Matalco Inc.’s three operations are strategically located in Brampton, ON, Canton, OH, and their state-of-the-art $100 million facility in Lordstown, OH positioned them as the largest remelter in North America. 

At their Canton, Ohio, facility, Matalco makes new products and aluminum billets from recycled materials.  They are using the Bepop printer to make safety-related labels and PPE diagrams. 

​In addition, Matalco is making labels for things around the plant to improve visual literacy such as daily production information, safety metrics, and labels for hard hats to show certification information.   They plan on expanding their use of the tool to label storage locations to make sure things are put away and improve efficiency.

Before they purchased the  MaxUSA Bepop printer, Matalco would have to call a graphics designer, create a PO, have it printed elsewhere, and pick the labels up.  According to Emily Seibert, the Environmental Health and Safety Specialist at the Canton facility, “Today if we have an idea, boom, we can do it today.  We don’t have to wait a week…we can do it right here.”  

​Emily stated that the system was pretty easy to use and user-friendly from the start, particularly f you are familiar with Microsoft tools like Powerpoint and Paint.
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The information for this testimonial from Leading Mark’s customer came from the video shown below.  Watch it to learn more about Matalco’s experience with the MaxUSA Bepop CPM-100HG5 label printer.

Looking Ahead to 2021 we are excited about the solutions our vendor partners are providing to manufacturing operations, construction projects and food processing requirements. Whether your needs are for marking or the related equipment Leading Marks is prepared to help evaluate your applications with sample marks with the various technologies.

We strive to better understand your requirements based on the industry specifications, product and/or substrates to be marked, the environment it is subject to, available budget and other expectations that apply.

To better acquaint you to the product solutions and the limited ability to visit during these continued uncharted times, we are preparing a schedule of webinars with our vendors. If you want to be alerted to the workshops, please email sales@leadingmarks.com.

Exciting things are in store in 2021 as Leading Marks continues to Identify Solutions to suit your needs.Happy New Year!

When people ask me what I do to earn a living and respond that I sell industrial identification systems, aka marking,  people often give me a puzzled look and ask “What is that?”

Their enthusiasm to plan and build something and then compete with other high schools at the annual Bots Tournament in southwestern PA is exciting and fun.

​The mechanical and life skills the students gain is critical to setting them up for success as they look for jobs, attend trade school, or seek degrees.  The suppliers and manufacturers who support them gain direct insight to future employees and the local educational systems and networking opportunities with other professionals. It is a win-win for everyone.

Becoming Women Business Enterprise (WBE) certified opens the doors to opportunities with government and large corporations who value diverse suppliers. This certification also enables me to encourage young women involved in the SW Bots program or just starting their careers within manufacturing and construction. While these industries are inviting more women to be a part of their organizations, there are still many more efforts needed to diversify and level the playing field.

Now that you know all of this about me and a bit of the background of Leading Marks, what is the solution we can help you with?

Leading Marks LLC specializing in marking and traceability, is proud to announce national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) and Women Owned Small Business (WOSB) by the WBEC-East, a regional certifying partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).
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With the award of this certification Leading Marks anticipates a stronger partnership with the construction industry; specifically with electrical and mechanical sub-contractors.

​As companies look to re-shore to the United States, Leading Marks looks to strengthen partnerships with Fortune 500 companies where supplier diversity is an important part of their supply-chain management. Through the interactions with customers, we will strive to be an inspiration to other women considering career opportunities in the construction and manufacturing industries.

WBENC’s national standard of certification implemented by the Women’s WBEC-East is a meticulous process including an in-depth review of the business and site inspection.

​The certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by a woman or women.
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By including women-owned businesses among their suppliers, corporations and government agencies demonstrate their commitment to fostering diversity and the continued development of their supplier diversity programs.

Leading Marks, LLC partners with contractors and manufacturers to improve their marking & traceability processes. Solutions focus on improving legibility and safe operation while providing cost-savings and innovative methods to capitalize on use of technology. Specializing in industrial identification solutions, Leading Marks assists with:

Leading Marks is pleased to announce special savings on the MaxBepop CPM-100HG5 label printer.

• Act now to and save $1000.00 on the CPM-100HG5. 
• This promotion runs from now until the end of June 2020.

This MAX USA Bepop label printer gives you the freedom to create your own custom signs and labels as needed.  Prepare for your re-opening during Covid-19 and solve your labeling and signage requirements with handy solution. No waiting for shipping and no minimum order requirements; print what your want, when you need it.  This package includes:

• CPM-100HG5 label printer
• 2 rolls of tape
• 2 ribbons
• an internal cutting system to cut the labels to size
• software to make it easy to edit labels

Contact Laurie Barcaskey to schedule, at your convenience, a web demo to see this product in action. 

Call her at 412-366-4733.

Download the Promo Flyer below the video.

At the beginning of May, Leading Marks will co-sponsored a webinar about the sequential consequences of Chinese ripple effects due to the Coronavirus.  The event’s other co-sponsor was Link to Visibility. 

The featured speakers are David Iwinski, CEO of Blue Water Growth and Dennis Unkovic, Esq., of Meyer, Unkovic & Scott LLP.

This webinar will explore the ramifications of the Covid-19 virus, starting with the initial impact at the center of the virus in China, then in terms of the short-term effects on business and finally the long-term impact on trade and global supply chains. We will demonstrate how a cascading effect starting in China will magnify several existing critical macro-trends within China that will ripple outwards and dramatically affect supply, revenue, earnings and market share of a significant range of global companies.

Even if businesses do no commerce with China at all, the widespread and pervasive effects of these trends will still reach them and influence prospects for survival and growth, alike. This one-hour webinar will examine these effects and how the downstream results will dramatically change global supply chain and pose serious challenges for US businesses unprepared for this adjustment:

• Supply chain disruption
• Shipping and transportation problems
• Work force concerns
• Reductions in quality & productivity
• Capital & liquidity issues
• Production relocation & global supply chain realignment

Mr. Dennis Unkovic represents U.S. and foreign entities in their international activities. His involvement includes negotiating commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and inbound and outbound investment projects. He has traveled to 64 countries, with significant involvement in Japan, China, Southeast Asia, Australia, and Europe. For three years, he was Board Chair of Meritas, a highly ranked legal network of 7,658 lawyers in 94 countries

If you missed the webinar, you can still view the recording here:

Now more than ever companies are looking to protect their workers from workplace hazards.  TBH offers the broadest range of products in the industry to cover your industrial filtration and extraction requirements.

Over 25 years of experience, coupled with our modular design provides us with the knowledge and flexibility to ensure that particulate, vapor, and fumes are removed in a timely and cost-efficient manner.

Various industrial processes can cause hazardous, toxic vapors, gases, aerosols and particulates that can be harmful to your employees’ and customers’ health. Even non-toxic substances affect workplace quality with dust and odor nuisance and are dangerous to your employees’ health.

​Adding a fume extractor or filtration system to your facility can eliminate many of these hazards. Here are some of the applications where TBH provides solutions by removing toxic, hazardous and damaging by-products.

Check out the full length version of this story  “Impacting the Pattern Labeling Process Marking System Increases Efficiency.” at the bottom of the article.

A shorter version of this article will also be published by Modern Casting under the title “Marking System Increases Efficiency” in their February 2020 issue.

This article presents the story of how the Boss Buddy provides a cost effective, easy-to-use solution to the pattern marking issues that many foundries and manufacturers are facing. It is a case study of Leading Mark’s partnership with Goulds Pumps; the article talks about

• The state of pattern marking
• Gould’s search for a solution
• the implementation of the Boss Buddy

​As many in the foundry  industry know, not only is older marking equipment being phased out; many companies are looking pattern making systems that create more legible and faster labels.  Pattern marking is critical since it provides a mechanism for process control and quality Tracking.  Tracking piece quality throughout the process allows companies to track operations and limit batch size is issues arise.  The Boss Buddy embosses foil tape, is compact, and uses proven components customized to meet foundry requirements.

Visit Leading Marks President, Laurie Barcaskey, at the NSC Northeast Conference & Expo. 
The NSC Northeast Safety Conference & Expo is the National Safety Councils regional conference that will be held:

• Date: March 12-13
• Location: Pittsburgh, PA
• Venue: David Lawrence Convention Center’s Spirit of Pittsburgh Ballroom

Leading Marks will be featuring several products in our display including the Max USA BePop (labeling) and TBH (filtration).  Join us at booth #520 as we highlight the products available to enhance workplace safety.

• Work safe
• Work smart

Avoid workplace hazards and accidents by making sure:

• signage is visible and clear
• airborne pollutants are removed