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Weld Fixture Design Company Is Looking For CAD Machine Designer

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Rentapen Inc., the weld fixture specialist, located in Waukesha, Wisconsin is expanding their engineering team.

Rentapen is a machine design company that is dedicated to reducing costs in weld fixtures for manufacturers.  Their team provides manufacturers with excellence in 3D Design and Build, RAPid Tooling Components™ and RAPid Shims™.

Rentapen’s mission is to provide jobs, training, and opportunities for people who work together to help manufacturers reduce the costs of tooling to make their products.

Rentapen is growing and was voted a Top 10 Business in the Waukesha Area for 2012.

“We are expanding as part of our journey to become the premier cost saver and provider of weld fixture tooling for manufacturers in the USA,” said Susan Straley, President at Rentapen Inc. “We’re looking for a special person whose attention to detail and accuracy is of most importance. Who loves to help people, has well-developed communication skills, a good listener, and a real ability to concept fixture designs.”

The role of the new engineer will involve the conception and design of weld fixtures and guiding and teaching CAD Drafters and interns as they learn.

“We are looking for someone who is a team player, you’re goal-orientated, precise, innovative, work effectively with little oversight, and enjoy helping teach and guide others,” said Straley.

According to Milwaukee BizTimes, “Milwaukeeis the second-best city in the nation for manufacturing, with a high concentration of diverse manufacturers and leader in manufacturing job creation in recent years.”

Rentapen reports their number of requests for quotes has increased 4 times in the last 6 months and their customer base is growing.

“Some customers report having trouble getting all the weld fixture designs done in the time they have. Rentapen is a great resource for them as they grow in uncertain times,” said Straley.

As a machine design and build firm, Rentapen can provide the weld fixtures and engineering talent to manufacturers without them investing time and money required to hire a new employee.

“We do the work so they don’t have too. Our team is well educated and experienced,” said Straley.

Rentapen is in the business of satisfying their customers’ needs. It is only with the dedication to efficiency, excellence, and customer services by every team member can Rentapen retain their customers and fulfill their mission.

A Small Weld Fixture Company Gains Big Customer

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Rentapen Inc., the weld fixture specialists, has been awarded work from a large manufacturer.

A large worldwide manufacturer contacted Rentapen Inc., of Waukesha, Wisconsin requesting a quote for design and build jobs of a few weld fixtures. Rentapen’s Engineering Manager, Blake Peterson, was able to quickly and carefully quote the 3D CAD design and build of the fixtures and delivered it on time to the global manufacturer. A few days later Rentapen was awarded the jobs.

“We are in the business of satisfying manufacturers’ need to reduce costs, no matter how big or small that customer is. It is only with dedication to efficiency, excellence, and customer service by every Rentapen team member can we retain our current customers and gain new ones,” said Peterson.

Rentapen is a dedicated to reducing costs in weld fixtures for manufacturers. Rentapen provides manufacturers with excellence in 3D design and build, RAPid Tooling Components™, and RAPid Shims™.

Rentapen can design a manual or robotic weld fixtures based on the customers’ needs. Rentapen can serve any industry including; automotive, agricultural, or any industry requiring weld fixtures.

Rentapen’s weld fixtures end up costing manufacturers less because they incorporate standardized purchased components wherever it makes sense to do so in the design. These components are also known as RAPid Tooling Components™. Precision weld fixture components that consists of RAPid Blocks™, RAPid Plates™, RAPid Clamp Risers™ and RAPid Shims™. RAPid Tooling Components™ precisely hold the customer’s product in their weld fixture while it is being manually or robotically assembled or welded.

Rentapen’s CAD Designers are proficient at Pro/Engineer and 3D CAD software. Rentapen has enhanced the program to make it more efficient for machine design. Rentapen also designs using Solidworks.

“We work with our customers standards, and provide the kind of weld fixtures they want,” said Peterson.

In March, Rentapen introduced their new web app. Now Machine Designers and CAD Drafters can go onto Rentapen’s website and order 3D Models of their RAPid Tooling Components™. The 3D Models are the new American standard for the Machine Designing Industry. The 3D Models will reduce machine design time as users become familiar with how and when to use the blocks, plates, clamp risers and shims.

Local Weld Fixture Company Welcomes New Intern

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Rentapen Inc., the weld fixture specialists, located in Waukesha, Wisconsin hires intern from Waukesha County Technical College.

Rentapen is involved with WCTC’s Internship Program, which is an opportunity for companies to hire students for a period of time in order for the students to gain more workforce experience.

Rentapen welcomes Emily Young, a junior from WCTC as a summer intern. Young is studying Mechanical Design Technologies at WCTC. She first came to Rentapen to do a job-shadow. She shadowed one of the 3D CAD Designers to get a feeling of what Rentapen does on a daily basis.

Emily Young, Intern

Now she has been updating the Pro Engineer (Pro/E) library for Rentapen’s RAPid Tooling Components™ and frequent purchased parts, for instance RAPid Clamp Risers™. Young also has been learning to do production drawings and has been helping out with shipping and receiving.

“We are so pleased to have Emily join us this summer. She has a great attitude and is very intelligent. She quickly learned and used Rentapen’s Pro/E enhancements that make the 3D CAD software work faster and better for our weld fixture designers,” said Susan Straley, President and Queen of the Lean Machine Design at Rentapen Inc.

Last year Rentapen took on two interns. Peter Christiansen, who was Rentapen’s IT Programmer Intern, and Kory Maier, the CAD Drafter Intern. Both interns were hired as full time employees by the end of 2011.

Rentapen provides jobs, training and opportunities for people who work together to help manufacturers reduce costs of tooling to make their products.

Rentapen’s RAPid Tooling Components™ was developed by Rentapen’s skilled engineering team. RAPid Tooling Components™ also known as RTC, are an extension of Rentapen’s mission to save manufacturers costs. These standardized yet versatile components can save hundreds of dollars per weld fixture. RTC saves engineering time and build time, that result in big savings for manufacturers.

Weld Fixture Manufacturing Company Becomes State Certified Woman-Owned Business

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Rentapen Inc., the weld fixture specialist has been acknowledged for becoming a certified Woman-Owned Business.

On June 6th 2012, Rentapen Inc. received certification as a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) through the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration. The designation is pursuant to the state administrative rule requirements of Adm.83 which provides validation that Rentapen Inc. met requirements of being at least 51% woman-owned, controlled, and managed. It qualifies Rentapen to be considered for contracts with corporations and government entities that seek vendor relationships with businesses owned and operated by women.

Susan Straley is the President and Queen of Lean Machine Design of Rentapen Inc. She took over ownership in April 2011. Since then, Rentapen has added new employees, a new website, and new customers. Straley directs the marketing effort for Rentapen and works with her team to plan and strategize for Rentapen’s future. Since becoming President she has instituted process improvements and over-seen the revamping of the website.

Susan Straley, President of Rentapen Inc.

Rentapen was established in 1976 under the name Straley Services. Rentapen specializes in reducing costs in weld fixtures for manufacturers. Rentapen’s team offers manufacturers excellence in 3D design and build, RAPid Tooling Components™ and RAPid Shims™. Constantly innovating to better serve their customers, in March Rentapen launched a new service on their website that allows machine designers to order 3D models of parts from Rentapen’s RAPid Tooling Components™ line.

“Our mission is to grow so we can provide more jobs, training, and opportunities to people in our community. This Wisconsin WBE certification will allow us to serve manufacturers that have government contracts,” said Susan Straley.

According to openforum.com, “Federal law mandates that the government allocate 23 percent of its contracting work to small businesses. Of this portion, 5 percent is meant for businesses with economically or socially disadvantaged owners. These are essentially minority-owned businesses.
WBE are a minority in the manufacturing and mechanical engineering sectors.

Rentapen’s vision is to become the US Leader in machine design and tooling components. They earn their customer’s enthusiasm because they enjoy the opportunity to provide efficiency by design, expertise, and convenient service.

Rentapen Inc. Congratulates DUECO

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Rentapen Inc., the Weld Fixture Specialists located in Waukesha, Wisconsin was proudly voted as one of Top 10 Businesses of the Year 2012 by Milwaukee BizTimes and Waukesha County Business Alliance.

On June 7th 2012, Rentapen joined nine other companies at the Top 10 Businesses of Year Luncheon, which included; ActionCOACH, Davies Orthodontics, DUECO Inc., First Business Bank-Milwaukee, Graphics Systems, QPS Employment Group, Ruekert/Mielke Inc., Tim O’Brien Homes Inc., and Waukesha Metal Products.

According to the Milwaukee BizTimes, “The winners were selected by an independent panel of judges based upon criteria that included financial growth, employee growth, customer focus, employee relations and community service.”

Rentapen congratulates DUECO Inc. for being the number one business of the year. “Judie Taylor, President at DUECO, is an inspiration for business acumen, humility, and servant leadership style,” said Susan Straley, President at Rentapen Inc. Rentapen, like DUECO, is a Woman-owned Business Enterprise.

“It is clear the leaders at DUECO understand that it is about the people inside the company that makes your company succeed. It is about dedication to the customers. Rentapen Inc. agrees and follows that philosophy as well,” said Straley.

Rentapen is in the business of satisfying their customers’ need to reduce costs. It is only with dedication to efficiency, excellence, and customer services by every team member can Rentapen retain their customers and fulfill their mission.

Rentapen’s mission is to provide jobs, training, and opportunities for people who work together to help manufacturers reduce the costs of tooling to make their products. This focus has helped drive Rentapen’s growth and earned its status in the Top 10 along with DUECO.

Rentapen reduces costs for its customers in three ways. First is excellence in 3D weld fixture design and build. Second, is the standardized yet versatile RAPid Tooling Components™. Third, is RAPid Shims™. Rentapen is known as the Shim King. They sell hundreds and thousands of shims each year.

Constantly innovating to better serve their customers, in March Rentapen launched a new service on their website that allows machine designers to order 3D models of parts from Rentapen’s RAPid Tooling Components™ line.

Rentapen is a small business that has stayed positive through these difficult economic times. The company continues to expand with Wisconsin’s growing manufacturing industry. Rentapen’s percent growth in revenue has increased 48% since 2008. Rentapen has been helping John Deere, a dedicated customer, for 17 years, as well as a variety of other manufacturers. More manufacturing companies continue to find Rentapen through their marketing efforts.

Top 10 Businesses of 2012

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Rentapen located in Waukesha, Wisconsin is very excited to be voted one of the Top 10 Businesses of the Year 2012 by Waukesha County Business Alliance and Milwaukee Biz Times.

Rentapen has been acknowledged as a company that exhibits exceptional growth, a history of outstanding employee relations and commitment to the community.

On June 7th, Rentapen and nine other companies will attend the Top 10 Businesses of the Year Awards Luncheon, which includes a panel of the winning companies and announcement of the number one Business of the Year.

According to BizTimes.com, “The leaders of the award-winning companies will share insights about some of their best practices in a panel discussion at the luncheon.”

“Our team works hard to provide our customers with weld fixtures, machine designs and tooling that will work well for them for many years,” said Susan Straley, President and Queen of Lean Machine Design at Rentapen Inc.

Rentapen was nominated for the Top 10 Business of the Year Award, because Rentapen is a small and local business that exemplifies innovation, growth, and customer service. Rentapen has gone beyond its size by developing its own vision, mission and culture.

 

Rentapen has been in business since 1976. In 2000 Rentapen only had three employees and they were working out of the basement of the owner. Rentapen has moved to a new location in Waukesha and now have 13 employees that design and build weld fixtures and weld tooling components.

Rentapen is a small business that has stayed positive through these difficult economic times. The company continues to expand with Wisconsin’s growing manufacturing industry. Rentapen’s percent growth in revenue has increased 48% since 2008. Rentapen has been helping John Deere, a dedicated customer, for 17 years, as well as a variety of other manufacturers. More manufacturing companies continue to find Rentapen to be a cost effective source for their weld tooling designs and components.

Constantly innovating to better serve their customers, in March Rentapen launched a new service on their website that allows machine designers to order 3D Models of parts from Rentapen’s RAPid Tooling Components™ line.

“Rentapen is in the business of satisfying our customers’ need to reduce costs. It is only with the dedication to efficiency, excellence, and customer service by every team member can we retain our customers and fullfil our mission,” said Straley.

Rentapen’s Mission: Rentapen provides jobs, training and opportunities for people who work together to help manufacturers reduce costs of tooling to make their products.

Sales Increase With 3D Model Web App

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Free web app helps gain a customer and boost sales for Rentapen Inc., a machine design company that is dedicated to reducing costs in weld fixtures for manufacturers.

Rentapen Inc., the weld fixture specialists, introduced their free web app in March featuring 3D Models of their line of RAPid Tooling Components™.

A manufacturer located in East Grand Forks, Minnesota who wishes to remain anonymous, had recently been utilizing Rentapen’s web app, and downloading 3D Models of Rentapen’s line of RAPid Tooling Components™ which includes, RAPid Risers™, RAPid Blocks™, RAPid Plates™ and RAPid Shims™. The customer couldn’t find a riser that fit with their particular De-Sta-Co clamp. So Rentapen’s design team created one for that customer. The customer was very pleased with Rentapen’s fast service and user friendly web app. The customer continues to use the web app today to download the tooling components they need for their fixture designs.

A single, simple clamp riser purchased instead of designed, detailed, and manufactured can save about 73 minutes in design and build time, which translates into money saved for manufacturers.

“I have seen a weld fixture that has contained close to one hundred RAPid Tooling Components™ on it. If we just carry that 73 saved minutes forward, there is a lot of time and money saved on that one weld fixture,” said Susan Straley, President of Rentapen.

Machine Design Engineers and CAD Drafters from the U.S. are able to go on to Rentapen’s website and perform six quick and fun steps to make a better weld fixture that will save them time and their company money. Instructions to Order 3D Models
New users will be asked to fill out your company’s information. This information is shared with the Distributor of RAPid Tooling Components, EL Simeth. After the user fills out their information they can click Remember Me so that the next time they go to download a part they don’t have to fill out their information again.

Users click on Order File to get models sent to them and they can pick from a long list of file forms, including: STEP AP214, STEP AP203, IGES, PARASOLID, PARASOLID BINARY, ACIS, VDAFS, VRML, STL, UNVERSIAL 3D, CATIA, AND JPEG. Users get to view their information one more time to confirm and then order the model.

Users, like Rentapen’s new customer in East Grand Forks, Minnesota receive their 3D CAD Models that they ordered in their email inbox. If they are smart CAD Drafters, they save the file to their CAD library so they can use it over and over again without having to go through the download process.

Rentapen Inc. has been designing machines and serving manufacturers for 36 years. Now with Rentapen’s free 3D model downloads of their modular RAPid Tooling Components™, designing just got better and faster.

New Location For Weld Fixture Design 101

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Susan Straley, the Queen of Lean Machine Design and President of Rentapen Inc., has moved her educational weld fixture design blog to a new location on the web.

Straley has been educating the world about weld fixture designs since October 2011. It is called the Weld Fixture Design 101 and can now be found at www.weldfixturedesign101.com.

Weld Fixture Design 101 has a series of posts that discusses and informs on issues and skills related to designing good weld fixtures. The machine design lessons over time go further enter into such complex issues such as detailing a complex weldment, use of sub-assemblies in weld fixture design and more. For instance: 6 Benefits to using Sub Assemblies in Machine Design. This specific post describes how sub assemblies can save time and money in machine design and makes drawings easier to read.

Weld Fixture Design 101 came about as part of Rentapen’s Growing Machine Design Engineers Program. Rentapen hires interns and trains them while they work. Rentapen has created a series of videos and instructions on best practices, some of which are included in the Weld Fixture Design Blog.

The inspiration to create the Blog came when Straley found out that 40% of the engineering workforce was going to retire in 8 years. Straley wanted to share her knowledge and experiences that she and her team have gained over the years through working with a variety of customers.

“We have learned so much about machine design from working with a variety of customers. We have seen from the outside, which company standards work well to save time and money in the design, build, and operation of a fixture and what practices are not as helpful at all.” said Straley

“I am passionate about making sure the next generation of engineers learns from the mistakes we have seen companies make before.” said Straley. “Through these lessons and discussions we continue to learn also.”

Weld Fixture Design 101 also shows engineers how to incorporate more money saving purchased components in their fixtures to reduce the number of components that must be custom manufactured for the fixture or jig.

“I include lessons on how to use REID pins and Rentapen’s standardized yet versatile blocks, plates, clamp risers and shims,” said Straley. She said that Rentapen’s RAPid Tooling Components™ reduce costs and increases the accuracy of locating product parts in a fixture. Rentapen allows designers to download any 3D Models of the RAPid Tooling Components™ from their web site, saving time and money in machine design.

Issues Manufacturers Must Consider when Ordering Metal Shims

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Manufacturers are familiar with Douglas Stamping as a supplier of metal shims. These shims are used to adjust the location of parts in machine tools and dies. But the process of stamping shims requires large quantities to be cut to make it cost effective. Laser cutting the metal shims allows for a wider variety of shapes and doesn’t require the large quantity orders.

For the year 2012, one company that does exceptionally well at providing custom cut metal shims is Rentapen Inc. located in Waukesha, WI. Recently Rentapen discovered it can not compete with the stamping companies on large quantity orders. Rentapen found its niche in specialty orders. Custom cut metal shims of any quantity cut to order. For custom cut metal shims, Rentapen is the Shim King.

Manufacturers are able to order any shape they need in any quantity they need. This has saved many manufacturers and tooling companies’ money and time.

When the quantities are huge, stamping out the shapes with a die and stamping machine such as is used at Douglas Stamping, proves to be cheaper and faster than laser cutting. But, when quantities are smaller, that’s when laser cut shims, like Rentapen’s RAPid Shims™ are best.

Some manufacturers use hundreds of the same size and shape of shims. They buy the large quantities from a stamping house, like Douglas, and they keep stock in inventory. Maintaining inventory can be costly. Custom ordered laser cut metal shims reduce inventory costs because manufacturers and machine tooling companies buy only what they need, when they need it.

Rentapen can get shims quoted, cut, and shipped to their customers faster than most of the competition can get a quote. Rentapen’s Automated RAPid Order Processing System™ is fast and accurate. Rentapen has earned its title of Shim King. Since the turn-around time is quick (from order to delivery), many manufacturers opt to buy smaller quantities and reduce their inventory headaches by using companies such as Rentapen for their metal shims.

Just like Douglas Stamping, Rentapen offers Steel shims, Stainless Steel Shims, NAAMS shim shapes, Die sharpening shims, Adjustment shims, Reid Tool Supply shim shapes, and any Douglas shim shapes. Of course, with laser cut shims, it’s easy to get custom shapes and sizes by sending in a drawing of the shim with the request for quote.

A custom shim is any shim that doesn’t conform to the standard shapes normally used. For example, a shim that needs a corner chamfer would be custom, a shim where the holes aren’t in a regular pattern would be custom cut. Shims with holes or slots or a custom shim any size or shape that manufacturers come up with, is a custom shim.

Certain companies may use stamping to create the same kind of shim. Rentapen uses a 150 watt Kern Laser to create smaller quantities and unique quantities.

At Rentapen, custom shims are made to order. There is no minimum order. Need one shim, that’s OK with them.

Shims are often used in packs. A pack can be 2 to 10 or more shims of the same shape. Sometimes they are all the same thickness and sometimes they are different thicknesses of metal. Amazingly, one shim can be even thinner than .005 of an inch.

Rentapen not only custom cuts the shims but puts each shim pack in a bag and labels it with the part number.

While stamping provides fast production of thousands of shims, laser cutting, like that used at Rentapen is totally flexible. Manufacturers can create what they need, whether it is one shim or a thousand shims.

“What is interesting is that you can create about a billion different shim styles with just our part numbering system,” said Susan Straley, President of Rentapen. “And it doesn’t take much thought, just go to our web site and create 3D models of our standard shim shapes and you will not only have the 3D model to use in your CAD design, but you will have the part number you need.”

“So, if you need metal shims of the same shape and size in large quantities, then ordering from a stamping company makes sense. If you are trying to cut down on inventory costs or you a smaller quantity or unique shape, then you can order from a laser cutting company like Rentapen, Inc,” said Straley.

New Owner Brings Changes to Weld Fixture Company

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Rentapen Inc. specializes in weld fixture design and has been innovating and transforming since April 2011.

One year ago, Susan Straley, also known as, The Queen of Lean Machine Design, took over ownership and became President of Rentapen Inc. In that year Rentapen Inc. has embraced many new changes in the company. Rentapen has added new employees, a new website, and new customers.

Weld Fixture Specialists’ Team Changes

After several months of searching, Engineering Manager, Blake Peterson was recruited to help lead Rentapen’s team to create superior weld fixtures and to help transition Rentapen from a company that designs weld fixtures to one that designs and builds fixtures. Blake has brought new project and team management skills to the company. Blake is continuing his education by working toward a degree in Business Management.

Bethany Kratz brought enthusiasm and a passion for learning the newest technology and social media marketing techniques to Rentapen. Bethany is the “Duchess of Cost Reductions” and is constantly working to keep abreast of opportunities to inform manufacturers about Rentapen’s weld fixture design and build cost savings.

Peter Christiansen, the IT programmer, came to Rentapen as an intern in August. His first major project was to take 3D models of Rentapen’s RAPid Tooling Components and make them easy to download from Rentapen’s web site. This new download service was launched in March 2012. Peter has a background in quality in the castings industry that taught him attention to detail and gave him a background in manufacturing. Since Peter came right from the learning environment at school, he easily takes on new learning challenges as they present themselves.

Kory Maier, CAD Drafter, also came to Rentapen as an intern. Quickly he picked up speed and ability as a CAD Drafter. Right after he graduated from school, Rentapen sent him to learn their new Feature CAM software so that he could do both CAD and CAM. His passion for learning and ability to quickly learn new skills allows Rentapen to improve and expand quickly.

Ed Murphy, the Shop Maintenance Associate, has a background in machine maintenance while in the construction industry. Shortly after starting at Rentapen he began to learn how to operate and maintain the laser used to cut shims. He fit in immediately to the Rentapen culture which emphasizes customer service, a passion for learning, and integrity.

“All of Rentapen’s employees are in the business of satisfying our customers’ need to reduce costs. It is only with the dedication to efficiency, excellence, and customer service by every team member can we retain our customers and fulfill our mission, “ said Susan Straley.

Rentapen’s mission is to provide jobs, training and opportunities for people who work together to help manufacturers reduce costs of tooling to make their products.

Website Innovation

Since April 2011, Rentapen has also revamped their website. Rentapen’s new website clearly focuses on their niche as weld fixture specialists. Rentapen’s products and services focus on reducing costs in weld fixture design and build.

Susan Straley, President of Rentapen Inc.

“Our objective with the redesign of the website is to more clearly state to our potential customers what we can do for them,” said Straley.

“We help manufacturers by providing excellence in weld fixture design and build, RAPid Tooling Components™, and standard and custom shims,” said Blake Peterson.

Since April 2011, Straley began blogging about weld fixture design. The blog is called Weld Fixture Design 101. The Weld Fixture Design blog informs the students and others interested in machine design, first how to design a simple weld fixture. Then Straley’s future posts go further into the design details and more complex issues.

The latest addition to the web site is the ability to order free 3D CAD models of Rentapen’s RAPid Tooling Components™. The 3D Models are the new American standard for the Machine Designing Industry. Rentapen’s new 3D models will change how Machine Design Engineers and CAD Drafters design their weld fixtures for the better. The 3D Models will reduce machine design time as users become familiar with how and when to use the blocks, plates, and clamp risers.

New Customers Added

Because of the new owner’s emphasis on marketing, innovation, improved processes and growth, Rentapen has been able to serve several new customers since April 2011.

The innovative website, embracing social media marketing, the constant training and learning of the employees, the recruitment of good and dedicated talent, have all played a roll in helping Rentapen expand its customer base.