Author: FORGE Team

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How to Select a Contract Manufacturer: a 9-Point Checklist

Product Resources, a FORGE Iron partner, is a contract manufacturing company with expertise in designing and building complex scientific, medical and industrial equipment. In this Tools of the Trade, Product Resources describes the nine steps to select a contract manufacturer for your innovative product. When you select a contract manufacturer, you are, in many ways,…

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7 HR Tips for Sustainable Tech Startups

The team of experienced engineers at Next Rung Technology, a Friend of FORGE partner, partners with growth-stage companies creating sustainable technologies to support them through the range of complex challenges faced in commercialization. In this Tools of the Trade, Next Rung Technology Senior Human Resources Consultant Paula Mayhew gives you her top seven HR tips…

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Invention Versus Engineering

Finish Line Product Development Services, a Friend of FORGE partner, is a product development consultancy complementing your existing product development team with experts, processes and reference designs exclusively for startups and small companies. In this Tools of the Trade, Finish Line goes over the difference between invention and engineering, and knowing why invention versus engineering…

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Understanding Quality Certifications for Injection Molders

Plastics Manufacturing Resources, a FORGE partner, connects companies to a wide range of plastics manufacturing options, from injection and blow molding to additive manufacturing, thermoforming and more. In this Tools of the Trade, they explain quality management systems and certifications for plastics manufacturing. These are the quality certifications for injection molders you should know! Quality…

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How Contract Manufacturing Companies Fit in the Supply Chain

Product Resources, a FORGE Iron partner, is a contract manufacturing company with expertise in designing and building complex scientific, medical and industrial equipment. In this Tools of the Trade, Product Resources explains contract manufacturing companies’ position in the complex network we call the regional supply chain ecosystem. The contract manufacturing industry has exploded over the…

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Tech Tip: Most Common Causes of Contactor Chatter and Noise

Pearse Bertram, a FORGE Iron partner, is an industry-leading provider of distribution and contract manufacturing services for automation and process control solutions. In this Tools of the Trade, Pearse Bertram writes about the three reasons for undesirable contactor chatter and noise and what to do about them. QUESTION: What are the possible reasons for unexpected…

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5 Factors to Consider Before Scaling Up Your Process-Driven Sustainable Technology

The team of experienced engineers at Next Rung Technology, a Friend of FORGE partner, partners with growth-stage companies creating sustainable technologies to support them through the range of complex challenges faced in commercialization. In this Tools of the Trade, Next Rung Technology describes common pitfalls and useful strategies for scaling up sustainable technologies. Scaling up…

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How to Hire a Product Development Team

Finish Line Product Development Services, a Friend of FORGE partner, is a product development consultancy complementing companies’ existing product development teams with experts, processes and reference designs exclusively for startups and small companies. In this Tools of the Trade, Finish Line goes over the essential knowledge small businesses and startups need to hire a great…

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Why Would Your Business Want a Banking Relationship?

Enterprise Bank, a FORGE Steel partner, is an independent, innovative bank that values the entrepreneurial spirit and stimulates the economy by helping to create new businesses. In this Tools of the Trade, Enterprise Bank Executive Vice President Peter Rayno discusses the value of a banking relationship and forming an interpersonal connection with your banker. You…

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PDaaS and Consultants as a Low-Cost Alternative to Hiring

Bayard Design, a FORGE Iron partner, provides engineered solutions to its customers’ product design projects. Its team can help run product design projects from concept through to commercial scale. In this Tools of the Trade, Bayard Design describes how PDaaS or hiring a product development consultant can save startups precious funding. Hiring Engineers is difficult…