When consumers want unbiased advice on big-ticket items such as cars, washing machines, and laptops, they often turn to Consumer Reports to see how different brands stack up. Until now, there was no equivalent testing and rating organization for industrial components. A new company plans to change all that: Industrial Product Reports Inc. (IPR), Hauppauge, N.Y., is an independent testing organization that will provide unbiased purchasing and performance information on industrial machine components and systems. IPR was founded by two engineers with more than 50 years of design and application experience, and is not affiliated with any manufacturer, distributor, or seller of the types of products it tests.
The company has plans to produce several reports each year, describing the complete vendor screening process, including price and delivery information, unaltered manufacturer data, and side-by-side test results. All test protocols will be defined in detail and conducted on products obtained as a typical user would procure them — without knowledge they will be tested. The information is intended to save time and money for engineers, end users, and purchasing managers, and serve as a benchmark for manufacturers, distributors, and others in the supply channel.
IPR is releasing its first report in September, comparing several transport-type ballscrews available in the U.S. The 50-page document will contain vendor information as well as bench test results on load/life, accuracy, efficiency, smoothness, and stiffness.
For more information on IPR, or to download a sample of the ballscrew report, visit www.industrialproductreports.com. Otherwise, call (631) 676-2162.