Osborn Manufacturing

Company: Osborn Manufacturing
Product: Industrial Brushes and Idler-Rollers
Number of Employees: 300
Year Founded: 1887
Location: Cleveland, OH

Situation:

Osborn Manufacturing designed and patented Cam Runner^TM, a revolutionary new cam follower that replaces conventional steel needle bearings, spacers, seals and treads with a synthetic composite assembly. Osborn's design team had a limited understanding of plastics and was uncomfortable taking a product to market without a working knowledge of plastics and their advantages over steel in this type of application.

Project:

PTDC engineer Theresa Warner conducted an in-house design review of the Cam Runner^TM, project history, materials selection criteria, and test methodology and results. Using this information, she conducted a two-day information session for an interdisciplinary Osborn team, that included representatives from manufacturing, sales, and executive management. The session covered material selection criteria, component manufacturing methods, and characteristic performance issues related to substitution of plastics for steel. Warner also reviewed formulas developed by Osborn to rate the load capacity of the new product.

Result:

The Cam Runner^TM was introduced at a national trade show shortly after the information session. Osborn's staff was comfortable and knowledgeable when asked to explain the product's features and advantages to design engineers considering using Cam Runner^TM,, as a substitute for conventional cam followers.

Company Comments from Tim Hitesman, President:

"Questions about the Cam Runner^TM that would have elicited blank stares only a few weeks earlier were handled with ease after our information session with Theresa, creating credibility and acceptance for our new product."