Anyone who has waited too long between car oil changes knows how things start to slow down and wear out. Now imagine sitting in a military vehicle in the desert on a critical mission; well this is not the time for your diesel fuel filter to be clogged or you will be a "sitting duck". What to do? Well the Army conducts extensive testing on automotive fuel filters to avoid such events and to ensure efficient operation of military vehicles used in desert terrain. For this important preventative work the Army is using a new state-of-the-art Fuel Filtration Testing System that was made by Sigma Design Company (SIGMA) of Middlesex, New Jersey. In December 2011 SIGMA and IFTS Inc. USA shipped the first system for export to the Middle East.

This diagnostic laboratory based filtration equipment will test diesel fuel filters for efficiency and dirt holding and retention capacity for mission critical vehicles to be used

Fuel Filter Test Stand - by Sigma Design Company

by the Army. This effort is part of global automotive filter manufacturers' requirement under ISO 4020 for diesel fuel filter testing. The laboratory system is being procured under the "Buy America" project of the United States Army.  "This is a great example of SIGMA'S role in bringing global manufacturing for export back to New Jersey", explained Jerry Lynch, President of SIGMA.  "With increased orders for filtration laboratory equipment like this, SIGMA expects to hire additional engineers in 2012", he added.

The client turned to IFTS and SIGMA due to their special expertise in applied engineering and science for filtration for all types of substances - such as oil, water, blood and other fluids. SIGMA was selected by IFTS because SIGMA had previously designed and supplied the United States Navy with a filter test system to evaluate desalination pre-filters on the CVNX Aircraft Carriers as well as their experience in the development of laboratory equipment and appliances. SIGMA looks forward to designing and assembling many new highly engineered filtration systems in the coming years at its new 20,000 square foot Technology Commercialization and New Product Manufacturing Center that opened October 2011. 

Sigma Design Company - Local USA Design and Manufacturing for Global Export

Since the peak of 2.5 million US high tech jobs in 2000, the US has lost 687,000 of those desirable manufacturing jobs. Meanwhile, about 85% of R&D growth in US multinational corporations since 2004 has been based abroad. These trends reflect an emphasis by large US corporations on high growth and low cost labor markets found overseas over the past decade - especially in China*. The good news is that now economists estimate that production cost differentials between US and Chinese markets are rapidly dwindling - with a very narrow gap expected by 2015**. SIGMA believes US small business manufacturers are nimble and competitive enough to grow and lead the turnaround in high-tech production and employment in the USA. Read on to find out "how".

"In New Jersey the creation of about 40,000 new jobs (only 12% of our current manufacturing base) would restore the manufacturing sector back to its peak level. This is a realistic goal over the coming few years", proclaimed Lynch of SIGMA. "If we could start more small manufacturing businesses that each create 25 to 50 jobs per company, then we will be well on the road to reestablishing our hi-tech manufacturing might. Each small manufacturing firm needs to buy screws, paint, machining, plastic which all builds momentum", he added. A recent Business Week article confirms his point - "manufacturing still has the highest leverage factor of any sector. It creates much more value and many more ancillary jobs than any other sector"***  And the National Association of Manufacturing (NAM) indicates that each dollar's worth of manufactured goods creates another $1.43 of activity in other sectors, twice the $.71 multiplier for services.

For its part, SIGMA will follow its successful B2B technology commercialization model. One example is a diagnostic laboratory apparatus that SIGMA newly designed in 2011 for the US market and which SIGMA has been producing monthly since August 2011. This product is creating steady work for SIGMA employees and for numerous local suppliers. Significantly, about 40% of sales are for export, which is also beneficial for the US trade balance, the US dollar and for US competitiveness. SIGMA is committed to repeating this local B2B commercialization-production model for other highly engineered products at our New Product Manufacturing Center in Middlesex, NJ. Come join us!

Sigma Design Company - Promoting the New American Manufacturing Era

Sources: *Manufacturing.net, **Boston Consulting Group, ***Business Week