Berry Plastics is a manufacturing plant for packaging and food service items.
They tend to make products in large masses for wide distribution by large companies such as McDonalds.
Materials used include: plastics and some cardstock/ paper goods. Basically from here on out, I have no idea. The place was so loud that you could barely tell ever. Just shake your head and nod. Everyone except the last guy refused to yell. So, here we go.
They had very large press machines which long sheets of plastic ran along it and was pressed then press cut out of the sheet. That's how they made lids and cups. I don't know what to tell you. I couldn't hear. They also had this cool machine that layered ink onto the plastic. I think. That's what I gathered from context and lip reading.
Overall it was very loud and industrial. I was not surprised by this. It was an interesting and cool environment, but I couldn't tell you what they said.
6/10. Loud.
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Field Trip Eldorado Inc.
Eldorado Inc. is a small, locally owned architecture firm and sign maker. I think. I have no idea. I'll touch more on this later.
The company makes sign and building designs for... somebody. Local businesses, I guess.
The materials they used were... I have no idea.
Processes? They had a bandsaw, a press, and a welder. That's all I saw. It was in a garage if that helps.
This was easily the WORST field trip yet. I was there on time and I had no idea what the place was or what it did until we were going over our final questions and answers and he mentioned something about architecture. It was super short (which I didn't mind) and it didn't really do anything for us. At all. Which is a shame, because he is a teacher at KU.
This was easily the WORST field trip yet. I was there on time and I had no idea what the place was or what it did until we were going over our final questions and answers and he mentioned something about architecture. It was super short (which I didn't mind) and it didn't really do anything for us. At all. Which is a shame, because he is a teacher at KU.
2/10, would not recommend.
National Geographic Mega Factories Ikea
In class, we watched an episode of the National Geographic series: Mega factories. The topic was Ikea which was where we would be visiting in a few days time. Throughout the course of the show, they discussed the creation of the company, the growth, the expansion, and the different key components of the company.
A majority of the film was relatively boring with little true insight to the company beyond it's roots. The beginning itself was far more interesting but it did not focus on it too long. The rest of the video seemed as if it could be applicable to almost any other modern day furniture company. Large warehouses filled with dozens of people making by the number furniture using cheap materials and expensive tools. Not the most captivating, but interesting I suppose.
I recall some members of the class sleeping through out the film and I guess in that way I can be proud of myself. I truly wished to join them but I kept myself awake through the boring sludge of repeated information and uninteresting craftsmanship. I'm totally just kidding, I have no room to comment on the quality of their materials or craftsmanship, but I was rather just uninterested and un-engaged by the program.
A majority of the film was relatively boring with little true insight to the company beyond it's roots. The beginning itself was far more interesting but it did not focus on it too long. The rest of the video seemed as if it could be applicable to almost any other modern day furniture company. Large warehouses filled with dozens of people making by the number furniture using cheap materials and expensive tools. Not the most captivating, but interesting I suppose.
I recall some members of the class sleeping through out the film and I guess in that way I can be proud of myself. I truly wished to join them but I kept myself awake through the boring sludge of repeated information and uninteresting craftsmanship. I'm totally just kidding, I have no room to comment on the quality of their materials or craftsmanship, but I was rather just uninterested and un-engaged by the program.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Ikea
Ikea is a worldwide distributor and manufacturer of furniture and home decor items. Based in Sweden, the company originated in 1943 and as of 2008 has become the largest furniture retailer in the world.
They make and sell ready to assemble furniture, house appliances, electrical items and light fixtures, children's toys, etc.
They use all types of materials. All types of woods, alloys, metals, plastics, etc. Most common would probably be fiberboard in their furniture, especially tables.
They use almost all types of forming, cutting, joining, and finishing technologies. Seriously, walk around that place. It's hard not to find an example of one.
Overall, I expected a maze masked in a furniture store and that's exactly what I got. I expected cheap, easy to build and utilize furniture and that's what I got.
They make and sell ready to assemble furniture, house appliances, electrical items and light fixtures, children's toys, etc.
They use all types of materials. All types of woods, alloys, metals, plastics, etc. Most common would probably be fiberboard in their furniture, especially tables.
They use almost all types of forming, cutting, joining, and finishing technologies. Seriously, walk around that place. It's hard not to find an example of one.
Overall, I expected a maze masked in a furniture store and that's exactly what I got. I expected cheap, easy to build and utilize furniture and that's what I got.
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Lawrence Paper Company
Lawrence Paper company makes corrugated boxes, industrial boxes, and displays for commercial shipping and display of commercial products including Hallmark, Milk Bone, and Meow Mix.
The main material used is corrugated cardboard.
Forming Technologies - Most of the forming technologies include large machines that run the paper down a series of checkpoints, folding and gluing them together in order to make layers of cardboard.
Cutting Technologies - Most of the cutting involved was large pressure blades that simply slice the cardboard into appropriate lengths. They also use a CNC machine for precise cuts in practice displays. Another form included large cutting plates with blades and sharp edges that are rolled onto the cardboard creating the necessary cuts.
Joining Technologies - There is very little in terms of joining since most of the products created are cut and meant to be assembled without glues or other holding items.
Finishing Technologies - They do use large spray guns and printers in order to fix labels and designs to products.
I was amazed at how out of date some of their technology is. They had computers that were from the 80's if not early 70's. It was like stepping into Fallout when I saw the green text on the black screen. Besides that I loved how large scale everything was.
The main material used is corrugated cardboard.
Forming Technologies - Most of the forming technologies include large machines that run the paper down a series of checkpoints, folding and gluing them together in order to make layers of cardboard.
Cutting Technologies - Most of the cutting involved was large pressure blades that simply slice the cardboard into appropriate lengths. They also use a CNC machine for precise cuts in practice displays. Another form included large cutting plates with blades and sharp edges that are rolled onto the cardboard creating the necessary cuts.
Joining Technologies - There is very little in terms of joining since most of the products created are cut and meant to be assembled without glues or other holding items.
Finishing Technologies - They do use large spray guns and printers in order to fix labels and designs to products.
I was amazed at how out of date some of their technology is. They had computers that were from the 80's if not early 70's. It was like stepping into Fallout when I saw the green text on the black screen. Besides that I loved how large scale everything was.
Huhtamaki
They are a worldwide distributor of consumer packaging and food service products.
They make containers for foods, labels for products, and other single use food related products.
They make their products for large food corporations such as McDonalds, Arby's, Blue Bunny, Starb
cuks and others.
Their main materials used are paperboard, plastic resins, molded fiber, metals and engineered plastics,
Their forming technologies mostly involved heating up the plastic and forming them to a mold, pressing the cardboard into shapes then folding them together and holding them together with glue, then covering them in a small layer of food safe resin.
Cutting materials mostly include presses.
Joining technologies mostly include a small layer of glue that is heated dry in seconds.
Most finishing technologies include a small layer of food safe coating that is sprayed or layered onto the item.
I was amazed at the size and scale of the place. I was also extremely fascinated by how automated most of it was. Entire machines or even sections of the shop were run by one person. They even had fully automated robots moving about the work floor.
They make containers for foods, labels for products, and other single use food related products.
They make their products for large food corporations such as McDonalds, Arby's, Blue Bunny, Starb
cuks and others.
Their main materials used are paperboard, plastic resins, molded fiber, metals and engineered plastics,
Their forming technologies mostly involved heating up the plastic and forming them to a mold, pressing the cardboard into shapes then folding them together and holding them together with glue, then covering them in a small layer of food safe resin.
Cutting materials mostly include presses.
Joining technologies mostly include a small layer of glue that is heated dry in seconds.
Most finishing technologies include a small layer of food safe coating that is sprayed or layered onto the item.
I was amazed at the size and scale of the place. I was also extremely fascinated by how automated most of it was. Entire machines or even sections of the shop were run by one person. They even had fully automated robots moving about the work floor.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Electronic Wasteland
While not necessarily very eye opening, it was a very insightful film by showing the depth of waste in our modern, technology based society. While many of us already know of the dangers of modern technological waste, others might not know of how deep or terrible these feats are. I found the gangs to be peculiar and interesting as I never considered that there was an underground controlled market for this salvage. I personally always figured that there was a more nomadic salvaging operation done by only the peasants by sifting through dumps. I was mostly caught off guard, but not completely surprised, by the lack of government regulation between the two cultures.
As for the second part where I depict three sustainable strategies, I can only thing of these: The obvious, the impossible, and the outlandish.
The Obvious: We outcast all of our current government systems and outlaw all forms of illegal sponsorship of politicians by corporations. We then force politicians, by penalty of impeachment followed by death, to work in the general interest of the people. We have the government work towards the sustainability of the planet, having a sector of scientists work on the dismantling, recycling, and reusing of electrical components. A
The Impossible: We repeat the first steps up until the aspect of funding. Instead, we focus on science and technology and the ability to disregard the laws of physics and nature, synthesizing electrical components that have the ability to alter form and function to the point where no new technologies need to be formed and they upgrade on their own. This defeats the necessity for new electronics and eliminates garbage beyond that which we have already.
The Outlandish (Or How Christopher Plans to Take Over the World And Love the Bomb): I will turn to politics. I will run on the platform of incorruptibility with the ideals of humanity and the betterment of mankind at heart. On this platform, I will be elected governor by a landslide vote. I will use my political knowledge to effectively create a system in which the area I oversee will become the epitome of modern society and a model to abide by. This will usher me as a shoe in for president, in which I will swiftly and easily take position of. Once in control of the United States, the plan begins. I will utilize the worlds strongest, well funded, and optimized military to do my bidding, marching into every country on earth. They have two choices: Join us, or be obliterated. I slowly accumulate the worlds military forces while allowing the people to keep their cultures, lands, and belongings in tact. I will institute my own form of fair, political guidance that responds to me. Once I control every country, I will have all resources and currency become universal: All of it will be evenly distributed so there are no longer those who are poor or misfortuned. Everyone starts again on an even playing field. I will then collect the worlds smartest minds to work effortlessly on the front of improving the human race. Science and technology will rocket into the future, with us having technological advancements that are inconceivable to modern minds. Through harsh and long series of war and turmoil, all evil, unfair, and unjust institutions will be eliminated systematically to the point where the entirety of earth is a peaceful unified society, clear of all ailments, corruption, and problems. Due to our booming scientific society, the colonization of planets will be an easy and swift process. Minerals and resources will be plentiful and limitless. Humans will thrive and spread across the galaxy as a force of good that will do nothing but work to advance the universe as a whole.
One of those random, lifeless, worthless planets we conquer will be used as a garbage planet where we dump stuff that we can't properly recycle or reuse.
As for the second part where I depict three sustainable strategies, I can only thing of these: The obvious, the impossible, and the outlandish.
The Obvious: We outcast all of our current government systems and outlaw all forms of illegal sponsorship of politicians by corporations. We then force politicians, by penalty of impeachment followed by death, to work in the general interest of the people. We have the government work towards the sustainability of the planet, having a sector of scientists work on the dismantling, recycling, and reusing of electrical components. A
The Impossible: We repeat the first steps up until the aspect of funding. Instead, we focus on science and technology and the ability to disregard the laws of physics and nature, synthesizing electrical components that have the ability to alter form and function to the point where no new technologies need to be formed and they upgrade on their own. This defeats the necessity for new electronics and eliminates garbage beyond that which we have already.
The Outlandish (Or How Christopher Plans to Take Over the World And Love the Bomb): I will turn to politics. I will run on the platform of incorruptibility with the ideals of humanity and the betterment of mankind at heart. On this platform, I will be elected governor by a landslide vote. I will use my political knowledge to effectively create a system in which the area I oversee will become the epitome of modern society and a model to abide by. This will usher me as a shoe in for president, in which I will swiftly and easily take position of. Once in control of the United States, the plan begins. I will utilize the worlds strongest, well funded, and optimized military to do my bidding, marching into every country on earth. They have two choices: Join us, or be obliterated. I slowly accumulate the worlds military forces while allowing the people to keep their cultures, lands, and belongings in tact. I will institute my own form of fair, political guidance that responds to me. Once I control every country, I will have all resources and currency become universal: All of it will be evenly distributed so there are no longer those who are poor or misfortuned. Everyone starts again on an even playing field. I will then collect the worlds smartest minds to work effortlessly on the front of improving the human race. Science and technology will rocket into the future, with us having technological advancements that are inconceivable to modern minds. Through harsh and long series of war and turmoil, all evil, unfair, and unjust institutions will be eliminated systematically to the point where the entirety of earth is a peaceful unified society, clear of all ailments, corruption, and problems. Due to our booming scientific society, the colonization of planets will be an easy and swift process. Minerals and resources will be plentiful and limitless. Humans will thrive and spread across the galaxy as a force of good that will do nothing but work to advance the universe as a whole.
One of those random, lifeless, worthless planets we conquer will be used as a garbage planet where we dump stuff that we can't properly recycle or reuse.
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