News

NEW: PLASTIC BALL JOINTS

Oct 07, 2011

We are pleased to announce the introduction of our PHB series of plastic ball joints. This metric series of ball joints features of molded plastic housing and ball stud. Thread sizes now available: M5 x 0.80M6 x 1.00M8 x 1.25, and M10 x 1.50.


NEW: PLASTIC CLEVISES

Oct 05, 2011

We are pleased to announce that we are now offering molded plastic clevises and clevis spring pins.  For plastic clevises with inch threads, refer to our BTCP series of clevises.  For plastic clevises with metric threads, refer to our MTCP series. We are also offering plastic clevis spring pins (our new SPP series) to go with the MTCP clevises.


8,600 Customers

Sep 19, 2011

We are pleased to announce that we are now serving over 8,600 customers


RECESSION PROJECTION

Aug 29, 2011

I read over the weekend that the last recession lasted from Jan 2008 until Jun 2009. At Midwest Control Products, we experienced the recession from Nov 2009 until Mar 12, 2010 - about a 9 month lag. On Mar 15, 2010, 3 days after we noticed our customers were increasing volumes, a team of us met to determine how many people we would need to hire if our business expanded 20%, 30% or 40% in 2010.  We grew 45% in 2010. In March 2011, we had a similar meeting, trying to determine how many people we would need to add based on our customer projections of 20% growth in 2012 (we'll grow 28% in 2011). Since that meeting, we have been finding it increasingly difficult to find people. We have increased our employment 31% since the last recession (during which we had no layoffs) even though we have been seeing all the signs since Feb 2011 that our collective industries were nearing their peak. Why do I say that? Because we believe labor shortages, parts shortages, lengthening lead times and material inflation are all signs of a sector approaching it's short term peak output. Being a supply sider, I also tend to think that bust follows boom, and recessions follow inflationary bubbles.  When the market tanked 3 weeks ago, we had another meeting. This time the focus was on a different question: do we continue with our plan to increase staff levels by 13% in preparation for 2012 if the market drops 15%? 25%? 40?  The answer we came up with was this: if the total stock market correction was less than 15%, we would continue with our hiring plans. If the market drops 25%, we would give it serious consideration. If the market dropped 40%, we would probably cancel all hiring plans. Why? The market itself doesn't effect our business, but the stock market is a good indicator of what's coming; it is the collective output of all industries.  What we have taken away from all of this is that we believe our business will begin to see the effects of a recession beginning April 2012, about a 9 month lag from when the double dip will have officially begun, Jun 2011.


NEW CLEVIS SPRING PINS

Jul 20, 2011

We are pleased to announce a number of new clevis spring pins are now available with zinc clear hex free (ROHS compliant) plated finishes. The spring pins: SP6ML-ZCHF (6 x 24), SP12ML-ZCHF (12 x 48),  SP14MS-ZCHF (14 x 28),  SP16MS-ZCHF (16 x 32), and  SP20MS-ZCHF (10 x 20). MCP offers a total of 55 different clevis spring pin options for inch (imperial) clevises, and DIN metric clevises in plated steel (zinc yellow, zinc clear, or zinc clear hex free), and stainless steel.


OVER 8,300 CUSTOMERS

Jul 18, 2011

We are pleased to announce that we are now serving over 8,300 customers!


5/8" Rod End Bolt Now Available

Jun 23, 2011

We are pleased to announce that our SB625 Scotty Bolt (TM) is now available.  The SB625 is a rod end stud that is installable by the user (fits 5/8" spherical rod ends). Take advantage of this neat product to increase your inventory flexibility!


TS16949 and EMS14001 REGISTRATION

Jun 08, 2011

We are pleased to announce that we have received TS16949 and EMS14001 registration with AQA International of Columbia, SC. Our TS16949 scope is for tubular products with a specific customer (narrow scope). The EMS14001 environmental rating is for our Industrial Park factory in Bushnell, IL. Activities in this factory include: powder painting, zinc plating, tube fabrication (shearing, sawing, cnc bending, manual welding, robotic welding, threading, drilling, rotary swaging, thread cutting, thread rolling, drilling, drilling & tapping internal threads), pressing of bearings into welded control and shift levers, light linkage assembly, large linkage kits/modules assembly, storage and warehousing of over 3,000,000 ball joints, clevises, and spherical rod end bearings.


THE JOBLESS RECOVERY

Jun 06, 2011

With our broad customer based (over 8,300 now), we get exposed to a multitude of industries. While some of our customers' sectors are still waiting for the 'recovery' to lift their business levels, other customers, specifically those in the agricultural and construction equipment industry are very busy. All of them are facing twin challenges this year: outrageous inflation and a shortage of qualified, available employees. I agree with the common assessment of the challenges, but inflation and a labor shortage are typical of what employers see at the end of an economic cycle, not at the beginning. Even though unemployment is high and manufacturers are hiring, unemployment is not falling, and employers are struggling to find people worth employing. This contradiction is further compounded by rampant inflation. Possible answers to this strange contradiction could include the following: (1) we are actually beginning to slip into recession, or (2) the devaluation of our currency and both new and threatened regulations and benefit costs (ie: health care) are producing a non-typical cross-current in our economy whereby we have little net job creation, high unemployment, and almost uncontrolled inflation. While there seems to be little evidence of this in the media, it's all too apparent in commodities, grocery stores, and gasoline stations.  I'd be more at ease with everything if the Fed started raising interest rates - that would at least send the signal that the government wants to control inflation and strengthen the currency. 


1/2 RUBBER BOOT

May 04, 2011

We are pleased to announce that our RB-8 boot is now available. The RB-8 is designed to fit with 1/2" male rod ends, that are in turn fitted with high misalignment inserts.


OVER 8,100 CUSTOMERS

Apr 19, 2011

Midwest Control Products Corp is pleased to announce that we are now serving over 8,100 customers worldwide with ball joints, clevises, push-pull cables, spherical rod ends (heim joints), wireforms, tube fabrications, upset forgings, linkage assemblies, hydraulic hoses, hydraulic adapters and welded fabrications. We are also serving thousands of other customers via our distribution partners in the United Kingdom, Columbia, Canada and Australia. We thank each of you for the business with which you have entrusted us!


NEW PARTS...

Apr 08, 2011

We are pleased to announce that our 2800-ZCHF hex free 10-32 RH yoke (clevis) is now available. We also have introduced three new rubber boots (gaitors) for female studded spherical rod ends (heim joints). The new boot sizes: RFS-3 (for 10-32 female studded rod ends), RFS-4 (for 1/4-28 female studded rod ends), RFS-5 (5/16-24 female studded rod ends).


WATCH US BUILDING CABLES!

Mar 15, 2011

We added a video to our website today showing our crew building a T-handle heavy duty push-pull cable. It only takes 78 seconds to watch.  Check it out at http://www.midwestcontrol.com/videos.php.


Customer Installable Bolts for 3/8" Rod Ends

Mar 01, 2011

We are pleased to announce that our SB375 Scotty Bolt (TM) is now available. This unique rod end stud can be installed by the customer. 


'SPECIALS' DISCOUNT

Feb 28, 2011

If you haven't yet checked out our specials link, you are missing out on some incredible deals.  In early February, we decided to give a new emphasis to making our Specials page a place where our customers could find INCREDIBLE DISCOUNTS on products. Discounts range anywhere from 50% to 90% off normal pricing.   Why? One of our folks went to a 'specials' page for a major fishing tackle company and came back and said that link didn't really offer him any specials - let's make sure Midwest Control's does!


CANADIAN DISTRIBUTOR

Feb 17, 2011

We are pleased to announce that we now have a shipping point in Maple Ridge, BC, Canada for internet orders. Our Canadian customers now have the choice of a FOB point in Maple Ridge, BC for many of our ball joints, spherical rod ends (heim joints, rose joints), thread bungs, clevises, and much, much more!


5/8" CHROME MOLY LADDER BAR now available

Feb 16, 2011

We are pleased to announce that our LBAX-10, a 5/8" chrome moly ladder bar adjuster, is now available!


Visit us at ConExpo March 22-26, 2011

Feb 14, 2011

Midwest Control Products Corp will be exhibiting at ConExpo on March 22-26, 2011 in Las Vegas, NV.  Our booth, number 15054, is located on the 2nd floor in the South Hall. Stop by to see us! We will have hydraulic hoses, hydraulic adapters, push-pull cables, spherical rod ends, fabricated levers, tubular fabrications, headed rods, and much, much more in our booth. We will also be available to discuss our plans to introduce an economical Cable & Hose Assembly (manufacturing) system later this year.


1/2" x 3/8" ROD ENDS

Feb 09, 2011

We are pleased to announce that we have added two new steel raced spherical rod ends (heim joints/rose joints) to our product offerings. Our MSM-8-6-ZC, plated zinc clear, features a 1/2-20 RH thread with a 3/8" ball i.d.  Our MSML-8-6-ZC, plated zinc clear, features a 1/2-20 LH thread with a 3/8" ball i.d. These rod ends are priced aggressively: 10 @ $3.83 each, 100 @ $2.59 each. With the addition of these two spherical rod end bearings, we now stock 771 different spherical rod end bearings! Other options include materials (steel, stainless steel, aluminum, 4130 chrome moly4340 chrome moly), metric and inch thread sizes, bearing races (steel-on-steel, traditional nylon, slotted nylon, PTFE, and bronze), grease zerk options, mounting stud optionsthread bungsrubber face sealsfull enclosure rubber boots, multiple connecting linkage rods and tubesmisalignment inserts, mounting fasteners (boltsnutswashers), bung adjuster nutsassortment kits, and much, much, more.


BULK CLEVIS PINS

Jan 26, 2011

We are pleased to announce that we now offer bulk clevis pins in inch (imperial) and metric sizes. The clevis pins with new bulk pricing (2500, 5000, 10000 and 25000 piece brackets) include the following: 5mm CPGM5 (groove)5mm CPM56mm CPGM6 (grooved)1/4" CPC2801,  1/4" CPC2801-ZC5/16" CPC2802,  8mm CPGM8 (grooved)8mm CPM83/8" CPC2803,   3/8" CPG375 (grooved)10mm CPM1012mm CPGM12 (grooved)1/2" CPC2806, and 5/8" CPC2807.

MCP offers a total of 77 different inch (imperial) and metric clevis pins in plated steel and stainless steel with configurations for both clevis pins (drilled) and bayonet clips (grooved). We also offer 50 different clevis spring pin designs in inch (imperial) and metric sizes in both plated steel and stainless steel.

Our clevis pin family compliments our even larger clevis and yoke product family which now consists of 397 different clevis and yoke designs including USA style forged yokesUK imperial clevisesinch aluminum clevisesDIN metric European designsDIN metric European stainless designsDIN metric European aluminum designs, and USA style stainless forged yokes.