Flexpipe Blog

Learn more about the Flexpipe system and its applications with our inspirational articles on continuous improvement, Kaizen Blitz, Lean Six Sigma, 5S and corporate social involvement.


A Tailor-Made Multifunction Cart for a Student Engineering Competition

A Tailor-Made Multifunction Cart for a Student Engineering Competition

The Alérion Supermileage team from Université Laval opted for a modular Flexpipe cart that can be used as a transport cart, but also as a tool box and work table.

 

 

Alérion Supermileage is a science and engineering student project based at Université Laval in Quebec. Its mandate is to design, design and manufacture a prototype vehicle with the best possible energy efficiency.

Needing a transport system for their vehicle during competitions, the Alérion Supermileage team called on Flexpipe to build their custom cart. The new cart made of tubes and connector joints could therefore be used as a worktable for adjustments to the vehicle, a toolbox in addition to a transport cart, responding to a lack observed by the team during the previous competition.

 

 

The 3D concept of the trolley was produced using SolidWorks software, using the parts library provided by Flexpipe. A first version of the design could be shared with the experts at Flexpipe to validate the structure and discuss the modifications to be made. The slides used come from another partner, the biggest difficulty encountered was to install them to the tube structure during assembly.

These slides had to be attached by a fixing system which was not possible to use with the tubes. The students had to cut and bend some pieces of metal as well as make new holes in order to attach them to the tubes using the slide extension support pieces.

 

 

In the 2023 SAE Supermileage competition, the Alérion Supermileage team took first place in the gasoline-powered prototype standings. Congratulations to all!

 

 

A COAT RACK DESIGNED FOR AND BY THE CHILDREN OF THE LA-LE-LI CENTER

A COAT RACK DESIGNED FOR AND BY THE CHILDREN OF THE LA-LE-LI CENTER

Flexpipe is proud to have partnered with the Educational Help La-Le-Li Center in Farnham to host a coat rack building workshop. The center had expressed a need for storage for the coats, boots and lunch boxes of the young people who frequent the premises. We therefore imagined together the ideal coat rack for their needs and planned the workshop day.

 

In this picture, France Gagné, Mireille Belleau, the children of the La-Le-Li center, and the Flexpipe team members

 

The workshop took place on a pedagogical day that coincided perfectly with International Day of Education. 10 young people between 6 and 11 years old were able to participate in the construction of their coat rack. They were also able to proudly sign the top of the piece of furniture in turn to reinforce the feeling of accomplishment that inhabited them.

 

The activity was intended to be fun, imaginative and inclusive for all ages. Young people will have put their creativity, their dexterity... and their strength to the test!

 

The La-Le-Li Center is an educational support center for elementary-aged children in the Municipality of Farnham. Thanks to dedicated volunteers, children can benefit from personalized assistance adapted to their needs. Whether it's homework help, tutoring, or activities during pedagogical days. All interventions are dedicated to supporting the parent in his role as educator. It's a great local initiative that we want to support, because we believe we can help make learning possible in a fun and concrete way!

 

 

 

A DONATION OF PROTECTIVE PANELS TO ENABLE LE CHAÎNON TO PURSUE ITS MISSION

A DONATION OF PROTECTIVE PANELS TO ENABLE LE CHAÎNON TO PURSUE ITS MISSION

Le Chaînon has seen its reception capacity reduced to 50% due to the pandemic linked to Covid-19. A donation of divider panels made it possible to continue to welcome and support women in difficulty in a safe environment for all.

Le Chaînon is a Montreal-based organization that has been helping women in transition since 1932. In addition to its helpline and support services available at all times, it offers short and long-term accommodation to more than 500 women annually.

 

One of its most-used services is emergency accommodation, which houses 12 women every day. They spend the night in a secure dormitory, can eat supper and breakfast, and receive many services, such as healthcare and clothing care.

Unfortunately, with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, the shelter had to reduce its lodging capacity by almost 50%. In fact, due to the physical distancing measures decreed by Public Health, only seven women could sleep there.

Since the occupancy rate was 100% before the health crisis, the organization did not want to penalize those needing its services by accommodating fewer women.

 

Helping Le Chaînon pursue its mission
Le Chaînon’s management came up with the idea of installing protective panels. After doing some research, they learned that Flexpipe made sneeze guards to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Excited by this great project, we donated several panels to them and made the trip to Montreal to come and install them.

 
In the picture, Julia Sourbé, Patrice Mongeau, Richard Forgues, Katia Poulin and part of the Flexpipe team

 

Flexpipe sneeze guards are made with steel tubing and connectors that form the frame of the structure. Mika fabric, which helps block droplets, forms the wall and is attached to the frame with self-locking tie wraps.

There are several models, some of which are installed directly on the floor, and others on counters or furniture. Regardless of the model, assembly time is generally only 15 to 20 minutes per panel.

 

Panel installation
At Le Chaînon, we installed protective panels in the dormitory, as well as in the common dining room. In the first case, we installed partition walls between each of the 12 beds, starting at the height of the pillows. 

Since the fabric used for the panels is transparent, the organization’s officials can easily see each of their residents and chat with them, while respecting the hygiene rules related to COVID-19. Solid panels, for example those made of plywood, would not have provided the same advantage.

 

In the dining room, we installed smaller sneeze guards the middle of each of the tables. Thus, the organization can serve as many meals as it wishes, without having to reduce its capacity. Additionally, women can sit across from each other to eat and chat, which helps to overcome isolation.

 

Mika fabrics not only improve communication, they also increase the lifespan of the panels. If the fabric ever got damaged, the organization would not need to get a new structure, it would only need to replace the damaged fabric, a process that only takes a few minutes. Tubes and connectors are strong and built to last for years.

 

Multi-purpose equipment
Once the pandemic is over, Le Chaînon can easily use the protective panels to meet new needs. Like the other Flexpipe products, these are fully modular and easily convert into a shelf or support for an electronic tablet or laptop.

 

In this picture, Sonia Côté, president and general manager at Le Chaînon, surrounded by Eric Collard and Sylvain Lejour of tinktube and Flexpipe.

We are very happy to have helped this wonderful community organization continue to operate during this time of uncertainty. Thanks to our sneeze guards and partition walls, Le Chaînon was able to install sneeze guard separator panels in the dormitory, in the cafeteria and in the Le Chaînon store.

 

 

 

160-kilometre Relay Race for the Brome-Missisquoi Child Community

160-kilometre Relay Race for the Brome-Missisquoi Child Community

Always looking for new challenges, it is with great motivation that some employees mobilized to support the children of Brome-Missisquoi at the Bromont Ultra 2019. See this 160-kilometre relay race recap.

 

The participants of the Flexpipe team had the common goal of making their loved ones aware of physical activity while giving back to a cause close to their hearts. It was both a personal and a group challenge, where surpassing oneself was in the spotlight. It was by running the distance of 160 kilometres in relay that these 10 participants surpassed themselves during the weekend of October 12-13th, 2019.

 

THE SUPPORTED CAUSE: MAIN DANS LA MAIN
The chosen cause affects each member of the team directly or indirectly, in addition to being a local organization. All team members unanimously chose to donate the funds raised to the Community social pediatrics Main dans la main of Brome-Missisquoi.

The role of this organization is to accompany and support children from 0 to 14 years old in situations of great vulnerability. Acting on toxic stresses and the causes of difficulties for children in the region through proximity and intensive and personalized support for children in their development.

 

In this photo, Dr. Sophie Giugovaz, family doctor (left) and Marie-Claude Lizotte, general manager of the pediatric center (right)
The Objectives
Each team registered for Bromont Ultra had to pay a minimum amount to the cause of their choice based on the number of participants and the distance to be covered. The sum of $750 was the minimum to be paid to the Main dans la main social pediatrics centre.

Nevertheless, the participants of the Flexpipe team set themselves the challenge of raising twice the amount requested, and they almost succeeded. A total of $1,435 was donated to the selected cause.

 

An additional challenge animated the SME during the month preceding the race. Employees had to bet on which runner they wanted to run the last 2 miles wearing a dinosaur costume. The runner with the largest amount of money in his pot would have to finish the race dressed as a tyrannosaurus.

 

This small activity served as an additional fundraiser and raised an additional $300 for the selected cause. Benjamin found himself at the top of this little friendly challenge, for a difference of barely $20!

 

The runners' children were even able to participate in the last 2 kilometers of the race and accompany the mascot.

 

Overview & testimonial
The start was given on October 12th at noon and the 160 kilometers were completed around 4:15 p.m. the next day. The race conditions were perfect; the temperature, the sun and the colours of autumn were there.

It is a memorable race year after year. An experience that allows you to live a great team trip, I loved it!

Yves Provost - Participant and father

 

In addition to being a unifying event and approaching team building, the runners came together to do some team training. This is the second consecutive year for the Flexpipe team to participate in the Bromont Ultra.

Runners each have a personal goal that they have set themselves, and are all very inspired by this exceptional event.

Benjamin Ricard - Leader participant and father

 
ABOUT BROMONT ULTRA EVENT
Bromont Ultra is a single track race – 160 km, 80 km, 55 km, 25 km, 12 km, 6 km, and 2 km of dirt, roots, slopes, turns, hills, lakes and tracks. Cycling, running, team relay or solo: this two-day event encourages people to surpass themselves in the project of the cause chosen by the participants.

An ultramarathon on the mountain trails of Bromont is the ideal place for each participant to surpass themselves. There is no time limit, everyone progresses at their own pace – together, as a team. Success through perseverance to the finish line.

 

Thank you to our silver sponsors:

 

 

Thank you to our bronze sponsors:

RELL
INDUSTRIE FM
MÉTAL SIGMA
AZUR DIVERTISSEMENT
DOMINIC BOUCHER FABRICATION
AMOIRES LUDEM