Category Archive: Manufacturing

Spotlight on Women in Manufacturing

We support gender diversity and inclusion at MPS Industries. As a leader in manufacturing magnetic components for industries ranging from automotive to military, we recognize the importance of setting a positive example for other organizations. We encourage strategies designed to lessen the gender gap.

Women only make up 1/3 of U.S. manufacturing jobs. Today, the sector faces the lowest number of females since 1971. So why is it that the number of women in the industry is declining despite the growth of the overall number of manufacturing jobs in the United States?

About Gender Disparity

Unfortunately, misconceptions about manufacturing have kept many women from wanting to enter the industry. For example, there are assumptions that facilities are unkempt and that grueling physical work is part of every position. Neither is true. There is also the sense that managerial roles are held only by men.

Reducing the Gender Gap in Manufacturing

Encouraging women to pursue careers in manufacturing is a goal of STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Production) Ahead. This initiative highlights intriguing, fulfilling careers in the industry and celebrates female accomplishments to not only the industry but also to society. Lessoning a skills gap is possible with efforts such as this one to motivate more women to seek manufacturing-related jobs.

The Manufacturing Institute, which showcases world-elite talent in manufacturing, will honor 130 women from across the United States with the STEP Ahead award in April at a gala in Washington, D.C. The winners have made impressive achievements in the community and their organizations as manufacturers. With women being significantly underrepresented in the sector, STEP Ahead is helping encourage the next generation of women to join the manufacturing workforce.

Why Recruit More Women?

Manufacturers stand to benefit from a higher number of females in their companies. With gender diversity comes a boost in innovation, rise in ROE, and more profitability. Adding women to organizations enables organizations to tap into a new talent pool and one that is well-educated too given the number of women earning degrees. They are professionals who can become effective leaders within the manufacturing industry.

Attracting, retaining, and promoting women within the manufacturing sector is crucial to growing the U.S. economy too. Women bring skilled labor as hard workers with creative and problem-solving abilities. A more diverse employee pool gender-wise, which is possible through STEP Ahead and efforts of associations like Women in Manufacturing, brings different mindsets, which makes for better problem-solving abilities within organizations.

Contact us today to learn more about our initiatives and high-quality products like power transformers and inductors. Also, follow our blog, Twitter, and LinkedIn to stay up to date in the industry.

APEC 2018 is Just Around the Corner

This year from March 4-8, San Antonio, Texas is going to be a popular destination for more than just the San Antonio Spurs or the Alamo. These dates are set aside for the premier global event for everything related to power electronics, APEC 2018. Held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, this 44,995 sq. ft. center will have speakers, sessions, workshops, committee meetings, and seminars on all the practical and applied aspects related to the power electronics business. This conference is more than just a ‘what’s new’ type of expo; it has a little something for anyone who works in power electronics and its related industries. MPS will be at Booth 526.

Who’s Coming

Speakers, vendors, and attendees come from a wide range of backgrounds in the industry, such as equipment OEMs, designers, manufacturers and suppliers, engineers, marketing, and sales. There are professional plenary, technical, and RAP seminars. This year, there will be over 300 registered exhibitors, all showcasing solutions in power electronics for a number of categories, such as: assemblies, magnetics, power converters, semiconductors, software and services, and more. Exhibitor seminars provide a close and upfront look at their products and services, delivered in half-hour increments.

Networking Opportunities

As a leading manufacturer of magnetic components, MPS Industries, Inc. is excited for this year’s show. We offer power transformers, inductors, LAN/RJ45s, common mode chokes, broadband magnetics, custom designed magnetics, and a wide range of transformers. We’re looking forward to networking with other industry professionals and talking with experts from the industries we service, such as: automotive, renewable energy, industrial, military and aerospace, medical, consumer electronics, and telecommunications.

To learn more about MPS Industries and to keep up to date on all things related to power electronics, you can read our blog, follow us on Twitter, and connect with us on LinkedIn. To learn more about how we can help you with our wide range of products or with a custom design, we invite you to contact us today.

Manufacturing & Magnetics – An Important Industry Outlook

With 2017 officially closed, now is the time to look towards industry predictions in the new year.

Industry Outlook Predictions

Projections for 2018 show positive outlooks for three of the main industries MPS serves.

The renewable energy sector, both globally and within the U.S., will always be at the forefront of debate and conversation. Renewables (in particular, wind and solar) will continue to increase their share of the power mix.

Industry experts have predicted that the medical market will continue to grow in the upcoming year, given the fast pace nature of technological advancements and increasing role of tech in medical devices. Our design team ensures our magnetic components meet industry requirements, such as UL544 standards.

In the global consumer electronics industry, the forecast is for a healthy demand in 2018, particularly for Smart TVs, 3D TVs, smartphones, and tablets. Connected devices that use magnetic parts continue to provide potential opportunities, especially as new data sources come to fruition.

Meeting Demands in 2018

Our broad product offerings will carry on into 2018 as our MPS team continues to manufacture magnetic components, including transformers and inductors, for industrial applications across a wide range of industries.

Clients will still be able to work with our experienced team to design and engineer custom electrical components as per request.

Having a diverse product line enables our team to effectively serve multiple markets worldwide from our headquarters in Gardena, California. Our high-quality lineup solves client needs across industries such as automotive, industrial, renewable energy, medical, military and aerospace, telecommunications, and consumer electronics.

Moving into the New Year

At MPS Industries, we embrace opportunities to fulfill customers’ visions and possess the skills to move quickly as industry demand increases across the sectors we serve. Our agility, both in strategy and operations, and excellent customer support, makes us a great choice for your magnetic components manufacturer this year.

Contact us today for your next project or any questions you might have. Also, follow us on TwitterLinkedIn, and our blog to receive the latest industry and in-house updates.

MPS’ “Best Of 2017” Mechanical Components Feature

As 2017 comes to a close, we’re highlighting some of our best products that we’ve shared with you over the past 12 months! These great features (& more!) will be available for your specifications come 2018 too… Don’t miss out!

If you’re looking for a high-power inductor with a quick turnaround time for design approval, you’ve found the right spot. Our HWI57A2 and H1300 series models can help you test your capabilities without the hassle of waiting for a full custom design. Avoid NRE’s, tooling, and long lead times with our ideal-for-your-requirements components. Their modular design allows you to connect each in series or in parallel for higher inductance and/or current.

Here are some of the advantages to keep in mind:

  • Units are semi-customizable
  • Lead connections can be optimized
  • Thermal potting available in 1,2, or 3 w/mk depending on requirements & targeted cost
  • Units arrive ready to bolt down, connect, and install
  • No need for an NRE
  • Shorter lead times than other fully customized inductors

Another high power inductor line that we shared this year: the HWIA2918S High Current HEW Flat Wire Inductor. Characteristics include:

  • Board level, surface mount components
  • High Current HEW™ Inductor in low-profile compact form
  • Inductance Range: 3.3 µH to 15 µH
  • Very low DCR
  • True 30 Amp handling capability on the wire
  • Dummy 3rd pin for mounting stability

As you’re designing keep in mind that our engineers are more than that. They are experts of the inductors, magnetics, battery, and energy fields, no matter what industry you’re purposing! We serve: automotive, industrial, medical, military, aerospace, telecom, and consumer electronics — and that’s only naming a few!

MPS is no stranger to quality and efficiency when it comes down to you high-power magnetics. Our continuous goal is to find ways to push the envelope when it comes to magnetic designs. The aim is to provide our customer with the most optimized solutions. When developing our high power standard product lines, we strive to improve both the efficiency and heat dissipation of our parts. MPS engineers understand that quality, compact size, and low DCR are crucial requirements for our customer base.

That’s why we’ve created series like the HWI34. Here’s a closer look at its profile:

  • Low profile, small footprint, compact form
  • Inductance Range 4.7 uH to 29uH
  • Exceptionally low DCR
  • Great heat dissipation
  • True 45-55 Amp wire handling capacity
  • Powered cores with distributed gap for soft saturation
  • For high-temperature environments – up to 125°C ambient (max temp 180C)
  • Higher current available
  • Different mounting available

We look forward to new product developments in the upcoming year.

Keep an eye out for our next entry on what is to come throughout 2018. We can’t wait to implement our own creations alongside those of our customers as well!

You can follow MPS updates on our blog, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages.

Remember that we know the importance of providing maximum support for your supplies. MPS’ engineers work closely with you to not only design based on your electrical specifications, but your mechanical requirements as well, including hardware selection and mounting optimization for your specific system.

Interested in what you see? Contact us today!

We wish all of our loyal customers and followers a very happy/healthy holiday season and new year! We look forward to connecting in 2018!

Help the Manufacturing Industry Celebrate National Manufacturing Day!

As the first Friday in October, National Manufacturing Day 2017 will happen on October 6th. As a prominent electronics component manufacturer, MPS Industries is happy to spread the word about NMD. This year the event promises to be a day full of education and encouragement for all attendees.

What MFG DAY Means for the Industry

Produced by the National Association of Manufacturers, National Manufacturing Day is a way to halt common misconceptions about the industry. Facilities across the nation will open up their doors to connect with the next generation and present the truth of the industry as it is today. Along with providing this educational opportunity, the annual event also provides manufacturers with a platform to speak about positive industry attributes, as well as shared challenges, and to connect with the community.

These efforts help ensure a strong future for the United States manufacturing industry that is enjoying a comeback following the Great Recession of 2010. Inviting students, businesspeople, journalists, teachers, and politicians onto industry shop floors across the US can help influence public views about manufacturing.

Bridging the Skills Gap and More

National Manufacturing Day is important as it provides firsthand the opportunity to see the tech-savvy present-day manufacturing force. MFG DAY is a vehicle to combat current issues facing the manufacturing industry, such as the skills gap and the shortage of girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) subjects in comparison to boys.

MFG DAY also is in favor of reshoring or bringing manufacturing jobs back to the organization’s headquarters rather than outsourcing overseas. Our MPS team supports reshoring, STEM education, and efforts to bridge the skills gap.

Inspiring Future Generations

Inspiring younger generations to seek manufacturing careers is something we are passionate about here at MPS. Our clients span many industries including: industrial, military, telecom, aerospace, automotive, and consumer electronics. Learn about each field by attending National Manufacturing Day events in your community.

MPS Industries designs and manufactures top-quality magnetic components, including a range of inductors and transformers. Stay current on relevant industry developments by following our blog and by connecting on Twitter and LinkedIn. For electronic components from an ISO 9001:2008 certified company, MPS has your best interests at heart. Contact us for your next order.

MPS Shows Sales Increase as 2016-2017 Fiscal Year Comes to an End

As we reach the end of the fiscal year, our MPS Industries team has exciting news of our sales increase over last year. Our success in magnetic components manufacturing is attributable to both customers and employees alike. A big “thank you” to all of those who have supported and contributed to MPS this past year.

A Breakdown

For the 2016-2017 fiscal year, we note a definitive increase in sales at MPS over the last business cycle. Our on-time deliveries have also continually improved thanks to the work of our dedicated team.

We are proud to recognize the punctuality in shipping quality magnetic parts to our customer’s organization so that they can meet your deadlines.

A Heartfelt Thank You   

We thank both our customers and our employees for the above-noted successes. Our companywide dedication to customer satisfaction drives our growth. MPS employees value on-time customer deliveries and quality parts as a constant priority.

In addition, we take pride in providing optimized solutions to our diverse customer base. This initiative was the force behind driving sales. Our experienced team of engineers is happy to meet with customers to collaborate on solutions to target specific mechanical and electrical requirements. Custom magnetics are always an option if the solution is not already available in our broad line of products. We separate ourselves the competition through these methods.

Bottom line, our customers deserve just as much credit and recognition for our successful business cycle today. We cannot emphasize this enough, but will always show gratitude for their loyalty.

Quality Products and Services 

At MPS, we have an extensive line of magnetic components covering many industrial applications, from automotive to medical, telecom, military and aerospace, renewable energy and consumer electronics.

For custom designs simply let us know your electric and mechanical requirements so that we can help you further. You can count on us for excellence every step of the way.

Remember to follow our blog, Twitter, and LinkedIn to stay up to date on related manufacturing developments. Contact us today to discuss your next industrial magnetic order.

Simplify Your Power Conversion Process this “National Simplify Your Life Week”

The first week of August is “National Simplify Your Life Week.” As industry leaders in magnetic component manufacturing, it is our team goal to provide our customers with nice, clean, and easy-to-mount packaging solutions. Customer feedback continually reassures us that our method works, keeping both your mechanical and electrical engineers in tip-top shape and spirits.

As other magnetic companies fail to keep up, we’re eager and ready to pick up the slack. We understand that our customers are looking to invest in higher frequencies and greater product performances. But what do we have that sets us apart?

The Benefits (& Simplicity) of Working with MPS

Simply put, we help you easily manage your power conversion application needs by simplifying your power conversion process.

Our customizable packages include:

  • Packaging optimization based on cooling method and mounting configuration
  • Heat sink integration (per request)
  • Can provide 3D STEP files upon request
  • Low-cost CNC machine cutting resources for enclosures/brackets for prototype purposes
  • Embedded temperature sensors (per request)
  • Low or no NRE
  • Domestic engineering support (in both CA and TX)
  • Domestic and off-shore manufacturing
  • Domestic and off-shore prototyping capabilities
  • Ability to package “drop-in” solutions for standard inductors, like the HWI4427series or the HWI4434 series (these can be put in series or paralleled)

Contact MPS

MPS Industries is on the leading-edge of design for high-efficiency magnetics, from micro-grid to utility, low kW to MW systems. We construct custom and semi-custom high-performance magnetics for automotive, aerospace, industrial, medical, defense, military, telecom and consumer electronics.  Call or e-mail us today for your industrial magnetic needs! Or request a sample/quote.

Keep in Touch!

If you missed our email blast on easily managing power conversion applications, sign up for our newsletter today! Contacting us (above) will bring you one step closer to staying in the know. By clicking on the image below you will be able to follow or subscribe to our company blog.

Or simply add and interact with us on Twitter and LinkedIn for the latest industry updates!

We look forward to speaking with you soon!

MPS Puts a Spotlight on Safety This June

MPS Industries, Inc. is happy to spread word of the annual National Safety Month this June. The initiative, run by the National Safety Council (NSC), is supported by thousands of businesses and organizations across the country. National Safety Month aims to promote workplace safety and reduce common risks of death and injury on the job, at home, and everywhere in between.

Our team is proud to be a part of this important event year-round. At MPS, we believe safety should be a critical concern in all processes, and we’re constantly looking for ways to innovate and improve our safety initiatives. To ensure optimal safety and health of our clients, we take into account the specific safety risks inherent in each industry we serve — from automotive, industrial, and military to medical, aerospace, and consumer electronics.

As part of our ISO, we closely monitor final product pass-rate, making sure we continually improve our quality processes, products, and procedures. We provide safety only using parts that pass final inspection and testing before they are shipped. We also make sure to store any failed parts in an isolated designated area so that they are never used. Needless to say, bad parts are extremely hazardous in our field. This is another reason we support speaking out during National Safety Month. Here at MPS, our staff works hard to provide our customers with quality parts to avoid any potential safety issues in your system or installation.

Making Safety a Year-Round Priority

As a manufacturer of magnetic components such as transformers and inductors, we place particular emphasis on electrical safety and the unique dangers posed by electrical applications. According to an OSHA report, electricity is responsible for 12% of all young employee workplace deaths, with about five workplace electrocutions occurring each week.

Electrocutions are primarily caused by accidental contact with overhead power lines, live circuits in panels, poorly maintained cords, and even the occasional lightning strike. Minimal electricity is needed to cause harm, making stringent safety precautions critical. Also, the risk of fire increases when electrical systems are not properly maintained and monitored. While the hazards of electric shock can never be fully eliminated, they can be controlled with the proper protection and training.

The NSC recommends having a certified electrician regularly inspect all tools and machines to ensure compliance with electrical code requirements, as well as only permitting trained and authorized personnel to work on your electrical equipment.

At MPS we stress the safety of our employees when it comes to operating the electrical machinery and tools used in all of our manufacturing processes. For more electrical safety tips that we use, check out the NSC’s full list of recommendations or browse the resources on their homepage.

If you’re interested in learning about any of our products or services, or would like to discuss how MPS Industries can help you meet your magnetic needs, contact us today. And don’t forget to follow our blog, Twitter, and LinkedIn to stay up to date on the latest industry products and trends.

Stay safe!

Sales Drives Engineering, Engineering Drives Sales

It’s one thing to be a generic electronic component manufacturer, churning out the same identical transformers, inductors, and magnetic components on a day-to-day basis. There’s certainly a market for that – plenty of applications use off-the-shelf parts. But for custom components, you need a manufacturer who can combine a task-oriented sales force and a smart, driven engineering team that is up for solving any task you throw their way. This means coming to a manufacturer like MPS Industries.

Sales Driving Engineering

Sometimes, a component is purely customer-driven – a current or potential buyer has a specific need to be filled, and they need a great company to work with. Our sales staff will meet with the customer, discuss the needs and requirements of the component, and then work with the engineering team to develop a product that meets the need. The sales team can then help the customer tweak the product as needed, develop pricing, and work on prototypes and production quantities.

Engineering Driving Sales

Other times, our engineering team drives the sales of traditional and custom components through their innovative design. Maybe one of our team members hits on a component that fits an unfilled niche in the market, or has an epiphany over lunchtime on how to improve an existing component. Or, maybe one of those happy accidents occurs where a component seemingly wills itself into existence. In all of these cases, our team would produce a prototype, and place the product in our list of components on our website. If a customer then inquiries about a specific part on our website, the sales team can quote pricing and work with engineering on any customer requested modifications.

Working Together for the Customer

In the end, sales and engineering are working towards the same final goal – satisfying your needs as a customer, regardless of your requirements or industry. Here at MPS, we serve industries including (but not limited to):

  • Automotive
  • Renewable Energy
  • Industrial
  • Military and Aerospace
  • Medical
  • Consumer Electronics
  • Telecommunications

If you are interested in working with us here at MPS Industries, contact us today to talk to our staff and set up a meeting to discuss your industry needs. Even if you don’t have an immediate need, we’d be happy to hear from you and start developing a relationship. You can keep in touch and see what we are doing through our LinkedIn page, our Twitter, or by checking back here at our blog on a regular basis.

MPS Contributes to Clean Year Round

With Earth Day quickly approaching, our MPS Industries team is taking the time to assess how our magnetic components contribute to the global movement for clean, renewable energy sources. The annual day for celebrating green initiatives lands on April 22.

Our Year’s Vision

MPS Industries recently shared our expansion plan for 2017: extending our product lines and providing excellent engineering support, including improved lead times. In our efforts to provide an even higher level of overall customer service, we are paying attention to industry trends, specifically the rising popularity of electric cars.

Advancing Clean Technology and Green Initiatives

We expect the EV (Electric & Hybrid Vehicle) industry to continue to expand and MPS Industries is responding to growing customer demand in the plug-in marketplace. This is why our engineers, with over 60 years of design experience, are working alongside leading EV technology developers to develop components that will have a large impact in the industry. Our mechanisms can be used in EV Charging stations, including wireless charging stations, just as easily.

By participating in trade shows, such as the Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Technology Expo last September, MPS aims to have more involvement in developing and contributing to the worldwide effort for energy sustainability. We will also be exhibiting at the 2017 EV TECH show as well.

Other clean, renewable energy and green initiatives that we have taken on include the implementation of fuel cell, PV and wind turbine systems. Moreover, MPS products are used in converting power for inverter applications, for example, off-grid inverters, grid-tied inverters, string and central solar inverters, solar optimizers, solar maximizers, solar micro-inverters, and they are also being used in smart metering applications.

Innovative Strategies

Within the magnetic components field, MPS proudly holds a name for manufacturing sophisticated, innovative parts that meet the needs of the general industry, EV magnetic technology, charging stations, wind turbine systems, inverters, the solar industry, smart applications, and more. Our engineers offer custom design on magnetic components, to meet clients’ individual project needs, whether it be electrical or mechanical variations or a completely new design.

MPS Industries provides a broad range of products, from transformers to common mode chokes, inductors, current sensors, and power supplies, to U.S.-based customers. Our magnetic components come in a range of sizes, and the power supplies include desktop, industrial, open frame, wall mount, and medical-grade varieties.

Keep up to date on how our MPS team is engaging in greener solutions, on Earth Day and throughout the rest of the year, by connecting via our blog, Twitter, and LinkedIn. For your next magnetic component project, please contact us today.