Brian Ray, Author at Ray Products

Author: Brian Ray

Plastics News wrote an article on our GoBin project for Goodwill Industries. If you’re not familiar with the GoBin, it’s a donation collection container that Goodwill is placing in the lobbies of apartment buildings and office complexes. The bins help make donating to Goodwill easier than ever.

The article touches on one of the key ways we were able to help the charitable organization. When Goodwill came to us with the original designs, the sides of the container were split into a 3-part assembly to accommodate another thermoformer with more standard sized equipment.

Thanks to our large, 10’ × 18’ thermoforming capabilities, we were able to accommodate the same design with a 2-part assembly. Eliminating the third part helped to cut per-unit costs, improve the rigidity of the final product and make it easier and quicker to assemble the GoBins when they’re delivered on-site.

But, don’t’ take our word for it. Head over to Plastics News and read the article.

Author: Brian Ray

You might not think of the plastics industry as a violent place, but that’s only because you haven’t read the Michael Tolinski’s “Process Wars” article in the June issue of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE)’s magazine, Plastics Engineering.

Ok, maybe violent is an exaggeration. “Contentious” might be a better word.

Michael’s article covers the rise in popularity of pressure forming, first reported in our 2015 plastics manufacturing survey. It also covers some other advances in the process and even gives an injection molder a chance to present his perspective.

All-in-all, a great read. Not least of all because it quotes our very own VP of Sales & Development, Jason Middleton. Read the entire account of the plastics manufacturing process wars right here.

Author: Brian Ray

You can have the greatest robot in the world being delivered, but if you don’t have the employees who want to embrace the technology, you will have a robot that is going to sit there and do nothing.
-Brian Ray, Plastics Machinery Magazine, July 2016

Unless you’re as obsessed about plastics manufacturing as we are, you might have missed Plastics Machinery Magazine’s interview with Brian Ray, Ray Products’ president.

But don’t worry—we’re always looking out for our non-plastics-manufacturing-obsessed friends.

The interview covers some of Ray Products’ history, the changes we’ve seen over six-plus decades in the plastics manufacturing industry, advances in materials and equipment and where we see the future of plastics manufacturing headed.

So what are you waiting for? Check it out!

Author: Brian Ray

Let’s be frank. To survive for 66 years in the plastics manufacturing industry, you have to pay close attention to quality. For us, a commitment to quality is nothing new. In fact, it’s a commitment we’ve had that’s pretty much unchanged over the past 66 years.

What has changed are some of the ways we demonstrate that commitment. In 1949, ISO 9001 quality certifications didn’t exist. But in 2009, they did, and that’s when we decided that ISO 9001:2008 certification was one more way we could demonstrate our commitment to quality. (more…)

Author: Brian Ray

This article originally appeared in the May 2015 issue of Design2Part magazine. You can download a PDF of the original here.

By Rebecca Carnes

Supplying heavy-gauge, large-part pressure forming at lower quantities has insulated Ray Products from having to face much overseas competition. The simple reason, according to Jason Middleton, the company’s vice president of sales and development, is that heavy-gauge, large-part pressure forming doesn’t outsource well. (more…)

Author: Brian Ray

This article originally appeared in the April, 2015 issue of Design2Part Magazine. You can download a PDF of the original here.

By Rebecca Carnes

Specializing in thermoformed plastic parts, Ray Products Co., Inc. understands the unique qualities needed for medical device enclosures, such as durability, aesthetics, and built-in, antimicrobial resistance. The Ontario, Calif.-based company has been manufacturing enclosures for more than 60 years, and focuses on translating that experience into high-quality medical devices. These devices include medical electronics housings; imaging (X-Ray, CT Scan, MRI) enclosures; sterile packaging; bins and trays; hospital room panels; hospital bed components; and stands and support equipment.

Medical device enclosures make up the bulk of Ray Products’ medical business, and pressure-formed and vacuum-formed enclosures can be found on surgical and diagnostic equipment in healthcare facilities across the country. (more…)

Author: Brian Ray

We talk a lot about tooling here at Ray Products, but if you’re not familiar with pressure forming, you might not know what tooling is. So, we thought we’d help with a quick introduction to pressure forming tooling .

The Foundation of a Successful Project – Literally

A properly designed, and a built tool is critical to every pressure forming project. It’s one area where cutting corners is definitely a bad idea.

At Ray Products, we stand behind our tooling. We’ll guarantee the performance of your tooling for life, as long you’re using it for manufacturing in our facility.

What is a Pressure Forming Tool?

A pressure forming tool is a mold that creates the shape of a pressure formed part. It’s made to match the shape of the final part, and when the plastic is pressed against it, it takes on the shape of the mold. (more…)

Author: Brian Ray

Pressure forming makes sense for medical device enclosures. Lots of sense. It’s something we’ve talked about here in the past.

Recently, Medical Design & Technology ran an article written by our VP of Sales & Development, Jason Middleton. The article is titled, “Making The Case for Pressure Forming Medical Device Enclosures.”

Jason finishes up the article with, “if you don’t consider pressure forming for your next medical device enclosure, you might be leaving your best option on the table.” He couldn’t be more right.

Give the article a read, and let us know if you have any questions.

Author: Brian Ray

Say you’ve decided that pressure forming is the right process for your next plastic manufacturing project. How do you choose the right company to pressure form with?

While we’re obviously not a neutral party in this situation, we do have some advice that will help you get on the right track.

Price Matters

It’s not a bad idea to get your first project quoted by multiple pressure formers. If you’re not familiar with the industry and what things should cost, it can help to make sure that you’re not being taken advantage of.

But it’s important to make sure you’re considering more than just the total at the bottom of the quote sheet.

How much would it cost you if you didn’t meet your deadline? What about the cost of changing your mold because of unexpected problems? Or the costs of production defects?

Look at price, but remember that the cheapest quote you get up front, might not offer the best value in the end.

(more…)

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