Argos Update: August 28, 2025
Hello Everyone,
It has been a few months, but things are still moving along. I’d like to take this opportunity to remind everyone to descale their machine. Even if you are using filtered water or a custom water blend, it has been surprising to see how many people run into issues caused by scale buildup.
So, what is scale? It’s the accumulation of minerals (primarily calcium and magnesium) that naturally occur in water. When water is heated and evaporates inside the boiler, these minerals remain behind and begin to form deposits. Over time, they can coat key components such as the fluid level probe, which may cause it to malfunction. While these machines are designed and built for a lifetime of use with minimal maintenance, descaling is one of the most important steps to ensure that longevity.
Production Updates
We’re currently in the 2200 order numbers. Process and operational improvements are never simple. When the same business is managing everything from procurement to assembly and shipping, there are countless small pieces that need to be refined to keep things running smoothly. The good news is that progress continues in the right direction.
We’ve reduced our overall backlog to about 550 machines and are consistently shipping more orders than we are receiving. This has been a major milestone in catching up. At the current rate, we anticipate reducing our lead time from six months down to three months within the next six months. While fluctuations in order volume could affect this timeline, this is where things stand today.
To support these improvements, we’ve implemented new systems. Previously, sub-assembly technicians were responsible for keeping all possible configurations in stock, which proved unsustainable given the variability of order configurations. We now pre-plan the required sub-assemblies each week as build sheets are generated. Quantities and inventory are tracked on a monitor, keeping both sub-assembly and machine builders aligned and helping to prevent bottlenecks.
Monitor showing live updates in the shop. Red is low quantities, yellow is exact, and green is a surplus.
Our updated inventory management system has also been essential in staying ahead on parts ordering. By tracking lead times and weekly usage, we can plan more effectively, reduce costs, and avoid delays. Builders record the configurations they complete each week, and this data feeds into our parts spreadsheet, providing a simple, visual snapshot of where everything stands.
Staffing
Recently, we had one full-time sub-assembly technician and one part-time technician move on for career advancement. We were fortunate to quickly bring on a new full-time sub-assembly technician who has already contributed meaningful workflow improvements.
Additionally, we’ve just received a verbal acceptance for a part-time Customer Service and Parts Fulfillment role. This will free up one of our machine builders to focus on assembly, allowing us to increase our weekly output and stay on track with production goals.
Design Updates
Parts:
Parts continue to be machined, powder-coated, and shipped in batches. This approach is beneficial for cash flow and allows for ongoing iteration and improvements, though it does introduce some minor variations in tolerances and quality. Fortunately, recent batches have shown noticeable improvements, saving us time in assembly and quality control.
O-Rings:
We’ve been transitioning from EPDM to silicone o-rings. While silicone has performed well in certain areas, piston o-rings have shown slightly faster wear, so we have not yet adopted them for production. We’ll continue testing different hardness levels to evaluate durability.
Drip Tray:
With the current drip tray design, the top lip that holds the cover has proven more difficult to manufacture. While we like the design, the cover can occasionally shift out of place when handling the tray off the machine. We are working with our o-ring supplier on a soft rubberized component that will secure the cover and add a layer of protection between the tray and the front cover. Updates will follow as development progresses.
As always, we will continue refining our parts, processes, and operations to improve both our product and the overall customer experience. These updates are part of our ongoing commitment to building machines that not only last a lifetime but also get better over time.
Sincerely,
Ross & William