It was a good first day for MD&M West at the Anaheim Convention Center. Attendance seemed a bit sparse compared to last year’s show, but I’m hoping for a busier day tomorrow. There were some pretty interesting projects to see and a lot of new products that are about to be announced–which I can’t talk about just yet. I had a great conversation with John Campbell, the newly appointed President of Cincinnati-based Clippard Instrument Lab. John is taking the helm of the three-generation family owned company, which has been around since the 1940s. He’s worked for and purchased quite a few small and medium manufacturers over the years, and the Ontario (Canada) native is excited about growing the company throughout 2014 and beyond. igus has people talking about a really innovative campaign–the company purchased a Smart Car and removed 56 metal bearings from a variety of parts of the vehicle. They were replaced with plastic iGlide bearings. The areas affected range from the emergency brake to the alternator to the convertible roof and even the pedals. The car is being driven to 58 locations worldwide. It started in Germany, is currently in India, and will continue on to Brazil and then the U.S., starting in Anchorage, Alaska. Next year, at the Hannover Fair, the car will be torn down to show how the iGlide bearings fared. According to Matt Floyd, district sales manager, the goal is to show people that well-made plastic components are not necessarily poor quality. In fact, he said, in the right application, plastic will outlast metals, and sometimes have better vibration characteristics. Brian Burke, product manager for Pittsburg, Calif.-based Bishop-Wisecarver Group, gave a presentation on new products, including the MadeWell Radial Wheels. Meant for simple applications, these guide wheels are suitable for CNC routers, tool changers, process equipment, motorized windows and doors. The design is based on the company’s DualVee wheel product, and it is also compatible with the DualVee track.     Pneumatic Tips