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   Replacement blades are a necessity to any operation involving frequent cutting or scraping. Therefore, a replacement blade should perform efficiently because it must also be both economical in price and high in quality. Depending on your operations, replacement blades should either be highly effective or durable if not both. Sometimes the same blade design but in a different material like stainless steel can be more advantageous in your process flow verses for example a lower priced carbon steel version. These are always considerations one should have when choosing a blade to keep your processes flowing and profits growing.

   Replacement blades can also refer to a secondary blade that is sufficient to use when your primary option is discontinued or delayed. So, it is important to have a resilient supply chain and multiple options. Accomplishing that is the hallmark of an adaptable and prepared team. At the Razor Blade Company, we are prepared to offer replacement blades and work with our customers to test and approve new blades to your existing process. Sourcing a replacement blade at the right price is the goal here as replacement blades will usually be more expensive since your primary choice is unavailable. To try best to avoid this issue from the start it is important to try and select mass-produced blades, work with a recommended supplier, and avoid high-priced custom-made razor blades when possible.

A highly innovative medical device manufacturer is currently experiencing an issue with the standard (non-cleanroom approved) single edge razor blades shown below:

Upon handling the razor blades, particulate is being transferred from the blade to the operators’ gloves. See below:

Glove Prior to Handling Razor Blade

Magnified Image of Glove Prior to Handling Razor Blade

Glove after Handling Razor Blade, Metallic Particulate Present on Finger Tips

Magnified Image of Glove after Handling Razor Blade

The images shown above are after handling a single razor blade. The next images shown below are after handling several razor blades.

For the manufacturer's processes, the razor blades are used by operators who also come into contact with plastic tubing. See below:

Once the operators have the metallic particulates on their gloves, it can be transferred to the tubing.

Additionally, a razor blade was wiped using IPA and a lint free cloth. The contaminant removed is shown below:

The medical manufacturer is accustomed to seeing some degree of particulate from single edge razor blades. However, it has become much more present. To the point where they are experiencing high yield loss (>25%) on certain lots of product.

The innovative manufacturer overcame this challenge with the GEM Runner Product Line. A one of a kind system, the GEM Runner is a re-loadable safety dispenser paired with clean room grade washed and degreased single edge blades. The results proved to achieve ultra-high levels of cleanliness while reducing waste and hand injury.

(English version of this article available here)

Hay una gran variedad de navajas en el Mercado y entendemos que estas opciones pueden ser abrumadoras. Es para nosotros un gusto seleccionar el producto de acuerdo a sus necesidades por teléfono y enseguida le proporcionamos una referencia para que usted mismo seleccione la navaja que necesita.

Comencemos con lo básico:

Si necesitas seleccionar algo básico, te sugerimos iniciar con la navaja multiusos 94-0186 Premium Razor blade. Una navaja de acero con recubrimiento de aluminio, esta navaja es una de las más vendidas por su precio y calidad. Algunas de las Compañías que usan esta navaja son compañías de manufactura, negocios para polarizar ventanas, compañías de limpieza.

Para clientes que están a gusto con la navaja básica pero buscan algo con más filo, le recomendamos nuestro producto con filo extra que es el 94-307 hecho con acero al carbón, fabricado a través de dos procesos de rectificación para hacerla más filosa. Los clientes regularmente empiezan con nuestra navaja premium y cambian a esta navaja cuando necesitan un extra. Extra aguda, doble filo esto aplica para estas navajas.

Cortes ultra finos:

Algunos clientes encuentran como la mejor opción las navajas de acero inoxidable para su negocio. El acero inoxidable es uno de los metales más maleables que el acero al carbón. Lo que esto significa para usted es un primer corte aún más exacto, y un proceso un poco más rápido que con el acero al carbón. Nuestras navajas de acero inoxidable vienen con recubrimiento para reducir la fricción o sin recubrimiento para usos en donde el aceite podría ser un problema, como cuando se corta papel. El acero inoxidable no es la mejor opción para todos, cuando su trabajo requiere de cortes muy precisos incluso una hoja de acero al carbón con filo extra no será suficiente, pruebe nuestras dos opciones de acero.

Trabajos pesados

Algunas veces los clientes necesitan uno de los dos tipos de navajas de uso pesado. Ya sea la de trabajo pesado hecha de acero inoxidable o la navaja súper delgada de .012"de grosor o la estándar de .009 de grosor. Los Clientes seleccionan la de recubierta de acero inoxidable cuando notan que la de recubrimiento de aluminio se dobla con el uso. Seleccionan también la de .012” de grosor cuando necesitan una navaja delgada para cortar o necesitan que sea la medida de una herramienta o de una máquina.

Opciones Economicas

Todas nuestras navajas de acero al carbón son suavizadas y afiladas, hechas con el tipo de acero al carbón 1095. Recientemente añadimos una línea económica de navajas hechas con el tipo de acero 1074 para trabajos en los que la calidad de la navaja no es prioridad. Si el precio es prioridad puede considerar esta línea económica. Ofrecemos diferentes navajas económicas para cubrir diferentes usos y negocios.

Casos especiales y Ambientes Esterilizados:

Algunos Clientes necesitan navajas certificadas para usarse en ambientes esterilizados. The Razor Blade Company le ofrece diferentes navajas con estos requerimientos y certificadas por ISO 14611-1 Estándares Clase 3 al 8. Estas navajas se ofrecen en paquetes de 10 dispensadores de navajas para eliminar las fibras que producen cuando están empacadas en el cartón. También ofrecemos empaques tipo dispensador de botón de presión. Este tipo de navajas son usados en ambientes esterilizados y son de uso común para cortar catéter.

 Nuestro personal especializado le brindará la ayuda necesaria. Por favor llamenos por cualquier pregunta que tenga con su orden.

Your sales pipeline management is an important part of keeping your supply side costs low. Here is how to determine your company’s purchasing patterns and save money from the analysis.

The Hierarchy of Decision Making

How many people does an order go through before it gets finalized? Is the hierarchy a bottleneck? These questions are the most important to ask at the beginning of your analysis, because people create systems, not the other way around.

Purchase Frequency

Is your company better served with an on demand schedule, or do you gain some leverage from stocking up in an off-season? Check the pricing of your suppliers to see if you can get better prices during certain times of the year, and weigh the savings there against your costs of storing inventory until you need it.

Purchase Payment

Cash flow is a very important part of business that too few people consider. A net 60 versus a net 30 payment structure can create the difference in payroll during a slow sales season. In general, use good credit to gain leverage for tough times.

Purchase History

Your past success in purchasing should dictate future policy. Are there certain times during the year when you can count on higher sales? Did having an inventory save you from a bottleneck in the past? Go over past records and determine the best pattern for your future through the best times in your past.

Please contact us when you are ready to buy razor blades at wholesale prices for industrial or commercial clients. We pride ourselves on being your trusted niche vendor with a cost-effective solution for your purchasing needs. 

 The way that you buy has just as much to do with your success in business as what and how much you buy for. You must understand the difference between direct procurement and indirect procurement in order to move your business forward.

What is Direct Procurement?

Direct procurement focuses on volume-based purchases of raw materials. These purchases directly affect the revenue stream of a business, and the volume orders allow the company to acquire resources at cheaper prices. Companies that look ahead can save money and lock in lower rates for raw materials using direct procurement.

What is Indirect Procurement?

Indirect procurement focuses on service based purchases that allow for the daily operation of business. These purchases are more singular in nature and have less to do with revenue than with operations and administration.

An Example of the Difference

For instance, while a direct procurement may involve purchasing palettes of steel and copper to manufacture computer chips, indirect procurement is more along the lines of outsourcing an air conditioning repair to the local HVAC company once every six months.

Which Type of Procurement is More Important?

Without direct procurement, a company will not produce the revenue that allows it to buy indirect procurement services. Although the company in the above example may find the office uncomfortable without AC for a few months, prioritizing AC over the steel and copper limits the company's ability to ever make the AC repair.

Please contact us when you are ready to buy direct and save. We offer direct procurement opportunities to help your business longevity.

2-Facet: A good balance of sharpness and durability. Primarily for scraping and basic cutting.

3-Facet: Precision ground third angle increases sharpness. Used for thin or delicate material. Reduces foreign material transfer. Developed with specific cleanroom applications in mind.

Stainless Steel: Best for applications where corrosion can be an issue, such as cleanroom environments. Provides precise initial cut.

Carbon Steel: Durable for tougher and harder material.

Plastic Blade: Best for applications where safety, scratches, pitting, and rust are a concern. Blades come in a variety of tensile strengths, have a longer lasting edge, low moisture and chemical absorption, a low friction coefficient, and a longer shelf life. Perfect for glass, plastics, chrome, marble, and painted surfaces.  

Coated Blade: Improves lubricity through cutting process for cleanest cuts.

Uncoated Blade: No additional coating. In many cases coatings are not needed for application, and the blade tends to be less expensive than coated blades.

Washed Blade: A cleaning process developed to reduce oil and particulates from manufacturing process to create the cleanest blade available:

Backing: Steel backing will create a stiff blade. Aluminum backing allows for blade flexibility. Stainless steel is best for environments where corrosion is a concern.

Still not sure what you need to get the job done? Contact Us and our friendly blade experts will be happy to help!

Finding the right vendor for your supplies can yield more than on-time delivery of goods. Partnering with a great vendor can give you reliable service, insight into the latest competition, and even the opportunity to identify and influence new products. Use these 5 purchasing best practices when dealing with your vendors to get quality service and goods.

1. Identify the qualities of a good vendor.

Your business needs quality goods to gain a quality reputation. Therefore, getting a vendor that offers quality for a reasonable price is key to building your company up, both in inventory and reputation.

2. Build a relationship with your vendor.

Be loyal to your vendor. Knowing the benefits of working with your vendor will help your business get a leg up against the competition. Ask your vendor what deals they can offer loyal customers. Are there extra financing options for established customers? Can your reviews of a product affect the next iteration of a design?

3. Reduce the number of vendors you purchase from.

It is more cost-effective for buyers to have fewer vendors. Fewer vendors means cutting down administrative costs, and goods shipped through one vendor are packaged and ship together. Supplies arriving on time as a single unit are easier to inventory than supplies that trickle in from many different suppliers. This makes your business more efficient and raises your business reputation for quality and consistency.

4. Explore new products from your vendor.

New products come to vendors at least every year. Be transparent with your vendor on your company's goals and priorities. They can help you find new products that will increase your company's productivity and reputation. It is always better to be ahead of the curve when it comes to efficient business operations.

5. Review products.

Along with improving the buyer/vendor relationship that is so important, reviews give valuable feedback to help the vendor improve services, and may lead to the vendor designing future products based on your experience.

To learn how The Razor Blade Company is the right supplier of wholesale industrial blades for your business needs, contact us today. 

 Whether it be with a large manufacturer or an independent distributor, finding a vendor for your business can often be a grueling and expensive process. However, finding the right supplier can benefit almost every aspect of your company. Using these five steps, you can quickly identify the qualities in a vendor that would be best suited for your business.

Evaluate Costs: While it is normal to negotiate a reasonable price between your business and the vendor, keep in mind that they are also a business trying to make a profit. However, be wary of suppliers that charge excessively for every little service provided. Make sure the services that you are paying for will help you grow your business in the long-run while saving money.

Track Dependability: Larger vendors usually have back-up systems to prevent them from making errors on your order, but that's not to say that smaller vendors cannot provide the same service or better. A good supplier will ensure that your order consistently arrives on-time, undamaged, while containing the correct amount of items.

Research Reputation: Not only is it important to research the legitimacy and background of a supplier, you should also make sure that its senior employees have the appropriate work experience. It is vital to work with stable vendors that you respect and trust.

Find Out Location: Remember that if your vendor is far away and overseas, shipping will take longer and charges would likely be more costly. Ideally, you want a vendor that is relatively close-by to allow for more ordering options - and it can save you money.

Assess Overall Savviness: Last but not least, your supplier should be perceptive and in-tune with the changing society. Is your vendor up-to-date with the latest services? Do they have the means to research new competitor strategies? Are their workers competent? A good supplier should constantly try to improve their business while adjusting to the changing times. 

For more information, please contact us at The Razor Blade Company

 With precious little time and so many options, choosing the right blades for your cleanroom application needs a reliable solution. Keeping productivity and safety in mind the Razor Blade Company sources the sharpest industrial blades available, degreased and washed for cleanroom processes, and at the quality medical & cleanroom manufacturers demand. Our selection offers blades tested and proven for sharpness, durability, and reliable performance.