FAS Technologies is the world’s premier supplier of digital high purity fluid dispensing systems for high viscosity fluids in the microelectronics industry. In 1988, FAS developed a liquid extrusion coater and since that time, FAS’s patented extrusion coating technology has gained global recognition as the leading technology for the next-generation substrates.

At their corporate headquarters in Dallas, Texas, the focus is on research and development, production, manufacturing, sales and marketing for domestic and international business. The company opened its first foreign office in Tokyo, Japan in 1994.

Marvin Vance, Manager of Purchasing and Inventory, first met Craters and Freighters when the local franchise owner stopped by to explain what they did and left his business card. "About three months later, we needed to crate up some equipment. Craters & Freighters came out, took all the measurements and the rest is history. We have been doing business together for the past two years," said Vance.

Semi-conductor panels are not small. “Coating machines can weigh 10,000 to 15,000 pounds and can be eight feet high,” Vance explains. "The average machine cost is $400,000 to $600,000. The size and content value makes the crating critical, to ensure there is no damage. In addition, many of our pieces are shipped long distances including China and other international destinations, mainly in Asia."

According to Vance, "Craters & Freighter comes to our site with all the materials necessary for the job, including 2 x 4s. Depending on the weight of the mechanism, they provide a crew of four to six people. Starting with the setup, the crating process averages about six hours."

Sometimes there are special circumstances. Vance describes one unforgettable shipping request that required real teamwork to get the job done. "We had to ship five machines in one day. Between Craters & Freighters and us, there were 18 people involved in the crating. It took from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. All deadlines were met. We got everything crated and safely delivered to the airport on time."

Systems can take four to five months to build. There can often be delays or changes. Vance describes his Craters & Freighters team as always flexible and prepared. "If things change, they accommodate us and never miss a commitment. We depend on them."

Known as the world's leading provider of voice-related solutions, West Corporation combines the skills of call center agents with the latest call center technology to create sophisticated call processing centers. Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, West blends human interaction into automated systems through the development of interactive voice technologies, natural language voice recognition, Internet-based services, business-to-business sales, conferencing, receivables management, and public safety.

Information technology equipment is shipped to West's headquarters location from around the world. The company utilizes this equipment to design and assemble complex information technology servers customized to clients’ unique businesses requirements. David Hybner, Director of Corporate Purchasing for West, explains, "These complex equipment assemblies are then shipped all over the United States from Virginia to the state of Washington, as well as internationally from Singapore to the United Kingdom. Shipping is a big job and having to focus on it takes attention away from our core business."

About four years ago, the Craters & Freighters in Omaha approached West about assisting in the packing and shipping of West's systems. "The Craters & Freighters franchise owners were former employees of West, which initially helped them get into the door, but it is their responsiveness and quality of service that has kept them there. We have grown together," said Hybner.

“Many of our servers cost more than $400,000. Craters & Freighters comes to our site to pick them up, pack and crate them, track their travels and take care of things at the other end. When our clients see a Craters & Freighters box arrive at their site, they see the quality packaging and attention to detail that they would expect from us,” explains Hybner.

Craters & Freighters offer alternative solutions and recommendations on the most economical ways to ship things," adds Hybner. "We ship refurbished monitors worth about $150. By thinking 'outside the box', Craters & Freighters found a way to repackage the monitors to make it more economical to ship them to customers."

Hybner summarizes West's experience with Craters & Freighters by saying, "Craters & Freighters fill an important niche by providing unique services from their materials to packing to shipping. They can do it all. They have all the pieces of the puzzle."

Vivian Faulkner has been an artist for more than 30 years, working in the media of oil painting and stained glass. The works of this Kansas artist appear in homes and institutions all across America and Canada. Vivian has created work for The Smithsonian Institute, The Missouri Botanical Gardens in St. Louis as well as South Street Seaport Museum and the Hospital for Joint Diseases, both located in New York City. Her custom stain glass windows grace many homes and businesses.

It was her vision and talent that drew Sacred Heart Church in Gardner, Kansas to seek Vivian's vibrant and harmonic images for its cathedral's window. The church, located about 30 miles from Vivian's home, commissioned Vivian to create 16 leaded stain glass panels composed of eight rectangles measuring 3'x 6' and eight-quarter rounds with a radius of three feet each.

"It took me to over a year to create the panels. I wanted to be sure that the line, color, and shapes were perfect. The windows were intended to depict the Beatitudes. To create the window designs, photographers were hired in Israel to take pictures of the landscape where the words were originally spoken. Each panel contains approximately 700 glass pieces and includes the text and names of the donors etched and painted on them," said Vivian.

When it came time to move the panels and quarter rounds 30 miles to the church, Vivian knew it was not a “one-woman” or even a “one-man” job. It would require several trips, because there were many different installation dates. She needed experts. With recommendations from her friends and peers in the artist community, she contacted Craters and Freighters.

Stained glass is very heavy. Vivian estimates that each 3' x 6' panel weighs over 70 pounds. Due to the size, weight, and danger of breakage, transport is usually at least a two-person job. Vivian explains, "If a panel is dropped, it surely means months or even a year of work could be ruined in a second, and I would have to start all over again."

"It was my first experience with Craters and Freighters, and it was an important that they knew what they were doing. Breakage was not an option." Vivian went on to explain that from the moment Craters & Freighters arrived at her home studio, "they were friendly, professional, on-time and had a 'can-do' attitude handling everything with ease."

Special crates were built. The crates included heavy-duty wheels designed to move the cumbersome and delicate panels easily. Every valuable window was packed with special attention to ensure a safe arrival at the church. Each 30-mile drive went off without a hitch and the panels were unpacked at the other end with the same great care. Vivian was totally pleased with the entire process and would not hesitate to call on Craters and Freighters again for her next big stain glass project.