The Future Is Here, But Are We Ready?

It is the most pressing question of our time. It seems that there is a new technology breakthrough every minute of every day; so keeping up is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity.

As populations grow and the diverse world economy creates new consumers everyday, manufactures are facing challenges unseen since the Industrial Revolution.

More consumers, means the world needs to produce goods faster and more cost effectively. No use in mastering modern manufacturing if you can’t make a profit. This is where automation plays a giant role.  While some might say it has removed the human element from manufacturing this just is not so.  It has in fact saved countless industries from complete collapse and it takes highly skilled human workers to run properly.  This is where we are running into some trouble. Some studies claim that 40% of today’s automation professionals will leave the workforce in the next five years. This exodus unfortunately coincides with a growing skill gap, simply put, not enough new workers are receiving the proper training to operate the manufacturing machines of the present and future.

At Nex Flow, our entire company is built around the automation revolution. From our air knives and vortex tubes to our amplifiers and nozzles, we are always trying to find ways to streamline the manufacturing process through automation for a wide variety of industries.  Each day we bring the benefits of automation to manufactures all over the world, but we also know that without a properly trained workforce, even our innovative tools may not be enough to prepare manufactures for the future.

The moral of the story is this, the future is here and combining Nex Flow’s cutting-edge automation equipment, with highly skilled workers is the only way not to get left behind.

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Limiting Noise Pollution in the Modern Workplace

As a factory owner and operator, your goal is a workplace that is productive efficient, and safe. An almost unending list of factors goes into making a production facility safe both from within and without. The obvious ones like preventing fires and limiting air pollution are always a high priority. Unfortunately, too many people ignore the need to reduce noise pollution.  A loud factory floor has many drawbacks, including:

  • Damage to worker’s health through tinnitus and hypertension,
  • Stress and confusion induced mistakes
  • An increase in aggressive behavior
  • Damage to the surrounding neighborhoods and ecosystems

If a production facility relies on air amplification technology, it is a great place to start a noise reduction project. Open or under-protected jets of air not only reduce your efficiency through lost air pressure but they also can produce up to 85 decibels of noise or more. While that is still below a jackhammer or loud stereo, you must remember that it is rare to just have one air amplifier on a factory floor, so the level is cumulative.  One of the ways to fix and eliminate this inefficiency comes in the form of amplifying nozzles. By replacing open jets with high-quality amplifying nozzles, you can achieve a 3-decibel reduction on each jet.  The key to this operation is the level of quality.

Now, we understand that factories are not libraries. No one is expecting a whisper soft, steel casting or printing plant. However, limiting the noise pollution is no longer just an option, it is a necessity.

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The Best “Fixed” Air Flow Amplifier without Exception

We are proud of everything we produce at Nex Flow™. We make it a point to fabricate products that stand the tests of both quality and performance. Take as evidence the case of our own  AM Series  Standard Air Amplifier. It’s simply the best in its class.

Just to be clear, an air amplifier is an air flow “booster.” These machines convert pressure into flow, taking energy from a small volume of compressed air and producing high -velocity output airflow.

Factories across the globe use air amplifiers for dust collection systems as well as to vent smoke and fumes. Both of these activities are critical in keeping the modern factory safe from explosion, air contamination, worker safety, and property loss.  Light materials can be conveyed using the standard air amplifiers.

Air amplifiers are also widely used for cooling. The amplified airflow cools more effectively than a fan by blowing amplified airflow on applications such as hot castings, and forgings to reduce temperature quickly.  Also used for cooling personnel around hot machinery.

Standard Air AmplifierFor blow off applications the rugged Standard Air Amplifier provides the high velocity and flow for removing liquid, dust and dirt from all kinds of blow off applications.  Instant on-off control conserves compressed air so it is only used when required.

But what precisely makes Nex Flow’s Standard Air Amplifier better than others on the market? It’s all about the technology.

Standard Air Amplifiers utilize a “shim” to maintain a gap for the compressed air exit into the body, to be amplified.  Despite some claims, special shims may not improve performance at all.

In “actual” head-to-head tests, same conditions exactly – the Nex Flow™ AM Series outperforms our nearest competitor’s unit in every category.  For example, in comparing Nex Flow™ Model AM40 against a competitor’s equivalent size the results were as follows:

  • Input Air Volume – At 80 PSIG inlet air ours consumed 14.6 SCFM – the competition 17.2 SCFM
  • Output Air Volume – At 80 PSIG inlet air ours produced 187.2 cubic feet per minute – the competition 180.1 cubic feet per minute
  • Input/output ratio – At 80 PSIG inlet air ours produced 13 amplification (average 15 over different pressure ranges) – the competition only 10.47 amplification (average 11 over different pressure ranges)

Nex Flow™ out performs in every way despite competitive claims to the contrary when measured under exactly the same realistic conditions.  Technically the Nex Flow™ standard air amplifier is simply better designed with the way the air enters the unit and utilizes a simple shim design to minimize air losses at the point of compressed air exit – some reasons we believe provide the superior performance.

Apart from the years of expertise and outstanding customer service Nex Flow™ always brings to the table, our air amplifier is:

  • Easy to mount and maintain with lower noise levels
  • Cast zinc or aluminum with a rugged and durable body to hold up in difficult environments
  • Quiet, efficient, and can amplify flows up to 16 X the input air consumption rate

If you find yourself in need of the world’s best air flow amplifier, don’t waste time with anyone other than Nex Flow™. The choice is really that simple.

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Nex Flow: A North American Company with a True Global Presence

Attending and presenting at trade shows are an integral part of the manufacturing world. However, it is not enough to show up, you have to impress like no other competitor can. You can’t let the internet do all the schlepping for you. You have to put in the extra, physical effort to stand out from the rest. You have to put in the extra frequent flier miles. You have to meet your customer – be they Ukrainian or Sri Lankan – and be able directly to shake hands with them in the hotel lobby or convention floor.

Unlike so much of our competition, Nex Flow actually attends and presents at trade shows across the globe, not just in North America. Whether it’s Europe, the Middle East, or Southeast Asia, we are a company that truly has its finger on the pulse of the trade show circuit.

Every year, Nex Flow sends teams of its best representatives to markets as various and as promising as France, Indonesia, Hungary, and China. Just to cite one recent example, this past November we had a strong presence at the Metalex Asia 2012 convention in Bangkok.

So what sets Nex Flow apart as an ideal North American company for companies and governments worldwide to work with?

  • A firm commitment to leading in technical development, a perfect example being our groundbreaking Frigid-X™ Sub-Zero Vortex™ Tool Cooling Mist System.
  • After developing a product, we do not stop innovating, we keep honing until it is perfect.
  • Our highly trained reps are not only amazing on-the-spot problem solvers but they also provide an unmatched level of personal attention.
  • We will accept nothing less than representatives who have sterling reputations and who are proficient in the language, ways, and customs of the country they do business in.

Nex Flow’s goal in terms of international expansion is to create long-term relationships that respect local customs and needs.  We truly believe that Nex Flow is the ONLY North American company of its kind offering this level of respectful and knowledgeable service to as many countries the world over as we do. Just ask one of our regional sales reps; they’ll tell you (and prove to you) as much. We are always here at the ready to discuss how we can bring our industry leading technology to you today, so feel free to contact us today!

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Eyes on Your Own Work! Nex Flow’s Sub Zero Vortex Mist System

For some, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. At Nex Flow, we think blindly copying people is just plain unimaginative and a way of ducking out. We mention this because some in our industry are trying in vain to copy one our latest products, the Nex Flow™ Sub Zero Vortex™ Tool Cooling Mist System. This unique patent pending mist unit is a game-changer. If your machining operations require cooling or lubrication, then the Sub Zero Vortex™ is perfect for you. So why is everyone trying to “create” their own? There are many innovative and cost-effective reasons.

Misting Unit ApplicationUnlike uncooled liquid-mist systems, the Vortex supplies and cools liquid to as low as 40°F without any additional pumping system. This is a groundbreaking change in how tool cooling mist systems operate. Not needing the extra pump results in a low cost and essentially maintenance-free system. In fact you can reduce the amount of liquid and/or lubricant by up to 20%. Since a five-gallon can of lubricant costs upwards of $100, that isn’t a small amount of savings. In addition, because the system leaves less mist in the air, you are also improving the environment inside and out.

Therefore, the bottom line is that our Sub Zero Vortex offers you:

  • No extra pump and electricity required
  • Simplicity in design
  • Lower cost across the board and improved safety and environment
  • Maintenance free operation

It is the perfect solution for your cooling and lubrication machining needs. Moreover, you are doing business with an original. In short, it’s a win-win for everyone.

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Another Breakthrough from Nex Flow

Everyone at Nex Flow™ is quite excited to introduce our Air Edger™ Flat Jet Nozzle. This innovative new product provides you with a powerful force all while reducing compressed air usage and noise levels. The force of the 2” wide unit can be adjusted easily by changing or stacking various sized shims. The high-level of versatility means the Air Edger™ is perfect for a wide range of your most critical blow-off applications.

Flat JetYou can choose from seven different Air Edger™ Flat Jet models, which offer gap settings from .004” to .028”. If you do not know which setting is the right one for you, we suggest that you get a basic model and add a Model 42711S Shim Set so you can stack and remove shims to find the perfect gap setting for your customized needs.

No matter which New Flow™ Air Edger™ Flat Jet Nozzle you choose from, you will be receiving the same unique set of advantages:

  • Less ambient noise and lower air consumption
  • The ability to work at great distance because of the unit’s high force and laminar flow
  • OSHA pressure level approved and it is available in sturdy zinc aluminum

If you are in the market for the world’s best air edger nozzle, then you need Nex Flow’s Air Edger™ Flat Jet Nozzle. To learn more about this exciting new product, please visit our website or contact a Nex Flow expert today.

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The Truth About Compressed Air Use

If you look around the internet, you will come across many articles on the use of air amplification technology, especially when it comes to compressed air versus blowers. As you might expect, blower manufacturers think their technology is tops, while air amplifier producer feel much the same way about their product.

In reality there is no right answer. As with so many things in life, it depends on the application. At Nex Flow we have noticed that there is one serious, habitual flaw among these products one finds on the web: the use of overly simple AC testers (often marked up price-wise by air amplifier suppliers) to determine if a static bar is working. All these testers really do is to show the user they have electrical power going through the static control devices. They do NOT indicate if they are producing the ions necessary for static elimination.

Nex Flow™ has several authoritative articles already written on our web site that address blowers versus compressed air, as well as static measurement. Keep an eye out both on our website and this blog, since more will be added in the future. It’s our way of keeping you, the customer, informed in an unbiased manner, as well as clarifying the many misconceptions regarding this technology.

No matter what tech solution you chose, Nex Flow™ Air Products are not only of the highest quality, but also the lowest in price. We offer significant technological and quality superiority over any competitor. Period.

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Why Buy From Nex Flow™ Part 2

In our first blog on why you should buy from Nex Flow™ we covered the topics of better materials and actual material protection. This time around, we are going to dealing a number of issues surrounding  the choices you make as a consumer of compressed air products.

3. Uncomplicated Choice

Ever get confused on web sites with a multiple listing of products and package combinations? Not only is it annoying, but often these endless packages are nothing more than marketing gimmicks with no real extra value for customers. At Nex Flow™, we aim to provide “complete” packages at a fair price, often lower than the competition without trying to up the price with little extras that can add unfairly to the cost.

4. Product Development and Simplicity

Since day one, the goal of Nex Flow™ is to keep our products simple in design, easy to apply and universal in scope. As we add new products, you will find them to be the least complicated, optimally designed with the best materials to make each product applicable to most applications and environments encountered – with little need for costly “specials” except in the most unusual of cases. In the end we want our customers’ choices to be uncomplicated, all while making what the purchase easy to install and maintain. Because in the end, everything we do needs to be about the customer!

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Why Buy from Nex Flow? Part 1

It’s easy to just say “buy from us, because we’re better!” It’s a statement that is often made but not always challenged. At Nex Flow™, we really believe you should buy from us. Yet unlike most other companies, we are going to take the time to tell you exactly why you needn’t go anywhere else for your compressed air product needs. Over the next three blogs we will layout the six main reasons why you should choose Nex Flow™.

1. Actual Material Protection

Imagine purchasing an automobile that wasn’t painted! That is often what you are doing when you buy air amplifiers, air knives and air wipes, and air conveyors from the competition!

All Nex Flow™ Air-Blade™ Air Knives, Ring-Blade™ Air Wipes and Ring-Vac™ Air Conveyors are anodized to hold up to the industrial environments to which these products are often subjected. Do not be “talked into” buying stainless steel when anodized aluminum is lighter, almost always just as effective for most applications, and significantly lower in price.

Stainless steel is supplied when necessary for food and pharmaceutical and high temperature applications when aluminum will not provide the means.

2. Better Materials

Some air amplifier producers keep touting the use of plastic shims to maintain the small gaps necessary for the products to function. Ever look at thin plastic after a month of being subjected to a constant flow of never completely dirt-free air, no matter how hard you try?

It isn’t exactly a pretty sight! That is, of course, if it hasn’t already worn to pieces. But Nex Flow™ only uses stainless steel shims – the kinds of shims that last in the difficult environments these products are subjected to. And we are typically STILL lower in price than similarly competitive products that use plastic.

Vortex TubesAll of our vortex tubes are stainless steel with brass generators and high temperature O-rings – since the reason you use these products is to “cool”. That means they typically are subjected to extreme heat environments. Nex Flow™ uses proper metal where possible to account for these realities – brass generators and stainless steel bodies for all vortex tubes.

Next time we will discuss product development, simplicity, and the concept of uncomplicated choice.

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The Basics of Excellence

Let’s get right to the point. At Nex Flow™ Air Products Corp., we manufacture industry leading air-operated products. If you put your trust in us, Nex Flow™ will do what it takes to improve your plant’s efficiency, environment, level of quality, and energy efficiency all at a fair price. Our success is based on high-quality products and unmatched customer service.

It’s this level of professionalism that has taken Nex Flow™ from start-up to worldwide success in a relatively short period of time.  Since day one, we have focused on manufacturing air products that are extremely durable, highly effective, and fairly priced.  Our air knife products are a great example of this high level of commitment to our customers. Unlike many of our competitors who use less reliable plastic for their shims, Nex Flow™ utilizes strong and long lasting stainless steel. As well, all of our air knives and air amplifiers are anodized so they last longer and cost you less in the end.

It would be easy to make products that needed to be replaced more often; it’s a great way to make money in the short term.  But that’s not our goal. More than anything, we want to build long-term relationships. The only way to accomplish that is to offer products that will last as long as we want to keep you as a customer.

We plan to bring this same no-nonsense attitude to our blog. We will be providing our readers with engaging and informative content that is designed to deliver our message simply and effectively.

Please visit often, and if you have any questions or comments reach out to us via our website, email or over the phone.

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