Argos Translations was commissioned to perform a marketing translation for various products (including

• high-performance labels translations,
• signs translations,
• safety devices translations,
• printing systems translation,
• software printing translation

for a leading printing and labeling company in Europe.

The project consisted of a printing-system translation into Polish along with a review of marketing materials, press releases and website content. Our client requested that Argos adapt a large part of their marketing materials (close to 6,000 words) that were to be used during an upcoming product launch in the CEE markets.

Argos managed the complete translation project by following a designated workflow, which was specifically adjusted to our client’s requirements. Argos put in place additional steps to ensure QA levels met our client’s expectations. In result, upon delivery, our client was extremely pleased with the final translation.

Background Information:

1. Client’s Industry - Labeling and printing systems
2. Type of Product - mobile label printers, labels, printing software
3. Type of Project - translation, review of marketing, press releases and website content
4. Languages involved - Polish Translations
5. Amount of work - 6,000 words
6. Time frame - under one month

Argos was commissioned by the leading European gas pipeline conglomerate to translate their Environmental Impact Assessment document that was to be used by the EU to determine the scope of the project and any/all risks associated with it.

The project submitted to Argos entailed German to Polish translation, review and quality assurance of all the content translated. The polish translation portion consisted of over 100,000 words of text that were to be adapted in under 3 weeks. Due to the project’s sensitive nature and an urgent need for use, the polish translation had to be completed on a tight deadline and Argos ensured that no delays took place.

In an effort to quickly complete the gas pipeline translation assignment, Argos attached an experienced team of 5 translators, one language lead and one QA specialist, who worked to ensure that the German into Polish translation was flawless. As a result of their combined effort, Argos delivered the final project back to our client meeting their expectations for quick turnaround with high quality (accurate) translations.

Background Information:

1. Client’s Industry - Gas and Oil production/extraction
2. Type of Product - Risk analysis documentation
3. Type of Project - Translation, review and QA
4. Languages involved - German translations
5. Amount of work - 100,000 words
6. Time frame - 3 weeks

In an effort for any company (language translation companies as well) to apply for the ranking, they must pass a rigorous application process that included both surveys and interviews with female employees. After gaining strong marks, our professional translation company along with a handful of other businesses reached the final stage of the contest and was awarded the title of the “Best Company for Working Mothers”.

Fifty percent of Argos Translations management and more than half of our language translation company’s full-time staff are females. Our language translation company works hard to offer wide benefits (including an extended leave of absence period with guaranteed job security), and a supportive environment for working mothers.

Out of the whole Polish language translation services industry and all language translation companies in Poland, Argos was the only two-time recipient of this award.

To learn more about Argos Translations, its corporate culture, our language translation services, dedication to employees and all current job openings, as well as to obtain results and information about the contest, please visit our translation company Employment Section or contact us via email at: info@argostranslations.com

Argos Translations completed a technical asset management translation and logistics management software DTP project for a client of ours looking to enter the Russian market. The software translation project involved the use of DTP services over various marketing materials for use in an upcoming campaign. The translation portion of the assignment revolved around adapting the source language and around 2,000 words from German into Russian. Our client also had a strict deadline of one week for all the work to occur prior to the brochures being sent in for launch.

Argos attached a team comprised of DTP specialists experienced in Corel, and translators to work on the assignment. The project proved more intricate as the work progressed, because the client requested to change the font to suit a Cyrillic alphabet. The client had only done 3 such similar brochures into Russian before and was not aware of the effects that even ’simple’ font changes could have on brochure design. The result was practically a complete redesign of the brochure by Argos. In the end, the Argos redesigned template showed a more thorough approach to the new Russian market over the previous brochures.

Upon seeing our skilled handling of the project, the client trusted our professionalism saying that they “knew, that [we] knew what [we] were doing”. The client was quite pleased with Argos having redesigned the brochure, changed the font, dealt with all text expansion issues and drafted a resulting template that exactly suited our client’s style and objective.

In effect, Argos delivered the complete project along with a term glossary free of charge, to which our client reacted with a “wow” exclamation and sent a proofread version. The proofread version will be used for all future projects for this client’s Russian documentation.

Background Information:

1. Client’s Industry - Technical Asset Management
2. Type of Product - Marketing Brochures
3. Type of Project - DTP services, Translation, Review, QA
4. Languages involved - Russian translations
5. Amount of work - 2,000 words
6. Time frame - 1 week

Argos Translations completes software translation and localization engineering projects for various clients in the construction industry. Recently, Argos completed a software translation of a GUI for an engineering project team collaboration system. The software translation included localization services, engineering processing, text resizing and compilation of over 16,000 words. Our client forwarded this project with a request for a German translation of all the content.

Argos set out to work on the assignment by attaching a team of skilled software localization engineers. Our team used CAT tools and TM to reduce the amount of translated text strings on over 7,000 words of content that had 100% matches, passing the savings back to our client. Overall, Argos utilized TM over 46% of all the content, significantly reducing the final project costs for our client.

Because the content revolved around software for civil engineers and consisted of highly technical language, Argos assigned skilled and experienced linguists for this German translation. Our team worked to ensure that all track alignment, design, cant integration, super-elevation and earthwork elements parts of the application were adapted correctly. Argos adapted its translation work-flow to suit our client’s needs, by performing the following steps:

1. GUI translation,
2. resizing and binaries compilation,
3. client review,
4. corrections,
5. building by the client
6. final build approval

In the end, Argos completed the assignment in under 9 weeks and under deadline. After client review of the translation in binaries format, Argos received positive feedback and was presented with new projects.

Background Information:

1. Client’s Industry - Construction
2. Type of Product - Software Localization (GUI) for an engineering project team collaboration system
3. Type of Project - Localization, Translation, review, engineering processing, resizing, compilation
4. Languages involved - German translations
5. Amount of work - 16,000 words
6. Time frame - 9 weeks

Argos Translations completed a medical translation project that involved adapting an oncology information system and treatment delivery instructions guide. The project was completed for a leading US cancer treatment and medical devices manufacturer. Argos was chosen after the client conducted a search for a exceptionally high quality translation vendor. We were given the assignment to perform a medical device translation, review and Quality Assurance of over 80,000 words of content. The oncology information system translation was to be adapted from an English source text and required a translation into Polish.

Overall, the project consisted of two language batches, the first totaling 34K and the second 54K words of content. Argos was also asked to complete the medical device translation project in under 2 weeks as the client needed the manual for an upcoming product launch. The client also provided us with Translation Memory, term glossary, a list of trademarks and a PDF for reference.

In order to efficiently handle all translation work, Argos utilized our CAT tools ensuring that client’s request to complete the assignment in SDLX2007 was fulfilled. The client also had specific instructions regarding the user interface. Mainly, if Argos found any application or software user interface entries in the document, we were asked to translate them using a bilingual format of ‘English (translation)’. Then, the bilingual entry was to follow the English source’s case style: CAPS (Capital Letters) and LOWERCASE (Lowercase letters). Furthermore, UI or application references in bold font were to be translated with the English in bold, followed by the translation in parenthesis without bold.

In order to handle all work regarding this assignment, Argos dedicated a team of 5 translators and a review specialist who ensured that all translation work was adapted properly. Also, our localization department made sure to check the files for any remaining issues prior to delivery. In the end, the client was extremely pleased with the end translation and continues to cooperate with Argos on new translation assignments.

Background Information:

1. Client’s Industry - Medical Devices (cancer research and oncology information systems)
2. Type of Product - instruction’s manual (booklet)
3. Type of Project - Translation, review and QA
4. Languages involved - Polish translations
5. Amount of work - 88,000 words
6. Time frame - 2 weeks

Argos has attended virtually all previous Localization World events held throughout the world. We invite anyone interested in the language translation services industry to attend this event and meet with our representatives. Localization World connects clients with language translation services vendors from around the globe, offering seminars, trainings and a multi-day conference. During the conference, there are multiple opportunities to meet with attending translation companies or visit the exhibitors.

Most professional translation companies make the effort to participate and dedicate a significant portion of their time during the conference to showcase new technologies, tools or free translation services.

This year, Argos Translations will attend the event starting with the pre-conference day reserved for meetings and networking, all the way to the closing day’s dinner. We invite all our current clients and those interested in our translation company and our language translation services, to let us know if you’ll also be attending.

Come and join us and other language translation companies during 2010 Localization World Berlin.

Argos Translations completed an IT Hardware translation project for one of the world’s largest electronics manufacturers. The project revolved around a printing device translation of an operator’s manual from English into Polish. Along with the printing translation work, Argos also performed quality assurance checks and review.

Because of the large scope of this project, 13 files with 35,000 words, Argos used localization services and Translation Memory to guide this IT Hardware translation. In fact, the use of TM helped to reduce client’s translation rates by finding that 46% of the content had similar or repeat words used throughout the text. Not only did TM help to reduce client’s translation fees, but they also improved consistency and accuracy of the whole printing devices translation project.

The client also had a specific request to “first adapt the translation from excel files that were then to be used in an .eps format to produce a PDF that will then be sent back to Argos for localization”. In essence, Argos used DTP to work on the source .eps files based on which the client prepared a PDF, which was then used as reference for the remaining translation. In effect, Argos put our DTP department to work on this assignment in an effort to correctly extract all the source content, embed it back into an adapted document layout and in the end forward it to localization for final review and proofreading.

The project was made difficult by the fact that there were many source xls and PDF files delivered by the client with much inconsistency between them. Argos’ reviewers and QA specialists put in extra effort to unify the content and ensure that the end translation was consistent across all files and formats. Upon delivery, our client said “thank you so much for your explanation and good job!”.

Background Information:

1. Client’s Industry - Computers, TV and Electronics Manufacturer
2. Type of Product - instruction’s manual (booklet)
3. Type of Project - Translation, review and QA
4. Languages involved - Polish translations
5. Amount of work - 35,000 words
6. Time frame - 3 weeks

Argos completed a printing translation project for a world leading digital camera and photography products manufacturer. The camera catalog translation project consisted of office equipment, multi-function peripherals and laser printer manuals translation. Our client also requested DTP services for their marketing materials, product catalogs, leaflets, brochures and business proposals. All work involved polish translations of over 20,000 words with a 2 week deadline.

Because the project followed a standard workflow and our client requested that we deliver translated but semi-formatted documents, the review portion was completed on the client’s side. Argos’ attached a team of translators, reviewers and QA specialists to work on the assignment. Our translators adapted the content while our DTP team formatted layouts accordingly.

We delivered the project on time leaving our client extremely pleased with the end result. In fact, they praised us saying: “Thank you for the quick delivery and proper terminology and slogans used”.

Background Information:

1. Client’s Industry - Digital photography and peripherals manufacturer
2. Type of Product - marketing brochures, manuals and instruction booklets
3. Type of Project - Translation and review
4. Languages involved - Polish translations
5. Amount of work - 20,000 words
6. Time frame - 2 weeks

An example of what I am talking about is how we improved things in the accounting department. It used to be the case that everyone used to come to the accounting department for everything. Thanks to the intranet and our accounting software we were able to give power to the users (you the employees) and more specifically take the burden of answering away from accounting (which means they have more time for other things). One good example of this is the ability to check vacations and to reserve them online. Plus there are forms available on the intranet if there are changes to your bank account, your identity card, your name, your address, your tax office. With any of these things you print out the appropriate form and deliver it to accounting. This is very simple, but saves a lot of time. In addition there is information there about the company, that allows you to get what you need without asking accounting for it. Documents such as our KRS, REGON, NIP, bank account and lots of other company details are available on the intranet. All in all it’s a huge reduction in work for accounting. If we continued to manually handle all these requests we’d need more people working in accounting and we’d be less profitable. This is a good example of being a “smart” company.

Anyway, this is an example and it brings me to the improvement I wanted to discuss in this post.

I recently had a brief with one of the IT guys and we were talking about how to improve things in the department and he had a good idea in my opinion. The IT department has done a good job defining problems and solving them and these solutions are all ready and available at the IT helpdesk website. The problem is that often people come to IT or helpdesk with problems that have already been solved and described in the helpdesk user procedures. Since our IT guys are so nice and helpful they simply explain the solution again to the person asking. However, I think it would be much better for them to get the user to refer back to the procedures and try to solve the problem themselves. These are not very complex issues and problems and I think if we took this extra time to try to solve things ourselves we could save the time of our IT guys.