Grace

They had great lead-times since they're located in the same area and the parts were in stock! They prices are competitive even with lower quantities (1000 EA and under). We can always rely on their on-time delivery.

Strengths: They have great customer service and RFQ response time. They have a wide selection of springs. Even though they have off-the-shelf springs, they can also design a custom spring for you given your requirements.

Needs to improve: Their online spring selection tool is not as detailed as I would like.

They are quick in designing extension and compression springs for us. They are very helpful with design alternatives. However, they do need some reminders and micro-managing in order to get the parts delivered to us on time. Their pricing is competitive in large quantities 10k +.

Strengths: They can design a variety of springs (extension and compression springs) when they're given a few specifications. They will notify the client if some specifications are unattainable due the specific reasons. They will work with the client to target the force spec, for example, by increasing the OD of the spring, etc. They give flexibility in their spring design.

Needs to improve: Their ability to hit the delivery date is poor, even with prototype quantities such as 300 EA. We have to call to confirm delivery date mid-way just to find out that the part delivery has been delayed for 1 to 2 wks. Once they know you're micro-managing them, they will eventually meet the delivery date.

They are very responsive with their feedback on my profile design. However, the majority of the waiting time is with their cutting vendor selection and capability.

Strengths: They are knowledgeable in metal cold rolling even with odd profiles. They can hold +/- .003" tolerance on the small radii of the profile I submitted. They were great in educating me on the cold rolling process they use. They explained to me why cold rolling is a better process than cold drawing for my application/profile. They were able to target a yield strength of 150ksi with the final product!

Needs to improve: They have to contract out the cutting and straightening operation to another vendor, which can increase lead time significantly. I inquired the process with which the vendor cut the parts to size but that conversation took some time. It is important for me to know how the vendor cuts the parts to length (i.e. saw cut, shear cut, milling, EDM) in order for me to give the drawing appropriate specifications.

They are very knowledgeable with cold rolling and cold drawing profiled tubings. They are able to specify the material conditions of the Stainless Steel prior to subjecting it to cold rolling and drawing. They can hold their tolerances of the profile +/- .0005" which is way better than what is required per drawing (+/- .005").

Strengths: Their capabilities including cold rolling, cold drawing and machining make them a one-stop shop when developing highly toleranced Stainless Steel drawn bars. Their knowledge of both cold rolling and cold drawing allows them to tailor their process for any specific profiled tubing. They also have the ability to anneal rolled tubing in between cycles to increase malleability of the metal. The fact that they can machine the parts to length post rolling or drawing is a plus since that saves on lead time by not having to farm out the machining to another vendor.

Needs to improve: Their response time is longer than usual. I'm not sure if it's because of my RFQ for smaller quantities.

They were prompt with a reply that includes tolerances they can hold, materials they can extrude for my profile, tooling cost and lead time. Their tooling cost was very affordable especially for prototyping purposes. They answered my questions readily regarding the material yield strength properties, which helped me tremendously in material selection.

Strengths: They have great capabilities to extrude tight tolerance (+/- .003") profile shapes. They are very knowledgeable in the material yield strengths of their extrusions, which makes material selection easier for the customer.

Needs to improve: They are limited to the extruding aluminum material, which makes them less flexible in material selection, especially when I'm looking for higher yield strength.

I use excel all the time to input test data and generate graphs. I also use excel for statistical analysis for testing. Microsoft help desk is helpful when I report software bugs.

Strengths: Microsoft captures the needs of a medical device company well. Their softwares, Excel and Word, are very good for report writing and statistical analysis.

Needs to improve: None

I have to log into Pilgrim to get the required training on SOPs. It's troublesome because I have to log into another system to get the document I have to train myself on.

Strengths: Good at keeping track of required training (SOPs)

Needs to improve: Does not link to our document control system well.

Their customer service and reps are very good at providing alternatives for adhesives and giving samples for testing.

Strengths: they provide a variety of adhesive including medical grade and UV cure adhesives.

Needs to improve: None

I found hooks and components that I needed for performing mechanical testing.

Strengths: They have general tools and components for testing purposes.

Needs to improve: None

They provide a detail outline of the aging and packaging testing sequence. They are very organized and are on-time.

Strengths: They can accommodate various accelerated aging temperatures, while performing packaging and ship testing.

Needs to improve: None

They allowed me to help them prepare test samples at their lab to ensure they were tested correctly. They were very cooperative. I also reviewed their relevant SOPs and test protocols prior to testing.

Strengths: They perform all biocompatibility testing including animal testing in their MN facility.

Needs to improve: None

Their test director was very knowledgeable in sample requirements and sample preparation for biocompatibility testing. They can also do packaging testing.

Strengths: Quick non-GLP test for cytotoxicity.

Needs to improve: Can only provide non-GLP testing for Cytotoxicity. Other tests are performed in Ohio.

Their specialist was very thorough in explaining what tests needed to be performed for chemical analysis.

Strengths: They do a variety of testing including biocompatibility and chemical analysis.

Needs to improve: None

I always got 24 hr turnaround time for GammaStat loads. I got the sterility certs as soon as the product was ready to be picked up.

Strengths: Great customer service for GammaStat service.

Needs to improve: None

They were easy to talk to when we had questions about the sterilization validation for biomaterials. They were easy to work with.

Strengths: they can target +/- 10% Gamma dosage with their chamber for R&D purposes. They know how to work with biomaterials.

Needs to improve: Their Sterilization Validation protocol needs a lot of review before approval.

Great services for picking up and mailing packages. On-time delivery and tracking.

Strengths: On-time delivery of packages. They pick up packages at work too.

Needs to improve: prices are high.

Their free tracking service is exceptional. My packages always arrive on time.

Strengths: Easy online scheduling and payment for shipping packages.

Needs to improve: None

Their Solidworks (Adv) class was very informative on the new capabilities of Solidworks. The instructor offered a lot of tips and tricks for the class. It was a good learning course.

Strengths: They offer helpful classes and tips for Solidworks.

Needs to improve: None

They are willing to answer questions regarding upgrades and bugs.

Strengths: They provide good updates and help menu's. Their software is easy to use and can be used for many industries.

Needs to improve: Sometimes their software requires a lot more updates, where my recent update is not too compatible with my computer.

Their 2-D CAD software took a lot more work to use. I had to visualize what the other sides look like. The company is responsive to questions.

Strengths: Their CAD program can do drag and draw.

Needs to improve: Their CAD program requires typing different keys just to dimension a part. Hard to imagine what the other faces would look like. AutoCAD doesn't offer much updates.