Dowel Pins for Medical Applications
At first blush, you might not think that dowel pins have a place in the medical industry, let alone a critical one…but you’d be wrong. In fact, dowel pins have a long history in medical applications, particularly in orthopedics (humans and animals) and medical/surgical equipment, worldwide.
to read more
Apprentice Spotlight: Quinn H.
This month we’re spotlighting Horberg Apprentice Quinn H. She’s a Naugatuck Valley high school graduate and a Housatonic Community College student who has successfully transitioned from training in manufacturing to proving incredible workmanship here at Horberg Industries.
We took a few minutes to get to know more about Quinn and why manufacturing careers remain so important today.
Watch Quinn’s exclusive interview in the video below to hear more.
Quinn, who originally planned to attend college and study art or music, found herself enrolled in the Housatonic Manufacturing program thanks to a nudge from her high school woodworking teacher.
The program, which she took in her junior year, brought hands-on learning right to the school. From basics like how to use machines to how to set-up them up, Quinn admits she learned quite a bit in the 2 years she trained in manufacturing from quality control and inspection to sharpening her algebra skills.
Her teacher’s recognition of her talent and capabilities proved correct and Quinn enjoyed the manufacturing program so much that she joined the apprenticeship program offered by The WorkPlace – which provides workforce development programs to prepare people for careers while strengthening the workforce for employers.
Once she earned her Bachelor’s Degree from Housatonic Community College, Quinn began working at Horberg Industries and says she is still learning something new all the time while she works.
Our team was immediately impressed by the new apprentice’s ability to catch on, not only for the centerless grinding but also anywhere else she was asked to assist, such as Escos (Swiss screw machines) and secondaries (CNC surface grinder).
“We are happy to participate in a workforce training program like that offered by The WorkPlace because it helps those entering the workforce for our future to get training in career paths they may have never considered before. Quinn’s willingness and abilities, in our small shop, quickly earned her the trust and respect of her fellow staff,” said David Chonko, VP of Operations.
Quinn also says her hands-on experience in the field has helped her come to appreciate the importance of manufacturing as an industry today and why a balance between robots and automation and being creative in the process is key.
In the future, Quinn hopes to take all of the skills and knowledge she’s acquiring now and consider any job – even in manufacturing- which she now knows has so many career path options to consider.
3 Reasons to Choose Horberg Industries for Aerospace Dowel Pins
Aerospace engineering is a highly complex and precision-driven field. In order to ensure the safe operation of aircraft, it is essential that all components meet strict specifications. This is especially true of dowel pins, which are used in a variety of aerospace applications, from joining structural components to attaching control surfaces.
When selecting a supplier for aerospace dowel pins, it is important that the supplier have a track record of quality and reliability. The components they provide should meet or exceed the required tolerances.
There are many reasons to choose Horberg for your aerospace dowel pin needs. Horberg has been a leading supplier of aerospace dowel pins for over 85 years. We’ve built our reputation on providing our customers with high-quality products that meet or exceed their expectations, at the right price, and delivered on time.
- High-Quality Products and Service
At Horberg Industries, we understand the challenges faced by the aerospace industry. That’s why we are focused on manufacturing a wide range of dowel pins specifically designed for use in aircraft applications. Our dowel pins are often made from high-strength materials that can withstand the rigors of flight, and we offer heat-treating as well as a variety of coatings and finishes to suit the specific needs of your project. Horberg is also an AS9100:D registered company, ensuring that its products will be manufactured to the highest standards. In addition, our team of experts is always available to provide service and support, ensuring that you get the right product, on time.
- Compliance with Aerospace Specifications
One of the most important considerations when selecting a dowel pin supplier is compliance with aerospace specifications. In the aerospace industry, there are very specific requirements for the manufacturing and testing of products. Any supplier that does not strictly adhere to these requirements is more likely to produce sub-standard parts that could fail in service. This could potentially lead to costly delays and repairs, or even safety hazards. Working with a supplier who has a proven track record of compliance with relevant aerospace specifications means you can be confident that they will be able to provide the high-quality parts that you need.
- Years of Industry Experience
We are a trusted name in the industry with over 85 years of experience. We have a strong commitment to quality and customer service and are confident that we can meet your needs. In addition, we offer a wide range of standard and custom pin sizes and materials to choose from, so you can find the perfect solution for your application. With all these factors considered, it’s easy to see why Horberg Industries is the obvious choice for your precision aerospace dowel pin needs.
Choose Horberg
So, when you’re looking for a supplier you can trust, whether it be for aerospace, medical, technology-driven, or other precision dowel pin needs, look no further than Horberg. If you’re looking for a standard or custom solution, choose Horberg; you can be confident that you are getting the best quality and value for your precision dowel pin applications.
Congratulations Gracie on Your U.S. Citizenship!
After many years of hard work Engracia (Gracie) a tenured member of the Horberg team, has been given her U.S. Citizenship, and we wanted to send out our public accolades on this incredible achievement.
We are proud to celebrate you, Gracie!
According to a U.S. News report, two-thirds of Americans would not pass the test that is administered and must be passed in order to become a United States citizen. In addition to demonstrating the ability to read, write, and speak the English language, the test also consists of 10 civics questions – and Gracie answered all correctly!
Gracie began her career with Horberg over 33 years ago and has been an incredible friend, team member, and employee.
Originally from Pedrario Montalegre, Portugal, Gracie came to the U.S. along with her parents just as she was turning 16 years old. They, like many, were in search of a better life. Her first job was making pocketbooks in a small factory here in Bridgeport. She also worked at a factory making electric component parts. It was during this time that she decided to start her own cleaning business, part-time.
In 1989, she heard from a friend that there was an opening at Horberg Industries, where she applied and got the job. Gracie has been with us ever since! 
Commenting on her citizenship, Gracie said, “I feel really good and empowered by this achievement in my life. I am so happy.”
Gracie has lived in the U.S. for 53 years. Friends and family always talked about how difficult it was to gain citizenship, so she put it off until last year when she finally decided to go for it. According to Gracie, the process took approximately 1 year to complete and was not as difficult as she had been told, or thought it would be, and now wishes she would have started the process sooner.
Now that she is a US citizen, Gracie said she is looking forward to traveling with a United States passport and to her first time voting in the next election.
The United States of America was founded on the principle that every individual has the opportunity to achieve success. You have demonstrated a spirit of fortitude and perseverance!
We are so honored to see you reach this goal in life and excited for your future! Congratulations Gracie!
Farewell to a True ‘Giant’, Kenneth F. Taylor, Jr.
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of a colleague, fellow staff member, and dear friend, Kenneth F. Taylor, Jr. (Ken), who left his earthly home on December 8, 2021.
If you were to peel back the layers of Horberg Industries over the years, you’d find Ken’s fingerprints on just about anything and everything you saw.
Born in 1933, Ken served in the U.S. Army from 1953-1955, following which he enlisted in the ranks of Horberg Grinding Industries, Inc., working for his uncle, William Horberg, where he continued to serve with pride in a business founded on the principles of precision.
For almost 57 years, he held the positions of craftsman (in both metal and wood), inventor, teacher, mentor, production process master, and caring friend.
His colleagues have offered these reflections:
“Any task that Ken is given gets done and gets done right. He seems to challenge himself to ensure his ability matches any task he is asked to perform”
“He was a true craftsman and helped anyone that needed it. (He) tackled new projects and figured them out with his amazing breadth of skills.”
“He was a huge part of my life at Horberg. I will really miss him.”
“As good a craftsman as he was, he was humble enough to appreciate the ideas and inputs of others.”
It goes without saying that his influence was enormous; his contributions and his presence will certainly be missed. It has been a privilege not only to work with you but also to know you. Godspeed, Ken.
Cybersecurity and the Defense Industrial Base
Cybersecurity is a major topic today, not just in news headlines but also in boardrooms and living rooms. As we all continue to move even further into the digital landscape, the dangers of cybercrime are lurking around the corner. In a highly connected world, things like ransomware, data harvesting, and identity theft are happening at alarming rates.
In fact, over $3.5B (yes, that’s with a “b”) in revenue was reported lost, according to research from the FBI IC3 2019 Internet Crime Report, as the result of cybercrimes in 2019. Of that amount, email compromises alone accounted for more than $1.7B. During that same period, almost 500,000 incidents were reported by businesses and individuals. Imagine what the total would be if you included all incidents that were never reported.
So, what about the Defense Industrial Base?
The Aerospace and Defense industries are charged with protecting certain types of information to which they have access. This is referred to as CUI (controlled unclassified information) and requires much more than mere hardware and software solutions to keep secure.
Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information
Oddly enough, CUI is not determined by what it is, but rather by what its effect could be if it fell into the wrong hands. In other words, it could be reasonable to define CUI as information that its unauthorized disclosure could be aggregated with additional information to reasonably be expected to cause a negative impact on national security.
For example, under the CUI “umbrella” you have
- Controlled Technical Information (CTI), where the CUI could include research and engineering data, engineering drawings, along with associated lists, specifications, standards, process sheets, manuals, technical reports, technical orders, catalog-item identifications, data sets, studies and analyses, and related information, as well as computer software executable and source code.
- Export Controlled information, where the CUI could include information concerning certain items, commodities, technology, software, or other information whose export could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the United States national security and nonproliferation objectives.
Enter DFARS 7012 (…bring on the acronyms)
One of the means by which the DoD specifies the measures that must be taken to protect CUI exists in DFARS 252.204-7012, often referred to as DFARS 7012. If you receive a contract subject to the DFARS 7012 clause, your contractor systems are subject to NIST SP 800-171. Further, if you, as the contractor, intend to use an external cloud service provider, it must meet the requirements established by FedRAMP Moderate. Maybe you’ve heard of CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification). Presently it’s somewhat of a moving target, but it’s essentially the 110 controls set forth in NIST 800-171 r2 plus 20 additional controls. That gets you to CMMC Level 3, which is considered the next step for cybersecurity compliance for most defense contractors. Phew!
As you might guess from the above, achieving and maintaining compliance on paper as well as in practice can be a daunting task when you consider the ever-changing nature of the rules necessitated by a constantly shifting security landscape.
With the recent increase in cybercrime activity, we must “up our game” as these attacks have become more sophisticated and devious. You can have the best firewall in the world, but it only takes one click of a link or attachment contained in a seemingly innocent email to rapidly put your entire IT infrastructure at risk…or worse…potentially exposing not only CUI but also sensitive company information.
So, what is Horberg doing? Actually, quite a lot…
Having measures in place like firewalls, network protection systems, and anti-malware solutions running, fully patched, and up to date is good…but not good enough. Our very best defense against the risks posed by cybercrimes is education and continuing awareness.
Horberg is currently undergoing another round of NIST 800-171 r2 assessment, remediation, and training. Outdated/insecure equipment, software, and procedures are being replaced/updated. We have aligned ourselves with KnowBe4, a leader in the field of security awareness and training solutions, to assist us in mitigating our (and any company’s) greatest vulnerability…the staff.
Having ourselves been victimized by this high-tech, nouveau, brazen, virtual crime…without a doubt, our best plan is to be proactive. As Ben Franklin famously advised, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” When it comes to cybercrimes, truer words have never been spoken.