MMI 2014 - Metal+Metallurgy China ...

A quick note to let all our Blog readers know we're still as busy as ever here at Synchro towers and we wanted to share the latest exhibition pictures and write up with you ...

Beijing  2014 Summary

The MMI 2014 - Metal+Metallurgy China was held at its familiar venue at the Exhibition centre in Beijing. This show organised by the Chinese Foundry Association is a well-known and trusted event in China and as such attracts many businesses from the Oceanic region if not the world. It therefore provided the perfect Launchpad to the official start of the association between Synchro ERP and Sage Software (Shanghai) China and was the opportunity to meet and greet old as well as new potential customers.

We thank everyone for coming to see us and their loyal support and we look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Xie Xie Ni from Synchro ERP

Hope you all have a great week - We will be back next week with our Getting to know you blog - Who will it be this time??

Draining the Swamp

 

Howdy from Texas where we are approaching Memorial Day weekend where we remember all of those that served and died in wars and conflicts throughout the world.

I just got off the phone with a sales lead that I've been chasing for a very long time.  Our conversation focused on the needs to be able to schedule the facility.  They have nothing really in place other than some Excel sheets, and they are so busy with work that they are having problems with missed customer delivery dates, not knowing true capacity, etc.  It made me think of the old alligator allegory that you see above.  One of their issues is that they are so busy they can not see towards the future.  The way you start to get ahead is to just slap one alligator at a time and toss out one shovel full of swap as you are battling off the alligators.

 

This in turn, reminds me of my days actually working in a swamp.  Yes, a real life Louisiana swamp full of alligators, leeches, cottonmouth snakes, and everything else you don't want to think about.  I was in the Atchafalaya Basin working for Chevron GeoSciences field crew Party#5 as a college student intern one summer.  Actually, I worked in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi for two summers and did another summer stint in the Big Horn Basin in Wyoming.   I was "lucky" as the majority of my time was spent on the survey crew so we had a lot of additional benefits and a more relaxed work environment.  We were out looking for oil, Texas tea! 

But, being on the survey crew I was the "rod man" that got to walk ahead through the swamp and setup points to "shoot the shot".  Most of the time, the surveyor kept his feet dry with boats and drive arounds.   We could shoot up to about two miles in the right conditions.  So, I'd swamp through the swamp for two miles and then he would join me.  We used a state of the art TI990 (Texas Instruments) Transport System for recording all of our survey data and plotting it out.

Believe it or not, the entire summer was spent in the Atchafalaya Basin and for that entire summer I never washed my work clothes.  I wore the same clothes, everyday all summer long.  Why?  Well, when by 7am you are waste deep in swamp, there is no point in having clean clothes to start out in.   I did have to buy new boots about once a month.   The pay was awesome for a college kid, we worked 12-14 hour days fourteen days on and seven days off.  Overtime in the states starts at forty hours so I was wracking up almost sixty hours a week of OT.  Plus, in addition to that, we got paid a daily rate for food and motel.  I have stayed in some of the most low down places around, but when all you are doing is working, all you need is a bed and a shower.

I'll share some pics with you from long ago - 1982ish.

Until next time, see you on down the road.  And yes, I've always wanted to go back into the swamp.  Just never had the opportunity.  The most enjoyable thing about being in this line of work was getting to drive the great big giant swamp vehicles.

It's all about China!

A quick update of our latest news for you here and its mostly China based ....

Our next Exhibition is ..

Jean-Marie will be attending along with our new China partnership agent Nicholas Choukroun for more information about this exhibition please click HERE

We are also pleased to announce a new partnership with Sage China ..

Synchro ERP Ltd is proud to announce a brand new 

partnership agreement with Sage Software Shanghai.

Whilst the Chinese market is proving very attractive to many potential suppliers, it is not an easy one to enter even with great products. To develop this important market and address the local challenges Synchro ERP has successfully entered into an exclusive Partnership agreement with Sage Software Shanghai.

Initially the agreement is for 2 years and will see our new partner offer its customers a complete software solution comprising of an ERP and accounting software. 

Synchro ERP will continue to deliver its high quality implementation technique and training as well as support however it is anticipated the relationship will mature to see Sage Software Shanghai take over these aspects in order to offer an even more comprehensive local solution.

To be associated with such a dynamic and success proven company who also shares the commitment to deliver the best customer satisfaction possible is a great honour and we all look forward to many years of serving new customers.

For all of our contact details please click HERE

Hope you are all well and have a great week.

Team Synchro ERP

AFS Sad News Jerry Nagel

To Texas Chapter AFS Membership:

It is with heavy hearts that we inform you of the death of our longtime friend and Chapter Chairman, Jerry Nagel, on May 6, 2014.  Jerry was a friend to us all and helped our chapter in so many ways. Needless to say, we will all miss him more than words can express. We will announce details regarding the funeral arrangements as we hear more from Jerry's family.

Sincerely,  

Eric R. Meyers, Vice Chairman

Texas Chapter AFS

These pictures of Jerry are from the AFS Texas Corsicana meeting, golf fund raiser, and dinner just a few short weeks ago.

Go in peace Jerry, you made a difference.

Really amazing how in 2014 news, good and bad, travel through email and social media.  Rarely the phone anymore...

Shane Allen

Head of Synchro ERP North American Operations

Swinging for a Good Cause...

Howdy from Texas, where we have already quickly gone from bitter cold to heat.

I had the pleasure of working really hard on Thursday afternoon and Friday, :), in attending the annual  AFS Texas Chapter golf fundraiser in Corsicana Texas.  A great time was had by all, attendance was great, and the weather was made to order perfect.

It is always a good time to get together with fellow Texas metalcasters and raise money for educational scholarships. 

What a great swing I have!

actually, I'm a duffer and only play a few times a year.  I just can't break away for 4-5 hours on a weekend to go play around of golf.  Love the game though.

Got my Synchro Shirt on!  Long time coming, :), in getting Synchro ERP shirts!  Had to surprise Barbara with a shirt that I wore at a Synchro meeting several years ago.  Did the trick, didn't it Barbara!  :)

 

Actually played golf on the same team with an old friend of mine from the Citation Lufkin Texas Foundries days.  Brian Berry headed up the finishing department.  Can't say much for his golfing shorts, but whatever....  :)

Metalcasters sure drive nice rides, the economy has turned around obvioulsy.  I'm a car and truck man.  Just like my daddy and uncles.  Actually, these were just rides at the hotel I stayed at and have no idea if they are metalcaster cars or not...  Of course, being a metalcaster and having been at Citation Lufkin Texas Foundries during the hayday when we were literally printing money, and tied closely to the automotive sector, I see castings at work... like the brake caliper and aluminum wheel pictured below.

Well, until next time, see you on down the road.

Shane Allen

Head of Synchro ERP North American Operations

 

A Long Time Ago!!!

Howdy Doody from Texas,

I'm back from the massively successful Metalcasting Congress where I caught up with Chris and Simon.  I only get to see other Synchro folks from across the pond about every six months or so, so it is always good to catch up.

I want to extend a huge thank you to the entire Synchro ERP team for "covering the bases" while everyone was on the show floor.  As per typical, they did a bang up job.  Also, a bigger thank you to the fine folks at AFS and Moderncasting for putting on a top shelf show!  It's always good to catch up with them fine folks.  OF COURSE, meeting existing customers and introducing new foundry people to the world of software for metalcasting is what is is all about!  WOW!  So many great sales leads to follow-up with.  I always say, you have to drag metalcasters into the booth as software isn't sexy like a new molding machine or core machine or new materials and products.

Anyway, a good time was had by all.

I was rummaging around my files recently while doing taxes, and came across a blast from my past.  Back in 1990, as a "joke", I had a slew of bumper stickers and other items made up to "run for the governor of Texas".   I came across a bumper sticker that I thought I would share with you.

 

Well, until next time, see you on down the road.  Barbara and Bianca are hard at working laying the groundwork for the Investment Casting show in Covington KY in October followed closely on the heels of the NFFS meeting in Palm Springs.

Shane Allen

Head of Synchro ERP North American Operations

On a roll in 2014 ...

Well I hope this Blog finds all our readers well, We have been so busy here at Synchro that we haven't even had time to blog!

We have had the training and implementation team out and about with our new customers they have been all over including China, South Africa, Mexico and USA!!

We have also attended a few Exhibitions and shows so i thought i would share these with you ..

First stop was to the IFEX in India ...

IFEX 2014 - ~Ahmedabad

IFEX 2104 saw the participation of Synchro ERP with its agent and the moment the doors opened the activity on the booth never stopped with many potential customers from all over India inquiring about the software and its many benefits. It truly was a great opportunity to meet all kind of potential customers. Foundries in general in India are exporters with greater needs for good quality controls as well as modern technologies to help them understand their costs. Indeed many such customers are told by their customers that they need to obtain ERP software. Many foundries in India also have a very young manager team and these responsible people clearly understand the benefits of such software. So a lot of demonstrations were not about why ERP software but what about the Casting Specific Solution Synchro ERP can offer.
Overall not only was the software very well received and introduced but also everyone enjoyed the conference and found it a valuable source of information as ever. The guys in charge did a fine job organizing this event so a big thanks to them.


We were due to attend the 76th Annual Wisconsin Regional Foundry Conference and Exposition in February - But sadly due to unforeseen circumstances we were unable to attend, However we hope all of you who did thoroughly enjoyed it.


And the latest Exhibition was ...


118th Metal Casting Congress 2014

This was a busy Show and the Team that went have only just got home and are busy chasing up on sales leads , Here's a few snaps ...

If you were there and have any snaps - Send them into us Here

Our next big Exhibition is ;

Foundry Mexico Congress - 19th June 2014
Holiday Inn Diamante, Querétaro, Mexico

For more information or to arrange to meet us please click here


We would like to say a huge thank you to all our new followers and liker's on our Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn pages your support is very much appreciated.

Social Media is a huge part of every buisness these days and Synchro are always willing to help our customers get set up - If you would like a helping hand just email victoria@synchroerp.com

We are currently running another UBS giveaway competition on Facebook- When we reach 250 likes we will be giving one away to a random page liker so keep sharing and telling your friends ...

Next week we will be sharing another Getting To Know you MORE questionnaire - Which Synchro Team member would you like to know more???

Have a great week ..