The Missouri EHS Conference brings together Environmental, Health, Safety and Sustainability resources and professionals for two days of networking, learning and information sharing. This event is content-heavy, with over 20 breakout sessions focused on equipping EHS professionals with the tools necessary to keep their employees safe while on the job and meet reporting and compliance requirements.
Join our Safety Specialists at the EHS Conference in September! We're looking forward to meeting you, talking safety best practices, and handing out some SMC swag!
A compact size, light weight, simple mounting on the DIN rail and the quick connect spring-clamp terminals are what makes the 1606-XLP power supplies so easy to use and install in seconds. A rugged electrical and mechanical design as well as a high immunity against electrical disturbances on the mains provides reliable output power. This offers superior protection for equipment connected to the public mains network or exposed to a critical industrial environment. The 1606-XLP series offers output voltages from 5 to 56Vdc and a power rating of up to 100W. A DC-OK signal allows remote diagnostics. The supplementary decoupling diode module 1606-XLPRED helps you build redundant systems or protect against back-feed voltages.
Compressed air: you can’t see it, but you’d definitely notice if it went away. Whether you're in automotive manufacturing, food and beverage production, packaging, or mining, compressed air is probably a key part of your daily operations. In fact, roughly 70% of manufacturers rely on compressed air for everything from running machine tools to collecting dust.
Despite how common it is, compressed air is also one of the least energy-efficient utilities in a facility. That's why it’s so important to optimize it—not only to keep your systems running smoothly but also to save on energy costs and reduce downtime.
A few key areas to help you do just that:
How to increase energy efficiency in your compressed air system
Ways to reduce downtime and keep things running reliably
Emerging technologies and trends in compressed air
Important safety tips to keep your team protected
Let’s dive in.
Boosting Energy Efficiency in Your Compressed Air System
Compressed air is a powerful tool, but it can be a serious energy hog if not managed properly. The good news? Small changes can make a big difference. Here’s how to make your system more efficient and cost-effective:
1. Fix Those Leaks
Leaks are the silent killers of energy efficiency. On average, about 20–30% of compressed air gets lost to leaks—and that’s like throwing money out the window.
The best way to hunt down leaks is with an ultrasonic acoustic detector, which picks up the high-frequency sound of air escaping. This is also called an air leak detection audit, that can be done by a pneumatic specialist. No fancy tools? No problem. A simple soapy water spray can reveal leaks too—just look for bubbling.
Most leaks happen in familiar spots: valves, fittings, hoses, and joints. Once you find them, repairs can be as easy as tightening a connection or swapping out worn components. Even custom parts can be replaced quickly with a U.S. based custom valve assembly service. And when you fix them, you’ll often see energy losses drop to under 10%.
2. Rethink Energy-Hungry Applications
Some applications just eat up compressed air. The key is figuring out which ones and finding alternatives that get the job done for less energy.
For example:
Using a pneumatic vibrator on a hopper? Consider switching to an impact cylinder that delivers a quick, controlled shock.
Relying on vortex tubes to cool electrical cabinets? Try adding a thermostat and shutoff valve to only cool when it’s needed.
Running vacuum venturis 24/7? Upgrade to a multi-stage version with auto shutoff so it only runs when absolutely necessary.
These kinds of tweaks can add up to big savings over time.
3. Lower the Pressure (When You Can)
When machines are idle, you don’t need full system pressure. Lowering the pressure during downtime is a simple way to cut energy use without slowing you down when you’re ready to restart.
Use automated controls and pressure regulators to dial things back during standby. As a rule of thumb, every 2 psi you reduce can save about 1% in energy. Multiply that over hundreds of hours, and you’ve got a noticeable difference in your utility bill.
4. Don’t Overpressurize
More pressure isn’t always better. In fact, overpressurizing a system can lead to premature wear, wasted energy, and even safety risks.
The right pressure should match the specific needs of your tools and actuators. Most of the time, this is lower than what’s coming from the compressor room. If you see similar machines running at different pressures, that’s a sign to investigate—something may be misconfigured.
Use manual or electro-pneumatic regulators to fine-tune your system and monitor pressure regularly to avoid unnecessary spikes.
Evaluating your systems to optimize energy usage can be a tedious task. Taking advantage of a pneumatic subject matter expert can reduce stress and labor hours used on combing over every application in your facility. Start the conversation today and start saving on utilities. Contact Us.
SMC Tool: Dustin Cathcart
Dustin is a Pneumatic expert employed with SMC managing projects, performing services, and providing professional support and guidance to customers. He has a vast background in fluid power, working in the industry for over 11 years in positions such as process engineer, and design engineering.
Talk to one of our specialists today and operate at your most efficient.
nventory management can be costly, yet necessary in the industry. The excessive gruntwork of this process can lead to:
Shrinkage is caused by manual tracking and human error, which leads to discrepancies.
Plant downtime costing an average of up to $15K an hour at Midwest manufacturers
Inefficient order processing without real-time inventory updates
Demand forecasting is difficult because the lack of historical data tracking leads to stockouts or overstock.
Loss and theft are more likely to occur when manual records are kept and tracking is lax.
Miscalculated stock is common and costly when it leads to unused overstock or constant understocking issues.
Implementing an inventory management system with TraxMRO can mitigate these issues by providing real-time visibility, automating inventory tracking, and improving overall operational efficiency.
How it Works
Collaboration with SMC team members at customer facility is at the beginning of every successful inventory management system. Once an SMC representative has met with your team and done a thorough review of the facility, they will take the findings and create a brief report with suggested solutions. In the TraxMRO Solution you will find all the information needed to make knowledgeable decisions about the details of your inventory.
This software will gather inventory data and create reports for each department and/or project entered into the system. Report findings will show how often your stocked SKUs are used and assign them to a category based on this. These reports can be generated immediately or can be pulled periodically based on the schedule you prefer (weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.). Other valuable information includes tracking the usage of SKUs by person, department, and/or project. Narrow down where inventory is used the most and where any excessive stock is costing you.
Once you have set up your customized TraxMRO solution, your SMC representative will perform an Executive Business Review (EBR). This is where all the information collected by TraxMRO software will be analyzed by inventory experts to offer solutions for improved efficiency and optimized stocking. These solutions will be discussed with team members and upper management based on how often you decide it is necessary. With these suggestions you can make informed adjustments to your minimum and maximum stock levels without fear of them changing without your authorization.
Why TraxMRO
Inventory Management by TraxMRO will take the weight of inventory headaches off employees and use stored data to educate decision-makers. Unlike other inventory management systems that are fully automated, we guarantee that a representative is assigned to each TraxMRO client, allowing us to stay proactive against inventory discrepancies. It will also include an easy-to-use portal.
This makes all the information accessible and easily manageable, saving employees time and stress. This portal can have multiple log-ins so that any employee who needs access can have it. There are permissions controls to assign proper access to the appropriate employees. Despite this, you will still have access to a TraxMRO expert for support or any other needs.
Not only does the interface offer control over your inventory, it also offers visibility with your personnel. The system can track who checks out what to verify the proper use and return (if necessary) of any equipment. Tracking will be made easier, mitigating theft or loss. If anything does go missing, the system will be able to track where it was and who had it last.
There are numerous benefits to using TraxMRO as an inventory management system, but just to name a few;
Savings in labor by freeing up your team’s valuable time.
Reduced stockouts and overstocks when utilizing the collected data to ensure proper quantities are maintained.
Increased transparency in regular reviews checking the efficiency of the inventory and identifying savings opportunities including removing unnecessary items.
Easy-to-use portal interface with a dedicated login to the TraxMRO portal, allowing complete control and transparency in your inventory. This is where minimum and maximum stock levels can be adjusted to ensure critical supplies are always available.
Flexible start-up - beginning with a simple handshake agreement and small inventory to demonstrate the true benefits before expanding the program.
Quality parts provided by SMC-approved suppliers. TraxMRO is a division of SMC, ensuring the same quality and service SMC has been known for since 1950.
Supplier relationships improve by working closely with a vendor to manage your inventory, building a stronger relationship, and negotiating better pricing.
Improved forecast accuracy using this system can help improve forecast accuracy by providing data on actual usage patterns.
Kitting to make projects more efficient and cost-effective.
Tracking project or department spending.
Personnel tracking or editing when people change positions.
TraxMRO Offerings
Among the offerings of TraxMRO are different levels of security. For smaller, less valuable items, such as nuts and bolts, tracking might not be necessary. A good option for these items would be simple open shelves with organizational bins provided by TraxMRO. For more valuable equipment, vending options and more detailed tracking is available.
Total and complete visibility is attainable when utilizing the barcode solution through TraxMRO. This encompasses all of your stocked SKUs across all vendors, bringing them into one system.
Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) With VMI by TraxMRO, you will have a dedicated TraxMRO specialist that will work with you to determine the products and levels that need management, as well as setting approvals for orders if required. This specialist will do the inventory count and suggest stocking levels on an agreed upon schedule. With this addition, TraxMRO will provide the barcode software to make the process seamless. This will give you visibility, control, and analytics to all your orders with SMC so you don't have to worry about overstocking or unauthorized purchases.
Customer Managed Inventory (CMI) Order and count products in your inventory with just the scan of a barcode using the mobile app. Scan once and capture item number, item location, package quantity, min/max, and reorder quantity. This makes ordering easy as you can adjust any details required and place your order. The software will not allow multiple orders to be placed if items are on backorder due to supply chain issues. This lessens the worry of complications with order cancellations and the hassle of amending your order.
Facility Storeroom Management (FMI) Our Implementation Management Team will work with you to schedule our lean operational sponsored walk-through. We'll identify key areas you want to address so we can provide actionable data illustrating the value TraxMRO in-plant offering is providing to your facility. The Implementation Team will hire the on-site manager as well as the shift attendants who will be located at your facility to streamline your supply chain and deliver the agreed-upon return on investment for you. Industrial Vending (IV) Your team has access to necessary equipment with an industrial vending machine on-site. The process is simple and automated with the machine connecting to the TraxMRO software through a secure internet connection.
Gain visibility, control, and invaluable data by utilizing everything TraxMRO offers. Make storeroom operations seamless with the integration of these services. You will see inventory replenish 10x faster than through an e-commerce site or the old-fashioned pen-and-paper method. Ease employee workload and ease your mind knowing your inventory is being handled. SMC has over 70 years of experience managing hundreds of thousands of SKUs, so your inventory will be in good hands.
SMC Tool: Andy Wolfe
Andy has been an integral part of the SMC knowledge base for over 27 years. Starting in the warehouse and steadily working his way up to account manager, he now serves as the director of TraxMRO. In this position Andy has developed a deep understanding of customer needs and has honed his skills in building collaborative partnerships.
With a background in industrial environments, he is extremely educated on quality products and a vast majority of industry manufacturers and suppliers. This reinforces his drive to support customers with tailored solutions.
For help with your inventory management Contact Us. For more information about your savings with TraxMRO, use the ROI calculator below!
Stay at the forefront of technological advancement with the newest in automation and robotics.Full story
Our experts at SMC are passionate about helping businesses of all sizes harness the power of automation without the headaches of complex integration. We achieve this by partnering with industry-leading brands, such as Doosan Collaborative Robots (cobots), to offer a safer, smarter, and more flexible way to automate your operations.
Doosan cobots are designed to work alongside humans, not replace them. With advanced safety features, intuitive controls, and industry-leading precision, they help companies boost productivity, improve consistency, and reduce repetitive strain on workers—all while maintaining nimble and adaptable operations.
Little to No Programming Required
Gone are the days of needing a dedicated robotics engineer for every task. Doosan cobots integrate seamlessly with plug-and-play solutions that require little to no programming, meaning you can get up and running quickly and start seeing ROI faster.
Some of the innovative solution providers we work with include:
CLOOS – Advanced welding automation systems that deliver precise, repeatable welds with minimal operator intervention. Designed for high efficiency, CLOOS solutions reduce setup time and ensure consistent weld quality.
MARI – Flexible cobot solutions for both welding and surface finishing tasks, such as polishing and sanding. MARI uses 3D vision technology for true “no code” programming, with motion paths automatically generated by the vision system.
Paltz & Onexia – Streamlined palletizing systems that reduce manual lifting, speed up packaging, and improve workplace ergonomics.
CNCtender – CNC machine tending automation that keeps production running efficiently and reduces operator downtime.
Robochef SmartFryer – An innovative cobot-based fryer solution for the food industry, ensuring consistent cooking, improved food safety, and reduced labor demands.
Doosan’s Test Drive Program – Try Before You Commit
We understand that investing in automation can feel like a big step—especially if you’ve never worked with cobots before. That’s why Doosan’s Test Drive Program is such a game-changer.
With the Test Drive Program, you can try a Doosan collaborative robot solution in your facility before making a full purchase commitment. This allows you to:
Evaluate real-world performance with your actual parts, processes, and environment.
See firsthand how the cobot integrates with workflow.
Measure time savings, quality improvements, and productivity gains before you buy.
Build team confidence with hands-on experience.
The Test Drive Program is available for solutions such as:
Welding with CLOOS
Welding, polishing, and sanding with MARI
Palletizing with Paltz or Onexia
CNC machine tending with CNCtender
Built for Any Industry
Whether you’re in manufacturing, logistics, food service, or fabrication, Doosan cobots adapt to your needs. Their ease of use means they can handle one task today and a completely different one tomorrow, without costly reprogramming or downtime.
As an authorized Doosan Robotics distributor, SMC provides more than just hardware—we deliverend-to-end support, from needs assessment and solution design to installation, training, and ongoing service. With the Doosan Test Drive Program, you can move forward with automation knowing it’s the perfect fit for your operation.
SMC Tool: Josh Buchan
Josh is SMC's robotics and mechatronics expert with 10 years of robotic and automation experience. He earned his bachelors degree in Mechatronics Engineering and has been using his knowledge to help SMC partners since 2023. His goal is to help our partners exceed expectations one successful solution at a time.
Talk to one of our specialists today to find out what cobots can do for you.
Donec pellentesque et lorem nec sodales. Curabitur velit justo, malesuada eget tristique quis, pellentesque a nunc. Vivamus nec orci auctor, auctor ligula quis, cursus lectus. Phasellus tristique ultrices eros, non convallis dui pulvinar eu. In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Donec turpis urna, tincidunt eu nulla ut, commodo luctus arcu. Praesent sit amet volutpat massa. Duis tincidunt ligula dolor, et tincidunt justo feugiat placerat. Sed mattis vehicula lectus vel sagittis. In vulputate vulputate felis, at mattis lorem dictum non. Fusce consequat semper orci vehicula pharetra. Morbi ultrices massa vel eleifend ullamcorper. Phasellus condimentum nec ante at congue. Quisque erat leo, molestie id urna et, vehicula rutrum urna. Mauris dignissim arcu eu quam luctus, vitae placerat nunc interdum. Sed interdum fringilla risus, quis aliquam eros.
As this new year rolls out, we at GROEBNER are passionate about all the possibilities and growth we see in the world of natural gas. We can’t thank our customers and manufacturer partners enough as we close in on 45 years in the business. We have never felt better about our strong relationships, nor have we seen more opportunities to help our customers improve their daily practices and fulfill their needs.
GROEBNER’s Team
Our team definitely has the background to stay current with those increasing opportunities. More than ever, GROEBNER is “Powered by Experience.” Our current team has over 525 years’ experience with GROEBNER. That number is even larger when you think about the overall background they have in the natural gas utility industry. This year, we are celebrating Joe’s 40th year with GROEBNER along with some other noteworthy anniversary milestones:
Joe Groebner, President — February 2020 marks Joe’s 40th anniversary in the industry with GROEBNER
Steve D’Amato, Executive Vice President — 31 years
Scott Gleisner, Vice President of Manufacturing — 28 years
Scott Doebler, Inventory Control Manager — 24 years
John Nylin, Inside Sales — 24 years
Gary Ebnet, Territory Manager — 22 years
Alice Zak, Illinois Branch Manager — 22 years
Jim Perkins, Senior Sales Director — 20 years
These people comprise just a small portion of the staff that continues to research and promote new technologies for natural gas utilities and construction. Our entire team is focused on offering our customers the best products to meet their many business needs.
In addition to seeking and selling top-of-the-line products, our customer service/sales support team provides you an easy point of contact. Order status, inventory availability, and even scheduling service calls — our representatives help you experience a smooth process when working with GROEBNER.
Natural Gas Industry Involvement and Support
Here at GROEBNER, we know that we can’t bring you the very best in products and services if we don’t keep our industry knowledge up-to-the-minute. So we place a high level of importance on membership in the industry’s associations. It allows us to give the industry much-needed support, while helping us to remain relevant and in tune with the industry’s needs. We proudly hold memberships in and support numerous organizations:
We also go beyond basic memberships to work with many associations on their inner circles and committees. Here’s a broad sampling of the association committees we are honored to participate in:
In addition, we work with a number of associations to coordinate the exhibit aspects of their conferences which includes managing exhibitor registrations, exhibit room set-up, hospitality nights, and more.
Engaging with the Natural Gas Industry
There are also other ways we reach out to the industry to ensure we are hearing everyone’s needs and desires. Our sales and customer service teams engage one-on-one every day with our customers and manufacturers. But we also find participation in industry trade shows and events to be very valuable.
Additionally, due to our staff members’ experience, they often participate as conference speakers, panel members, or leaders for break-out training sessions. We also exhibit at the conferences, allowing us to meet with our customers and manufacturer connections face-to-face (and gather the latest in industry information).
A sampling of some of the events we’re planning to attend in 2020 includes:
As our expertise in the natural gas industry has grown, we have felt the importance of sharing that knowledge with others. One way we do this is through training sessions with our customers. We partner with a number of our manufacturers to help ensure the staff and crews at natural gas utilities have solid knowledge of best practices and equipment usage.
To ensure we have the best information from our manufacturers to pass on to our customers, we work with them to obtain training for our staff. This includes hosting their staff at our offices and having their representatives travel with our sales team. In 2020, we’ll also be working with manufacturers in monthly “Quick-Hit” training webinars from their team to ours.
GROEBNER has the team in place to allow us to truly be “Powered by Experience.” We enjoy sharing with our colleagues that industry knowledge we’ve gathered. Some examples of this knowledge-sharing include:
Gas 101 — provides an overview on natural gas — how it all started, how it works, history of the industry, and even a live gas demonstration. This session has been repeatedly presented to companies such as Citizens Energy Group, Consumers Energy, DTE Energy, NIPSCO, Ohio Gas Company, and SEMCO ENERGY Gas Company where new hires and those new to natural gas can build a deeper industry understanding.
Foreman Leadership Training — as part of Miller Pipeline’s program, throughout the year, they host training for about 30 foremen at a time from across the country at their corporate headquarters. GROEBNER has been a part of 47 of those sessions to date and works with the group to teach the latest in McElroy maintenance, electrofusion do’s and don’ts, combustible gas indicators, etc. and hold an open Q & A. These sessions help ensure that Miller Pipeline’s foremen team is up-to-date and working from the same knowledge base.
Product showcase — several times a year, we host engineers from our client, Nicor, at GROEBNER to highlight a variety of products and processes. They have the opportunity to learn about the latest technology at stations for butt fusion, electrofusion, and leak detection.
As mentioned, these are just a sampling of the possibilities. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like to work together to develop training/educational opportunities for your own teams.
Using Our Past to Fuel the Future
After nearly 45 years in the natural gas industry, GROEBNER continues to be excited about the future of the industry, about our customer and vendor relationships, and about the possibilities we all have for success. We will continue to expand our knowledge base and our partnerships, to help ensure the best for our shared industry. We’re thankful for all the cooperative work we’ve done with such a broad section of the natural gas industry. Thank you to each of you for being part of this journey, and we look forward to continuing our mutually beneficial relationships.
Aliquam venenatis enim mauris, non efficitur sem vehicula id. Quisque ut dictum augue, eget faucibus velit. Cras erat velit, elementum vel urna sed, euismod finibus purus. Etiam faucibus neque neque, non ullamcorper orci varius a. Maecenas dictum a sapien non pretium. Mauris ac ante arcu. Cras eu quam quis massa elementum semper non sit amet nunc. Nunc ornare mi ullamcorper dui fringilla mollis. Nam vitae erat arcu.
Donec pellentesque et lorem nec sodales. Curabitur velit justo, malesuada eget tristique quis, pellentesque a nunc. Vivamus nec orci auctor, auctor ligula quis, cursus lectus. Phasellus tristique ultrices eros, non convallis dui pulvinar eu. In hac habitasse platea dictumst. Donec turpis urna, tincidunt eu nulla ut, commodo luctus arcu. Praesent sit amet volutpat massa. Duis tincidunt ligula dolor, et tincidunt justo feugiat placerat. Sed mattis vehicula lectus vel sagittis. In vulputate vulputate felis, at mattis lorem dictum non. Fusce consequat semper orci vehicula pharetra. Morbi ultrices massa vel eleifend ullamcorper. Phasellus condimentum nec ante at congue. Quisque erat leo, molestie id urna et, vehicula rutrum urna. Mauris dignissim arcu eu quam luctus, vitae placerat nunc interdum. Sed interdum fringilla risus, quis aliquam eros.
