Doug Green
Posts by Doug Green:
Multi-phased program includes 86,000 acres of hybrid Jatropha
Bharat Renewable Energy Ltd (BREL), a joint-venture of Bharat Petroleum, India’s second largest petroleum company, has initiated a program with SG Biofuels (SGB) to develop and deploy elite hybrids of Jatropha for the production of biodiesel in India. The program’s first phase includes a crop development effort to produce high performing hybrid varieties of Jatropha adapted to unique growing conditions across the country. Additional phases include the deployment of more than 86,000 acres of Jatropha using SGB’s JMax(TM) hybrid seeds. “With the genetic diversity of their Jatropha hybrid material combined with ability to produce large volumes of hybrid seed, SG Biofuels is an ideal partner to work with to successfully develop, validate and scale Jatropha as the primary source for biodiesel in India,” said Mr. M.V. Radhakrishnan, chief executive officer of Bharat Renewable Energy Ltd. SGB will draw from the advancements of its global JMax(TM) crop development centers where the company is optimizing elite hybrid varieties of Jatropha through a combination of molecular breeding and biotechnology. The centers feature hybrid material from the company’s germplasm library totaling more than 12,000 genotypes. SGB will work with BREL to select, test and scale the highest yielding, most commercially viable hybrid varieties for growing regions in India, including the initial 86,000 acre deployment. In December 2009, the Indian Government developed its National Policy on Biofuels targeting 20% blending of bioethanol and biodiesel into petrol and diesel markets. Government policy stipulates the use of wastelands to cultivate non-edible oil seed plants without affecting food security. According to the Asian Development Bank, the current cultivation of Jatropha and other non-edible oilseeds will need to increase by nearly 80 million acres to meet the nationÕs biodiesel targets. “We look forward to working with BREL to develop a thriving Jatropha industry capable of meeting the country’s significant demand […]
Gulfstream G150 Certified for China Registration
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. has received type certificate validation (TCV) for its G150 aircraft from the Civil Aviation Administration of China, a move that allows operators to register the wide-cabin, high-speed business jet there. Gulfstream achieved the validation through close coordination with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, China’s CAAC and the Civil Aviation Administration of Israel, where the G150 airframe is built. The G150, thanks to its 3,000 nautical-mile range and high speed, provides exceptional capability and efficiency to Chinese operators and is backed by the same product support organization that services Gulfstream’s long-range G550 and G450 aircraft. The G150 can fly from Singapore to Beijing in 6 hours and 10 minutes, shaving up to 1 hour and 14 minutes off the flight time of other aircraft in its class. The aircraft can travel nonstop from Hong Kong to Mumbai at Mach 0.75, Hong Kong to Delhi at Mach 0.80 and Beijing to Delhi at Mach 0.80. The mid-size jet also offers several options to improve safety, including an Enhanced Vision System (EVS) II, and a Wide Area Augmentation System-Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance (WAAS-LPV). In addition to China, the G150 has received type certification validation from the Ukraine, Israel, the United States, Chile, the European Union, the Philippines, Canada and Brazil.
New Mitsui Seiki HU63-T for Power Generation Parts
With the continuing evolution of machining requirements to satisfy new power generation production needs, Mitsui Seiki has introduced the HU63-T 5-xis CNC Machining Center. Typical applications include critical rotating components (Blisks, Impellers, & Turbine Disks) for gas turbine power generation systems. New features and specifications for the HU63-T include up 800 mm (31.5”) work diameter capacity on its vertically oriented table, 300 kg (660 lbs) work / fixture weight capacity, variety of increased axis stroke options, high torque spindles (1081 Nm – 800 lb-ft continuous), tuned structure for heavy cutting in hard metals, and latest Fanuc 30iM control with enhanced features for 5-axis simultaneous machining. The X, Y, Z working envelope is 900 mm x 800 mm x 800 mm (35.4″ x 31.5″ x 31.5″). The rapid federate in X, Y, Z axes is 32,000 mm/min (1260 ipm). Accuracy is the hallmark of any Mitsui Seiki machine. With the HU63-T, positioning accuracy in X, Y, Z axes is 0.001 mm (0.00004″), positioning repeatability is 0.001 mm (0.00004″). On the B axis, positioning accuracy is ±4 arc seconds; repeatability is ±1.5 arc seconds. The driver for the energy industry boom is fuel efficiency, achieved by lighter weights, excellent heat tolerance, and smaller packages. For a machine tool builder such as Mitsui Seiki, this is a fortunate evolution as more sophisticated machine tools are required to machine these new materials and complex precision parts cost-effectively. Mitsui Seiki has a long history developing dedicated machine tools for the energy industry. The company has been particularly active in the ground-based gas turbine market developing new projects for high speed machining of air foils, heavy-duty machining of engine cases, and high precision machining of gearboxes. The advancement of its HU-T product line has become important to this energy market segment. Likewise, with other products, the […]
RIM Announced Layoff of 2,000 Employees
BEIJING: RIM plans to cut about 2,000 employees, accounting for 11% of the total number of employees. This is the first time RIM disclosed the details of layoffs since it announced layoffs last month. Analysts of Isp.org.cn said the number of layoffs is a little more than the original forecast. However, this layoff is critical for RIM to reverse the declined market share caused by Apple and Google’s competition. Isp.org.cn also points out that the one-time cost of laying off employees is not included in the earnings forecasts of the second fiscal quarter and the whole fiscal year. RIM will explain the financial impact of the cuts in the second-quarter financial report on September. The experts of Isp.org.cn analyzes that RIM said the job cut is a prudent and necessary step for its long-term success. RIM also announced a series of changes of the executive responsibilities and the executives will leave recently. RIM said the chief operating officer Don Morrison will retire. Morrison is currently on the temporary sick leave. He has spent 10 years working in RIM.
Corning expands clean air products facility in China
“Additional capacity will address increased global demand.”- Mark Beck SHANGHAI: Corning Incorporated is incorporating a capital expenditure plan of approximately $170 million to further increase the capacity of its clean air products plant in Shanghai, China. The investment will be used to expand the Corning Shanghai Company Limited (CSCL) facility and to increase its capacity to manufacture emissions control substrates for light-duty (automotive) passenger vehicles. This expansion is expected to be complete and operational in the third quarter of 2013. Mark Beck, senior vice president and general manager, Corning Environmental Technologies, said, “Global sales of automobiles, particularly in China and across Asia, are forecasted to grow steadily over the next several years, increasing demand for Corning’s advanced substrates. Strict emissions regulations around the world are driving vehicles to use more substrates than before and to use advanced substrates. This significant investment will help us to meet the growing demand. It also demonstrates our commitment to improve service to our customers and to maintaining a leadership position in the emissions control industry.” “Corning has been investing in China for more than 25 years,” said Eric S. Musser, chief executive officer of Corning Greater China. “Today’s announcement, the third expansion of our automotive substrate facility, marks another important milestone in our commitment to China. As the first substrate manufacturer to enter China 10 years ago, we are proud that we continue to support China’s automotive industry through a combination of strategic investments, innovative technologies, and values-based market leadership.” Corning Shanghai Company Limited, which is wholly owned by Corning Incorporated, is a state-of-the-art, high-tech emissions control substrate facility that first began shipping product in early 2001. Corning first expanded the facility in 2007 and last year announced a $125 million second expansion of the facility. Production from this recent expansion […]
Distributed Cloud Backup: Incriptus Secures Second Round and Goes International
Trevor Glen, incriptus CEO Australia-based incriptus has announced the completion of its round 2 funding and will soon be offering its round 3 prospectus. The company also recently announced the addition of two key individuals in the U.S. to its management team as it prepares to expand beyond Australia. incriptus has introduced a new data backup technology that offers superior data security compared to traditional data centres, is uniquely eco-friendly, and offers nearly unlimited scalability. Until now backing up data into the cloud has meant sending encrypted files to large, remotely located data centers. incriptus has changed that paradigm through its process of first encrypting files, fragmenting them, then encrypting them again as it distributes the fragments across computers throughout the incriptus user network. As a result, no file can be reconstructed from any individual fragment and no complete document resides on any single computer in any s ingle location. According to Trevor Glen, incriptus CEO, “Everybody has unused space on their hard drive. We distribute fragments of data across the hard drives of everyone using incriptus-powered backup. It happens in the background and the only place those pieces can all come back together again is on the originating computer. No data center operator ever has access to a complete file and no natural disaster can wipe out a single location of backed up data.” As it prepares to address the data backup needs of the world, the company announced the addition of two individuals with international expertise to its team. Dr Jana B. Matthews is responsible for organizational development at incriptus and is also serving as a Board Advisor. Matthews has worked with high-growth CEOs, executives and top teams around the world. She has authored seven books on how to grow companies and was named one of 18 […]
FARO launches new version of Gage with Bluetooth technology
A portable, cost-effective, 3D measurement solution for the machine shop. SINGAPORE: FARO Technologiest has enhanced its FARO Gage product line. These hardwareand software improvements will simplify usersÕ measurement workflow and enhance the productÕs portability. The new FARO Gage, with its fresh and elegant design, is now equipped with Bluetooth, solidifying its position as the truly portable, cost-effective, 3D measurement solution for the machine shop. Moreover, it features all new measurement software that makes daily measuring tasks even easier due to its new intuitive user interface. Thanks to the popular Bluetooth wireless technology, users can now inspect and transmit data up to 10m (30 feet) away Ð even through walls – without the need for cables. Bluetooth is the right technology for FARO Gage applications and produces faster set up, extended battery life, and lower power consumption.Ê “The fully portable FARO Gage was designed with the production floor in mind. It produces accurate results to speed through the toughest measurement challenges,” said Markus Grau, FARO Gage Product Manager at FARO. Furthermore, the FARO Gage measurement software has been completely enhanced. Renamed CAM2¨ Gage, it features a much simpler and more intuitive user interface that makes it the ideal entry-level inspection software. The CAM2¨ Gage software is FARO’s CAM2 solution for measuring basic geometry and building dimensions. It allows users to quickly measure geometric features on parts and easily report the dimensions they need to control. Once users have measured one complete part, they can then repeat the same measurements on the next part with no additional effort. Users can also add images to their inspection plan and hand it over to any operator. “We believe that these enhancements will simplify the workflow of the FARO Gage users and increase their productivity. This simplified user interface eliminates the learning curve that […]
Great Wall Motor Company implements simulation and visualisation software
Innovative software will help the automotive manufacturer to meet its new, higher perceived quality targets across its range of vehicles. CHINA: Icona Solutions, which develops, supplies and supports the innovative perceived quality simulation and visualisation software solution, aesthetica, together with its Beijing-based business partner, Sili-Tech Co. Ltd., has announced that, following a comprehensive competitive evaluation of all available software in the areas of tolerance analysis and designs, China’s Great Wall Motor Company has selected aesthetica for use in perceived quality studies on all of its future vehicle programmes. Earlier this year, Great Wall Motor Company implemented its new ‘Three Hs Strategy’, addressing ‘High-luxury, ‘High-performance and ‘High-tech’. As a part of this strategy, Great Wall formed its new Dimensional Management Group and aesthetica was selected as a core tool for helping the company achieve the goal of ‘High-luxury’ throughout its vehicles range. While Great Wall does expect the use of aesthetica to help save time and money during the vehicle development process, the company’s principal aim is to improve the perceived quality of its vehicles by reducing the average exterior gap dimension on all its high-end luxury vehicles by next year. Using aesthetica will enable it to design its vehicles so that they are less sensitive to manufacturing variation, enabling the company to achieve higher perceived quality, cost-effectively. First live project With the software now installed in the new Dimensional Management Group, located at Great Wall’s Engineering Development Centre in Baoding, some 100 km south west of Beijing, the first live project on which aesthetica will be used commenced last month (June). aesthetica will be used at all stages of the vehicle design and development process, from the concept phase, where it will be used in setting the dimensional technical specification, i.e. gap and flush targets, through […]
Successful businesses take planning
The growth of manufacturing across Asia was widely read about – and responded to – in the last issue of Asia Manufacturing News with interest in manufacturing developments in India, using products from Delcam. In this issue the ‘push’ continues with readers having access to some outstanding new products from Fero and SolidWorks. Keeping up with the technology is the name of the game and any equipment -machine tools or software – that can keep your company highly productive and successful is to be encouraged. Take for example our story on Page 4 which explains how costs can be reduced and profitability enhanced by use of design automation. All across Asia, companies evaluate and re-value their levels of efficiency and success. The costs of being in business, the advantages of being efficient. From small contract manufacturers I have visited in Kuala Lumpur and on the outskirts of Bangkok and Nagoya every one is aiming for the best. So be mindful of the true cost of making ‘a product’ do not neglect your research and development needs and if you have specialists in your company especially assigned to give you the advice for a better way of doing business then listen to them. Our manufacturing world is highly competitive, everyone is looking for the advantage. If you specialise, use the right equipment and do not accede your cost structure, keep things tight and do not be too flamboyant with spending then life will be good. You will be a happy business owner, enjoying business life in a satisfying way.