Product quality has always been a priority at Wood's Powr-Grip®: We built our reputation in the glass industry by providing hand-held vacuum cups and below-the-hook vacuum lifters that workers could trust to support glass properly. Whether they were using hand cups to build windows or using vacuum lifters to install curtainwall glass, our customers have been giving us the same feedback for years: They would not trust their lives and livelihood to any other lifting products.

Despite Powr-Grip's long-standing reputation for excellence, it was not until 1998 that we were able to objectively prove our high standards to the world. In that year, our company became certified to comply with the ISO 9001 Quality Management Standard. This internationally recognized standard covers quality systems in all aspects of bringing a product to market, from sourcing parts and raw materials to customer service and product maintenance.

To maintain this certification, Wood's Powr-Grip undergoes annual audits from a third-party registrar, SGS, which independently verifies our compliance with ISO 9001. As in previous audits, the one performed in July, 2008, determined that our company is fully compliant with the ISO 9001 standard, marking 10 years that we have operated under this quality management system.

This 10-year anniversary serves to emphasize Powr-Grip's on-going commitment to providing the highest quality vacuum lifting products available today. As we expand into new product lines and new markets, we want customers around the world to know that our company will continue to deliver the effective and reliable products they have come to expect from Wood's Powr-Grip.

Byron LaRue has more than 10 years of experience writing and translating literature about glass, stone and general materials handling. He is currently serving as the Senior Staff Writer for Wood's Powr-Grip