The product need was defined by a major Japanese technology company interested in supplying to the Japanese Self Defense Force, and commercial helicopter and fixed wing operators in several Asian countries. We identified developers and manufacturers of these vision systems, providing our client significant details of their current status and capabilities relative to systems of this nature. A system that "fit" was discovered at a major US aircraft manufacturer. It had flown and showed promise, but the manufacturer wanted a "risk sharing" partner to proceed. The Kober Companys acted as intermediary between the parties, exploring opportunities from technology assignment to outright purchase, playing a key role in the negotiations and discussions.

As with many products today, the identities of key manufacturers, and the resultant technologies, have changed. This Kober Companys in-depth analysis identifies the key players, markets served (primarily focused on aircraft, missile, satellite transmission, marine and automotive), and technology associated with each. Also included is a broad brush patent search, aimed primarily at emerging technologies. Competition and potential technology purchase were our clients’ drivers to commission this project.

Our client wanted to know the potential for gyroscope attitude and positional systems in tunnel boring machines (TBM) and micro-tunnel boring machines (MTBM). Our report included analyses of all the manufacturers, identifying their output, market share and aftermarket retrofit potential, as well as actual and potential pricing of directional control systems. A true "in-depth" evaluation, we also defined "problems" associated with current competitive systems that could allow market penetration for our client, and identified specific market channels. The report also included an in-depth analysis of all tunnel work currently in-process and projected a decade ahead.

A unique market development and program in a competitive market, it introduced, to applicable regional government organizations, a substance abuse testing and evaluation program which included expert witness testimony and training, that had been developed by a group of medical doctors. Target markets included public defenders’ offices in various counties in Southern California. Each target market was identified, contacted and sold on value. It culminated with the capture, in the first year of the program, of the majority of the business available from the Public Defenders Office (300 attorneys) of a major Southern California county.

As more compact, voltage-sensitive semiconductors are produced, EMI shielding products are in increasing demand in the electronics industry. From our analysis for a well-respected Japanese manufacturer, we expected to find a significant market for his turnkey moveable EMI shield rooms. Working together, we received our first order less than six months after the program was initiated, valued at more than $300,000. We advised on every aspect from shipping to final installation, testing, buyoff and payment, including identification and management of local contractors. This project, for a world-class cellular telephone manufacturer, is expected has resulted in significant follow-on business as their rapidly growing operations expand.

Our Asian client’s installation and warranty costs had spiraled out of control before we were asked to intervene. The scope of work, in addition to modifications to their cylinders, required union dismantling of some crane superstructure, installation of spare cylinders to keep the cranes operational during modification, identification of an off-site repair facility capable of engineering evaluation, and delivery coordination. Our client was experiencing difficulty in final buy-off of hydraulic skewing cylinders installed on loading cranes 200’ above the ground of a major unionized west coast harbor.

KoberCo Management Service saved the customer over $100,000 in the first three months. Successfully completed within schedule, other prerequisites included our being capable of providing "reasonably" priced work in a unionized environment without provoking incidents, and an ability to identify and implement previously elusive changes to our client’s product to bring it into specification for customer buyoff.

All manufacturers serving this new technology must reevaluate their products and services to even be in business 10 years from now. Our client makes products used in airborne camera systems, satellites, electronic manufacturing and microwave transmission. Our analysis identifies the strategic niches that will insure our client’s survival by focusing on industry needs as it transforms to all-digital and merges with other information processing industries.

The world’s automotive manufacturers led by Detroit’s Big 3, are undergoing radical changes in the way they procure components, including selling their own component manufacturing operations. They have changed dramatically the way they do business with, and what they expect from, their suppliers. For those willing to undergo the necessary changes, this offers the potential for significant sales, and profits.

Our analysis, for an in-line production systems manufacturer intent on becoming a significant factor in the automotive market, provided a complete picture of the sector of interest. It included a detailed plan to capitalize on their strengths, plus recommendations of target customers and support people to insure their profitable market penetration. It is a complete blueprint for their continued success in this competitive environment.

RFEC is a "low cost" method for testing the integrity of process equipment such as boilers and heat exchangers, which in the past has carried a connotation of "black magic", or the belief that significant operator dependency is required for accurate results. Our client asked that we study the method's current usage and acceptability in the petrochemical and power industries, their code governing bodies and technical associations. After determining these potential customer perceptions of the reliability of RFEC results, we were asked to recommend what would be required to significantly increase the technologies, and in particular their system’s, acceptance.

Our study also compared RFEC to competitive techniques including its future vis-a-vis these other methods. We also analyzed future probable testing requirements driven by government and code making bodies where RFEC could be selected. It’s a complete plan for the future for this remarkable technology.

Our client asked us to project the future of fluid power in themed entertainment products, specifically targeting an internationally recognized theme park group. We identified key suppliers of fluid power - propelled attractions, simulators, animatronics and special effects, including details of the hydraulic and pneumatic products and systems used by each. The report concludes with estimated purchase quantities in new equipment and maintenance, competitive pricing, and support requirements.

This project was an in-depth analysis of the potential to transfer our client’s infrared technology developed for aerospace to specific industrial equipment. First targeted was snow removal equipment, for which buried objects such as automobiles on highways and at airports pose significant hazards. We identified all manufacturers capable of incorporating this sophisticated technology, as well as major highway department and airport authorities that would be potential clients. Our report, in addition to assessing market potential, also includes critical details such as what is required to gain industry acceptance, how and where to arrange test programs, and approval requirements.