Solar power has been gaining momentum this past decade with the cost of solar panels dropping 60% since 2010. However, solar panels still face road blocks, like high cost, low efficiency, and space necessity, that make its future hard to predict. Where Are We Now ? It is not uncommon to see solar panels on the roofs of houses. There are more solar farms than ever that are harvesting the sun’s rays! Solar energy only accounted for 1.3% of the energy generated in the US in 2017, there is vast potential for improvement.  Figure 1. 70,000 solar panels on Nellis Air Force Base (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nadine Y. Barclay) There has been a great effort in research and development in the past few years to create a more efficient and cost-effective solution. The solar panels currently being distributed are solar photovoltaic (PV) cells. They are difficult to manufacture, which is a big contributor to their high cost, and they are not as efficient, turning only 20% of light received into energy. However, there has been a new breakthrough in solar energy research from a mineral called perovskite.  Figure 2. Perovskite Mineral, with pen for scale (USGS) Perovskite is an amazing breakthrough in solar research, it can be made into an ink solution and painted or printed on objects to allow those objects to generate power. This means that all surfaces could potentially generate power! The use of perovskite will drive the costs normally associated with solar panels significantly down, which means perovskite may lead to a more affordable solar energy option. This mineral is more efficient than the traditional solar panels used today, with a 22.7% efficiency rate and a theoretical maximum efficiency of 40%. Also, because this material is so thin we may be able to paint it onto existing solar panels to increase the overall efficiency.  Figure 3. Perovskite tin solar cells (Oxford University Press) The draw backs of this mineral however involve the fragile nature of the material and its life span. Where traditional solar panels have a lifespan of years, this new material degrades in hours and days. This is one of the areas researchers are currently focusing. Extending the life span of perovskite panels would mean a cost effective alternative to expensive solar panels. What Can We Expect in the Future? 1. As more research and development is invested into solar technology there may be smaller, more efficient, and cost-effective solar panels in our future. 2. It’s possible we may see solar farms in space. The Japan Aerospace Space Agency is looking into putting solar panels on planets closer to the sun and transmitting the energy back to us on earth. 3. We may also be seeing solar cars in our future. Lightyear One, is a Dutch solar-powered car that is planning to produce the first 10 models in 2019. 4. Tesla’s SolarCity has been working on roof tiles with solar panels embedded in them for a more modern look to the traditional flat black solar panels.  Figure 4. Tesla Solar City roof tile (Tesla/SolarCity) 5. A French company, Ciel & Terre International, is working on floating solar panels for countries that don’t have the space solar panels require. They started their work in 2011 and are continuing to make progress towards a floating solar panel. Ready To Go Solar? There are plenty of solar panel options for you! You can purchase solar panels for your own home after consulting with experts. If you have a child, you can contact their school to see how they are teaching your child and their generation about solar energy. Our solar4STEM 200 and solar4STEM 50 are perfect for educating kids about solar energy in an interactive way that kids love. Click Here to learn more. What do you think the future has in store for solar? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
 As hurricane season poses a threat to various coastal areas this year, you should not wait last minute to make sure you are prepared for a dangerous weather event. Recall, the Floridians who flocked to local stores and depleted gas, and water last year.   Of course, it is important to ensure you have access to gasoline and water when weather poses a threat. However, there is one thing even less readily available when weather strikes that you need to be prepared to be without. What is it?  Electricity! After a major weather event many individuals are often left without access to power. Example disaster: Many areas in Puerto Rico are still without power after last year's devastating hurricanes.
 No Power means:
Many rely on generators during emergencies. However, without access to gasoline, standard generators eventually become useless. Standard Generator Cost: - average cost of fuel today is $2.807 Diesel $3.070 - generators could cost you up to $3,000 depending on your needs - To run a generator 24 hours a day would cost roughly $33.24 - 41.85 daily. Advancement of technology has given us a new solution. The number one item you should have this hurricane season. A solar generator! - Quiet - Clean energy - Reliable Power After A Disastrous Event - Does Not Require Fuel - Rechargeable Battery Inside Generator Learn More About solar4Power Buy Today
 What differentiates successful B2B suppliers from the rest? 1. Easy To Contact If a supplier can't be found on the internet, or doesn't respond to inquiries in a timely fashion - they miss out on many potential opportunities. They offer an exact plan, and are willing to work with you meet your criteria.
2. Affordable If a supplier isn't affordable, or doesn't have another kind of leverage against their competitors, customers will search for another affordable business to work with.
3. Eager To Problem Solve They are ready to help solve complicated issues. Best of all, they do not need to be monitored closely throughout their problem solving process! You know that they are actively working to resolve any issues that arise for you.
4. Quality Finished Product Their finished product is reliable, and exactly as promised.
5. On-Time and Correct Delivery Time is money! If items aren't being delivered on time, or they aren't correct - money is being wasted!
6. Consistency Reliable feedback, consistent progress, and as promised finished goods.
7. Always Follows Up Connecting in Business has everything to do with communicating effectively. You don't have to think about following up with these suppliers, because they are already contacting you to check in.
 Want to overcome your obstacles and improve your situation? So do we at CME! Continuous Improvement is a process all individuals, and businesses must undergo to see positive change.
Unless we participate in an ongoing effort to improve we can fall behind and fail to see where we should encourage change. Participating in a continuous evaluation, while encouraging improvement significantly increases efficiency, decreases the amount of time you waste, and can have an incredibly positive impact overall . At CME we are constantly encouraging continuous improvement in our products, services, and processes. These efforts may begin with incremental improvements, but over time these small changes can turn into a significantly improved end result. According to AcqNotes the Continuous Improvement Process has 6 simple steps:
We use this process every day, from the beginning of any project, through initial contract review, and lastly through production and delivery using a system we call the R.I.P (Rapid Improvement Program). Constantly analyzing our process allows us to evaluate results, and make increasingly more effective decisions. Empowering employees to implement improvements makes a positive impact. We know that the ideas our employees propose are worth investigating because our employees are the closest observers of the problems we face. We encourage the development of new ideas because we know our employees have the vision to create positive change. This is one of many ways CME culture is dedicated to quality excellence and maintaining high quality standards. Are you committed to continuous improvement? Webpage Content Included: Featured Images Created By:   Powerful, portable lighting, designed for any work space!
SiteLites can illuminate everything from construction sites to late-night soccer games! These lights are now available on our new web-store. The lights can use AC or DC power. SiteLites are Four transportable lights that provide professional LED lighting. Made for you, whether you are:
All four of the SiteLites products provide professional grade lighting features. Choose from flood, spot, or hybrid beams to accommodate your workspace lighting needs. SiteLites Products:
Features:
Whether a general purpose emergency light or shop light, it is the best class of high reliability and high efficiency LED light technology. For those who just need the best of emergency lighting around the home, garage or workplace; or you go camping, fishing, boating or you may be living off-grid… be better prepared by owning an SL2KR. The unit includes an AC and DC power adapter and comes with a built-in rechargeable Lithium ion battery. Whether from 110VAC outlet or from your vehicle’s 12V power outlet, the SL2KR is easily rechargeable. This streamlined, portable emergency/work light provides a strong light for those dark nights or rooms and can also be used as a power source to charge small mobile devices, such as mobile phones. The SL2KR-H provides a clean and safe alternative as an effective light source and includes a magnetic base that includes a USB port. The lightweight, portable SL2KR can be used in homes as emergency lighting and various other locations including outdoors, shops, hospitals, schools, or on the patio. The lantern can be charged in a few hours to provide up to four hours of light at the maximum brightness setting. The LED luminaire is of rugged die cast construction, is direction adjustable, and includes 9 high reliability LEDs in a combination to provide a high intensity flood pattern. The panel includes the control button and battery power indicator. With a touch of the button the brightness can be adjusted to either 100% intensity, 30% intensity or SOS flashing. The SL2KR has a comfortable handle which allows for flexibility in setting up the light. It can be hung in the room, magnetically attached under the hood of a vehicle, placed on a table, or carried by the user. The SL2KR-H LED Work Light can be used in many homeowner or tradesman/work environments and situations. SL2KR-H Rechargeable Light Key Feature Summary
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