By: Bob Glenn, Editor
YOKE Industrial Corp., the Taiwan-based manufacturer of chain fittings, wire rope accessories and fall protection equipment and accessories, launched a U.S. subsidiary, YOKE Inc., in 2023. The subsidiary, which also secured warehouse space in Houston, represents a significant investment by the manufacturer to better support their distributors and users in North America.
The Open House was held on October 19th directly following the AWRF’s Fall General Meeting and PIE. The event kicked off with gathering time for attendees to chat casually with the numerous YOKE team members on hand as well as network with other attendees. Guests then enjoyed a robust lunch, following which several YOKE representatives shared presentations.
Al Tanzil, Managing Director for YOKE Inc., explained that one of the main goals for new business entity is to provide immediate availability of products in the United States by stocking significant inventory levels across their project range in Houston. They also more actively seek to provide competitive pricing and quick access to technical support.
With respect to inventory, the warehouse space was filled to about one-half of its capacity during the Open House. Several containers were slated for delivery shortly following the event to quickly bring the inventory on hand much closer to the intended goal.
Albee Chang, Key Account Manager for YOKE Industrial Corp., shared a review of YOKE’s overall product line, including a full range of chain fittings, wire rope accessories, and fall protection gear. Integration of technology for safety in lifting operations lies at the heart of everything YOKE does, and two specific tools lie at the heart of that effort – Supra Series tags and RiConnect software.
Tiffany Huang, also Key Account Manager for YOKE Industrial, introduced the Blue Supra Series of digital chips includes the SupraTag – a stainless steel tag with embedded digital chip to easily have product information available for any asset – and the SupraNano digital chip which can be embedded into products at the point of manufacture. This series provides a rugged and reliable method to embed or attach the ability to store digital information associated with any asset, including any lifting and rigging equipment. The tags incorporate RFID and NFC technology for versatile connectivity.
RiConnect, as described by Neyib Bernal, YOKE Inc’s Technical Sales Manager for Latin America, provides cloud-based software that stores and makes readily available digital information associated with any tagged asset. That enables users – and anyone else along the supply chain, including manufacturers, owners, and inspectors – to immediately access the latest information about that asset. This helps to efficiently manage and optimize utilization, maintenance, and inspection of assets across an entire organization.
Tying that theme together, Ken Lee, Sales and Products Vice President for YOKE Industrial, shared case studies where YOKE Blue Supra is getting results in the field today. Saudi Aramco is presently managing more than 30,000 assets digitally, with GeoLocation providing tracking, location history, mapping integration and enhanced accountability. Separately, Schlumberger is delivering digital asset management for their customers with Blue Supra capturing asset status and management of associated documents throughout their equipment and services offering.
The gift bag for attendees included a YOKE 3/8” Screw Pin Anchor Shackle with an integrated Supra Tag, and a QR code to download the RiConnect mobile app. With the app installed, we were quickly able to scan the Supra Nano embedded in the shackle with our iPhone and access Product Details including serial number, description, registered date. Additional documentation available in the app included the product Certificate indicating EC and UK Declarations of Conformity, a complete Instruction Guide, and a 16-point Pre-use Check with a thumbs up/down screen for each step of the inspection. The results of that inspection, along with notes and photo(s) can be easily uploaded to the cloud from the final screen of the Pre-use Check.
These presentations were followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and an opportunity to tour the warehouse facility. After further informal conversation, attendees were treated to a happy hour at nearby Giant Texas Distillers!
President of YOKE Industrial, Steven Hong, believes this is the “golden age for YOKE. We are now able to offer our growing customer-base benefits that we will continue to expand with our new central warehouse and dedicated team,” including the newly appointed Director of Operations Amado Ortuño.
Visit www.yoke.net to learn more.
