The finnish technology that keeps your driveway snow-free

The finnish technology that keeps your driveway snow-free

Regner® Editorial Team

Aiguaviva -

20/01/2018

While snowstorms are unpredictable and it is impossible to know what each snow season will bring, proper preparation is essential to reduce the effects of a harsh winter season. Ensuring roads remain clear during snowstorms is critical to keep residents safe and commerce flowing during the winter months.

Hilltipis a technological manufacturer specialized in maintenance equipment for light pickups, SUVs and trucks. The Finnish weather and many years of experience have also made Hilltip experts in developing the most efficient and durable products for snow and ice control.

A lifestyle tailored to snow and cold weather

Snowy season can be a stressful time, especially when snow takes over entire towns. Of course, not all countries are equally prepared when the big storms come, though. In Northern Europe, snow and cold weather are so commonplace that society is permanently ready to respond to snow, and their lifestyle is fully tailored to it. This is the case of Finland.

Los finlandeses dan por sentado el frío y la nieve. School isn’t cancelled because of freezing temperatures, people can still be seen outside, and they do not stop driving at the first sign of snow. Unlike Southern European countries, they are prepared for snow. All Finnish car owners, for example, are required by law to equip their cars with all-weather or winter tires, and they know to drive with extreme care as soon as the weather turns wintry. Which is no joke, since visibility drops drastically, roads are slippery, braking distances are longer, and driving in deep snow gives drivers less control over their vehicle.

Unsurprisingly, therefore, Finland has a longstanding industrial tradition regarding snow and ice control devices. They also have a reputation for solid machine construction, and their approach to technology is always responsible and sustainable. This combination has led to specialization and innovation in the manufacture of quality engineering and technological products.

Hilltip, expertise and innovation for snow removal

Benefiting from this strong innovative environment, brothers Tom and Frank Mäenpää founded Hilltip in 2004. At first, they were purely an import business. However, very soon they realized there was a need for machinery that suited specific European conditions, and they began manufacturing and developing their own machines and tools.

Asked by Ammattiautot, Hilltip Business Developer Manager Frank Mäenpää is convinced the success of the company lays precisely in designing and developing products to meet European needs, and that weight is the most significant difference compared to products made in North America: lighter equipment is needed here. Hilltip‘s extensive product range, entirely made in Jakobstad (Pietarsaariin Finnish), includes snowplows, spreaders, deicing sprayers, fertilizers, sweepers, pressure washers, and tracking systems.

Light snowplows to pave the way

Hilltip snowplows are designed to be attached to the front of different vehicles, from pickups, to tractors, to small trucks. Their versatility helps users quickly clear their driveways and roads during snow events.

Hilltip is a leading technology manufacturer of high-quality road maintenance equipment, paving ways worldwide.

The Hilltip Straight blade snowplow, the first of its kind built in Europe, is a convenient on-and-off snowplow compatible with most pickups and SUVs on the market thanks to HillTip Quick Hitch mounts Due to its high-strength steel curved, powder-coated snow blade, the snowplow is light but durable. It also presents an adjustable cutting edge, with the trip edge divided in two segments, allowing for the best snowplow protection on the market.

An essential part of production is also car-specific fittings for connecting devices to cars. The goal for Hilltip is that as much as possible of the technology required by the accessories is on the device itself, making it possible to minimize car changes.

For example, the hydraulics required by the plow and the necessary lamps are integrated into the device itself. All that is needed is the proper power supply and function control. Cleaners and solvent dispensers, which can also be combined, use a control device that can accurately recorded. The device stores information about where and how much of the solution or dry matter has been applied.

Hilltip’s own design and production control is based on the use of CAN bus technology. Hilltip has adopted the CAN Bus technology in its equipment in order to standardize and secure communications.

The introduction of the CAN bus technology in the automotive industry was driven by the growing number of components created for driver convenience and which needed to be connected, such as climate control, seat and mirror adjustment, electric windows, anti-theft systems, central light and locking mechanisms.

The idea behind CAN bus technology is to allow the car parts to communicate with each other without a host computer. This technology allows car users, dealers and manufacturers to make changes to the vehicle without changing any mechanical parts.

Hilltip will continue developing new features for current products as well as new products that will help users and contractors become more cost effective. They are currently developing a new solution which uses the RA-MINI actuator, a perfect fit for a robust application. More details are to be unveiled soon as it is just about to be launched.

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Made in Vermont: celebrating tradition, applying technology

Made in Vermont: celebrating tradition, applying technology

Regner® Editorial Team

Aiguaviva -

19/12/2017

From a workshop located in the heart of Vermont’s Quechee Valley, master craftsman Mark Lackley designs and builds fine furniture pieces for clients across the United States. A passionate woodworker, Mark upholds an esteemed tradition of New England furniture making.

In an age where speed is prized over quality and character, Mark Lackley has remained true to its roots: authenticity of product and process. He believes in fine art for living, creating unique and extraordinary pieces with traditional methods coming from The Green Mountain State.

Vermont is indeed an English adaptation of the name that French explorer Samuel de Champlain gave to Vermont’s Green Mountains on his 1647 map. He called them “Verd Mont” meaning green mountain. With just 9,217 square ^miles, this state is famous for its landscape, the beautiful scenery of Vermont’s hills and valleys, in addition to being known for its liberal politics. Vermonters continue to zealously guard every person’s right to be free thinkers. In other words, Vermont is equivalent to nature, forests and farms that speckle across the green landscape amidst individualism and independent political thought.

Designing extraordinary pieces of furniture with authentic materials

It is in this ambience where Mark remains true to his craftsmanship While furniture companies around the United States have transitioned to machine-made lines, producing and reproducing designs economically, compromising the strength and durability of the goods, he believes in genuine quality and locally-sourced materials, which resist the hands of time, staying just as functional as on day one.

As Mark sees it, the wood itself breathes, gives off warmth, and is soft to the touch. Moreover, wood has a soul and its soul lies in its natural characteristics. Every tree is unique like a fingerprint. The Lackley pieces are equally unique.

Many years of experience and professional skill have helped him as has his understanding of the characteristic properties of every type of wood. When it comes to walnut, maple, cherry or oak, he knows how to balance any tiny imperfection, thus resulting in harmonious tables, remarkable desks and fine cabinets.

You can always find Mark in his workshop, the place which holds the secret to understanding his success: his love for working with authentic materials and his passion for a job well done. These two qualities have been enhanced by his talent, his creativity and his commitment to innovation. The latter is what has led him to devise an original poker table with a system to serve up the tokens automatically. The purpose was to create a precious table in cherry, where the chips are facilitated at the disposal of the players.

Combining talent, creativity and innovation

With this aim in mind, he conceived a system driven by a mini actuator tucked away in a convenient housing inside the table. Essentially, the system just needed about 40 Newtons of force for 25mm of travel. In Mark’s words: Just a well-built actuator with a good motor, consuming as little energy as possible. I was just looking for the right linear actuator to “plug and play”.The REGNER® miniactuator is just what he needed: an extremely compact and powerful miniaturized actuator. This is where tradition meets with high-end technology and filling this role quite appropriately is the RA-MINI. All this brings about an outstanding poker table for exigent players with the finest tastes.

When it comes to poker, you cannot assume that anything goes. There is a certain ritual expressed not only by a pre-game mental preparation, but also and more importantly sometimes by how the players take a seat around the table and exchange looks. Observing the opponent’s body language helps to gauge the strength of the adversary’s cards. Therefore, a handcrafted poker table with clean lines, graceful curves and subtle details is an essential part of this sacred ritual. Mark Lackley worked down to the smallest detail in order to create a game table that works with precision and will last throughout the years, handcrafted in Vermont to be treasured for generations.

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JCM Specialist Seating Solutions relies on REGNER® technology

JCM Specialist Seating Solutions relies on REGNER® technology

Regner® Editorial Team

Aiguaviva -

17/10/2017

Not everyone has seen The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, but those who have were not left indifferent. This cinematographic masterpiece, directed by the award-winning filmmaker Julian Schnabel, depicts the real-life figure of Jean-Dominique Bauby, former ELLE magazine director, who at the age of 43 suffered a severe stroke that left him mute and completely paralyzed, except for his left eye. Incredibly, this led to the development of a system which allowed for communicationwith just the use of his eye, selecting letters on a special keyboard to make communication with others possible. Such innovation, made to overcome the limitations that illness and disabilities seem to impose on a person, is admirable and inspirational.

Unfortunately, Jean-Dominique’s case is not unusual. Neither brain attacks nor brain damage at birth are uncommon. Among the latter, one of the most frequent is cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder caused by a non-progressive brain injury or malformation that occurs while the brain is under development, and which affects primarily body movement and muscle coordination.

Working together to go past limits

As stated at CerebralPalsy.org,an individual with cerebral palsy will likely show signs of physical impairment. However, the type of movement dysfunction, the location and number of limbs involved, as well as the extent of impairment, will vary from one individual to another It can affect arms, legs, and even the face; it can affect one limb, several, or all. Cerebral palsy affects muscles and a person’s ability to control them. Muscles can contract too much, too little, or all at the same time. Limbs can be stiff and forced into painful, awkward positions.

Fluctuating muscle contractions can make limbs tremble, shake or writhe. Balance, posture, and coordination can also be affected by cerebral palsy. Tasks such as walking, sitting, or tying shoes may be difficult for some, while others might have difficulty grasping objects.

Luckily, the situation of the children affected by this illness has improved considerably thanks to the new treatments and the attention they receive. JCM Specialist Seating Solutions is among those providing personalized assistance.

JMC, experience in pediatric seating

Located in Cambridgeshire, 90 miles North of London, JCM Seating Solutions are experts in pediatric supportive seating. They provide children’s postural seating systems which enhance the daily lives of individuals with varying degrees of disability.

They are committed to taking care of their customers by providing a thorough range of services to meet their needs. Furthermore, they work closely with therapists, teachers and parents to fully understand the needs of the end users and the challenges they face. Through these partnerships, they develop their products and services.

Luckily, the situation of the children affected by this illness has improved considerably thanks to the new treatments and the attention they receive.JCM Specialist Seating Solutions is among those providing personalized assistance.

Since 2014 regner® is supporting JCM with its motion control systems compliant with therapeutic equipment standards.

Detail of the base of a JCM seating system

REGNER® systems compilant with therapeutic equipment standards

Since 2014 REGNER® contributes to the development of the JCM products with technical parts and systems, giving paramount importance to safety and reliability requirements.

Regner® possesses the accreditation iso 13485, which ensures safe, reliable products strictly compliant with international medical standards.

In the health care sector, it is essential that the product development process meets stringent regulatory requirements to ensure product safety and efficacy. ISO 13485defines these requirements in Europe and REGNER® designed its quality management system to be compliant with this standard as well as 21 CFR 820, FDA’S quality system regulation in the US. Both these standards guarantee that the company can deliver regulatory motion control compliant solutions for medical devices to health care companies in Europe and the US.

Regner® engages a highly integrated approach. By leveraging expertise in design, electronics, testing and production, the company delivers comprehensive, value-added solutions.

REGNER®’s ability to coordinate such diverse disciplines makes us a global provider unique in the industry. That is why our clients partner with us.

Category Archives: Applications and solutions