The medical and pharmaceutical industries are among the few industries that continue to manufacture domestically rather than overseas. Complexity of product, stringent quality requirements, certification and documentation requirements are some of the reasons that companies choose to keep manufacturing in the US. Medical Device OEMS need to have maximum assurance that their supplier is conforming to exact product specifications and standards. The Minneapolis/St. Paul area is ideal for medical and pharmaceutical manufacturing for the following reasons:

* Convenient location
* Supportive of high technology manufacturing
* Local resources with demonstrated capability to meet stringent quality requirements
* Adequate supply of a technically competent work force
* Cost effective manufacturing

The Twin Cities is centrally located in the US and has a major airport with access to light rail. There are plenty of hotels that will meet any taste or price within 10 miles of the airport. The airport is rated the 15th busiest airport in the nation yet convenient as it has plenty of flights, but not the overcrowding issues that the larger airports have. In general, airline costs to fly in and out of Minneapolis is well below the national average.

Minneapolis is considered one of the hot bed locations for Medical and Pharmaceutical manufacturing. Medtronic, St. Jude Medical, Boston Scientific, Upsher-Smith Laboratories and Cargill are just a few of the major companies located in this area. Rochester Mayo Clinic is located about 60 miles south of the Twin Cities and the University of Minnesota is located right in the heart of Minneapolis. There are 100s of ISO certified and FDA registered suppliers in this area that can support any medical device manufacturing requirement. Any manufacturer who locates in Minneapolis/ St. Paul area will have a vast network of world class local suppliers and resources to support their needs.

Minneapolis is ideal for attracting high caliber employees. This area is highly rated for its quality of life. Eden Prairie MN and Chanhassen MN are rated among the best places to live in the USA. The area is full of museums, cultural centers, theaters, and clubs with music and entertainment. Sports enthusiasts have plenty to choose from as there are professional sports teams in football, basketball, hockey, and baseball. The outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy parks with biking/ hiking trails, lakes, rivers and some of the best hunting and fishing just an hour’s drive away. Minnesota is highly rated for its education system with award winning colleges throughout the area. One would have little trouble finding highly trained talent to fill skilled positions in manufacturing.

In summary, the Minneapolis/St. Paul area is an ideal location for medical or pharmaceutical manufacturing as it has great infrastructure support, high caliber suppliers and a technically sophisticated workforce that is available at reasonable costs

Tired of all of the clutter taking up useful space inside of your home? Or perhaps you are sick of never having enough storage space in your office area. Many individuals consider implementing storage shelves and racks when considering ways to organize their living/office space, yet they often overlook the many uses of wall coat hooks in attempting to organize these spaces. These hooks do not necessarily have to be used for their general purpose, as they are extremely versatile, easy to find, and budget-friendly.

Wall coat hooks can be found in a variety of locations, including general mass retailers, flea markets, and home decor stores. Oftentimes, some of the most unique and cheap hangers can be found at yard sales and antique stores. In addition, there are also many colors, styles, and sizes of coat hangers available. If you want a look to match rustic furniture, older styles of larger versions may be desirable. Yet, if you want a more modern look, typical silver or solid colors may do the trick. Many of these hangers have the ability to be re-finished, so individuals may purchase a general hanger and re-purpose it to fit their particular needs and color scheme.

Generally, the possibilities for what wall coat hooks can be used for are endless. If one uses them in the traditional manner, they can useful in organizing clothing or may simply provide a decorative rack on which to keep coats/hats. However, they can also be used with office settings, as well. These wall hooks can be attached to desks in order to provide organization for keys, purses, and office supplies. In addition, decorative hangers can be used as paperweights for personal use or gifts. Simply apply finish or paint the hook as desired, attach felt to the bottom of the hook, and it is ready to be used as a desk organizational tool.

Not only can these hooks be used in offices, but they can also aide in home organization efforts as well. A few wall coat hooks can be attached to a board and decorated in order to provide storage for belts, handbags, or backpacks in one’s home. Also, these hooks can be used in home garages to hold extension cords, power tools, and items such as bikes and lawn chairs. One advantage to using these hangers for storage is the small amount of space they occupy and the ability to move them around as one pleases.

When experiencing a lengthy power outage (one that can last days or weeks), you are most likely preoccupied with focusing on how to stay warm, get enough light to see by, and cook food. The least of your concerns would be how the power outage impacts your home plumbing, right?

Unfortunately, as most residential plumbers can attest, power outages can cause some serious home plumbing issues, especially in freezing temperatures. When your home is no longer circulating heat, water in your pipes can expand and freeze and may eventually cause the pipe to crack or burst. Even the smallest crack in your home plumbing can cause gallons of water to leak out into your house.

In order to protect your home plumbing during a power outage, and to prevent spending money on a professional plumber, here are some tips to follow:

Before a Power Outage

In order to be prepared for a power outage, it’s a good idea to be in contact with a professional plumber who can show you the areas of your home plumbing that will be most susceptible to cracking and bursting, as well as advise you on how to prevent that from happening.

If you have a cistern or well that uses electric pumps, another idea for preparing for a power outage, aside from having a backup generator, is to store extra water in your emergency kit. This way you can stay hygienic and have water for washing hands, flushing the toilet, etc. Use plastic containers to store the water and boil it before drinking, preparing food, brushing teeth or washing hands.

After a Power Outage

Turn off all circuit breakers and refrain from plugging in or turning on any electronic equipment if any flooding from a burst pipe or torrential rains occurs. Call an electrician immediately. If there is any serious damage, also call your insurance company.

If a pipe did burst, make sure to shut off the water at the main valve and call a professional plumber, who can help locate the source of the leak.

Once everything has been checked out and fixed, do the following: For gas-powered water heaters, have your residential plumber or gas company relight the pilot light. For an electric pump water heater, refill the water before turning it back on.

Protecting Your Plumbing in an Evacuation

Evacuating your home may be necessary, if the situation is extreme enough. Before leaving, turn off the power to your home and shut off your home’s main water valve. It’s a good idea to cover the valve, meter and inlet pipes with insulating materials. Your next step will be to, starting from the top floor of your home, drain the water from the home plumbing. This involves you flushing the toilet a few times and opening the taps. Don’t forget to drain the water valves that might be in your basement, including your hot water tank. Remove the hoses from your washing machine to protect it. A final touch is to add anti-freeze to any water that may remain in the toilets, sinks and bathtub traps.