Doug Green

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Foldable micro electric car

PIC CAP Armadillo-T is a small and light pure-electric car that can fold in half for convenient parking. DAJEON, KOREA: Looking for a parking space for hours at a busy shopping mall or being stuck on roads jammed with cars releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide are all-too-familiar scenes for city dwellers. A group of researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) recently developed a possible solution to such problems: a foldable, compact electric vehicle that can be utilised either as a personal car or part of the public transit system to connect major transportation routes within a city. In-Soo Suh, Associate Professor of the Graduate School for Green Transportation at KAIST and his research team introduced a prototype micro electric car called ‘Armadillo-T,’ whose design is based on a native animal of South America, the armadillo, a placental mammal with a leathery armour shell. The research team imitated the animal’s distinctive protection characteristic of rolling up into a ball when facing with threat from predators. Just as armadillos hide themselves inside the shell, Armadillo-T tucks its rear body away, shrinking its original size of 2.8 meters (110 inches) down to almost half, 1.65 meters (65 inches), when folding. Armadillo-T is a four-wheel-drive, all-electric car with two seats and four in-wheel motors. Since the motors are installed inside the wheels, and the 13.6 kWh capacity of lithium-ion battery pack is housed on the front side, the battery and motors do not have to change their positions when the car folds. This not only optimizes the energy efficiency but also provides stability and ample room to drivers and passengers. Once folded, the small and light (weighs 450 kg) electric vehicle takes up only one-third of a 5-meter parking space, the standard parking size in Korea, allowing three […]

Electric buses recharged right from the road

DAEJON, KOREA: The Online Electric Vehicle (OLEV) is an electric vehicle that can be charged while stationary or driving, thus removing the need to stop at a charging station. Likewise, an OLEV tram does not require pantographs to feed power from electric wires strung above the tram route. Following the development and operation of commercialized OLEV trams (at an amusement park in Seoul) and shuttle buses (at KAIST campus), respectively, the City of Gumi in South Korea, beginning on August 6th, is providing its citizens with OLEV public transportation services. Two OLEV buses will run an inner city route between Gumi Train Station and In-dong district, for a total of 24 km roundtrip. The bus will receive 20 kHz and 100 kW (136 horsepower) electricity at an 85% maximum power transmission efficiency rate while maintaining a 17cm air gap between the underbody of the vehicle and the road surface. OLEV is a groundbreaking technology that accelerates the development of purely electric vehicles as a viableÊoptionÊfor future transportation systems, be they personal vehicles or public transit. This is accomplished by solving technological issues that limit the commercialization of electric vehicles such as price, weight, volume, driving distance, and lack of charging infrastructure. OLEV receives power wirelessly through theÊapplicatioÊof the ÒShaped Magnetic Field in Resonance (SMFIR)Ó technology. SMFIR is a new technology introduced by KAIST that enables electric vehicles to transfer electricity wirelessly from the road surface while moving. Power comes from the electrical cables buried under the surface of the road, creating magnetic fields. There is a receiving device installed on the underbody of the OLEV that converts these fields into electricity. The length of power strips installed under the road is generally 5%-15% of the entire road, requiring only a few sections of the road to be rebuilt with the […]

Asian markets uninspired by Bernanke comments

Asia-Pacific equity markets were forced to look inward after testimony from Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke that contained no real surprises. A few unexpected words from Mr Bernanke can have markets racing, but in Wednesday’s Capitol Hill testimony the Fed chairman merely reiterated that plans to scale back stimulative measures weren’t tied to a pre-set timetable. US markets were relieved with both stocks and bonds rising, but there was little follow-through in Asia. Crédit Agricole said Mr Bernanke’s comments created a positive backdrop for the region in the absence of other driving factors. Mr Bernanke’s appearance before the House Financial Services Committee was the first of two Congressional outings for the Fed chairman this week, with a repeat performance in front of the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday. With no press conference planned for the July Federal Open Market Committee meeting, the testimony from Mr Bernanke will be the Fed’s best communications opportunity for some weeks. Indications of stronger economic growth and job creation in the US economy are paving the way for theFed to throttle back its easy monetary policy. That should eventually allow traders to focus on economic fundamentals, rather than reading the runes of central bank officials. But until the Fed successfully negotiates an exit, markets are likely to remain in thrall to the words of Mr Bernanke. In China and Hong Kong, the Shanghai and Hang Seng indices were 1.1 and 0.1 per cent lower, respectively, after the International Monetary Fund warned that China was “too reliant on investment and credit” and urged swift reforms. Meanwhile, fresh data showed new home prices in China rose in 63 of the 70 cities surveyed in June versus May, which could spur Beijing to implement new measures to cool the property market. Overall, new home prices were up 6.8 […]

A 3D mouse for your fingertips

We all go through phases where we feel like we’ve seen every possible Kickstarter project that we’d ever want. And then one like Mycestro comes along and reminds us that this is just the tip of the iceberg. It’s a 3D mouse that you strap to one of your fingers and it looks like it could become a huge asset for multi-tasking. If you think about how you use your computer, be it a desktop or laptop, you know that your hands move from the keyboard to the trackpad or mouse constantly, over and over again. It’s wasted movement for the most part, especially when you see the possibilities that Mycestro unlocks. The only thing left is for it to get funded, because it looks like all of the prototypes work perfectly. Features include touch buttons that allow you to navigate your computer without the need for moving your entire hand to a dedicated area on a computer, thanks to 3D technology and space recognition: Specifications for the 3D Mouse: – Size of a wireless earpiece. – Light, weighing next to nothing. – Internal battery can be charged via USB. – Battery life is estimated to be eight hours depending on usage. – Two different replaceable clip sizes. This isn’t a completely perfect situation though, as you’ll have to re-learn how to use a mouse. The other thing is that if you’re in a coffee shop or somewhere in public, people are going to look at you like you have some issues. The thing is called the Mycestro for a reason; it looks like you’re conducting your own private orchestra. In other words, you’re going to look weird. If you’re okay with that, then the benefits outweigh the public shame and looks you might receive. The device works from 30 […]

Making safer and higher quality petroleum products

A family-owned business established nearly 75 years ago is winning strong overseas sales for its advanced instruments for quality control of a diverse range of products from jet fuel to lipstick. The company, Stanhope-Seta Ltd, is led by two enthusiastic, energetic brothers, Martin and Giles Verity, who together with a dedicated team design and manufacture pioneering instruments at their base in Chertsey, Surrey, near London. The company has become established as a leader in the field of quality control testing and has built strong relationships with customers across the world. It was awarded a Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2012 in the International Trade category, with more than 80 per cent of its products going for export to more than 120 countries. Stanhope-Seta designs and manufactures petroleum test equipment and quality control instruments used to measure the physical characteristics that determine product quality and consistency. Its range of petroleum test instruments includes flash point testers, vapour pressure testers, oil test centrifuge, particulate analysers and distillation apparatus. Research and development activity is carried out in-house and a key part of the development process is participation in international specification meetings. The company has an active presence in groups that include the Energy Institute in the UK, ISO in Europe and ASTM in the United States. The company recognises that maintaining links with industry and developing innovative instrumentation will increase future growth and it actively strives to engage with universities, colleges and customers in the development process. The latest innovation, a unique instrument for the measurement of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) in marine fuels, is the result of a six-year development project. The analyser provides a rapid and accurate measurement of the levels of H2S, allowing the industry to remove it and thereby improving the safety of the fuel and minimising environmental impacts. The H2S […]

Rockwell Automation named ethical company for fifth time

For the fifth time, the Ethisphere Institute has named Rockwell Automation as one of the ‘World’s Most Ethical (WME) Companies’, a recognition that highlights companies that outperform industry peers when it comes to business ethics. The Ethisphere Institute is a leading international organization dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, governance, anti-corruption and sustainability. “The 2013 WME companies are those that truly embrace ethical business practices and demonstrate industry leadership, forcing peers to follow suit or fall behind,” said Alex Brigham, executive director of Ethisphere. “More companies applied for the World’s Most Ethical Companies recognition this year than any year in the past, which demonstrates that ethical activity is an important part of many of these companies’ business models.” “It’s because of the decisions our employees make every day that we are regarded as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies,” explained Keith D. Nosbusch, Rockwell Automation chairman and CEO. “Integrity is a core company value and a critical part of who we are as a company.It’s as important as delivering quality products and providing excellent customer service.” The most recent Ethisphere listing is the latest in a series of honours for Rockwell Automation. The Council of Better Business Bureaus (BBB) recognized Rockwell Automation with the 2012 BBB International Torch Award for Marketplace Excellence. Additionally, the Foundation for Financial Service Professionals presented Rockwell Automation with the 2012 American Business Ethics Award. Rockwell Automation also announced today that its 2012 Corporate Responsibility Report is now available online and in print. Besides detailing the company’s approach to ethical business practices, the report provides updates on the company’s environmental, employee safety and culture, and community-relations efforts.

Kennametal named again among world’s most ethical companies

Kennametal Inc has been named for the second year in a row as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by The Ethisphere Institute, a leading international think-tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability. Kennametal’s global leadership exemplifies a company culture in which employees put ethics into action with consistent investment and performance toward 100% safety, environmental excellence and community engagement, as well as extensive efforts to advance technical education, material science and industrial technologies indispensable to next-generation manufacturing. In addition to extensive ethics training and communication with employees, Kennametal’s efforts in the past year included a number of new records for the company in: Employee engagement, achieved at levels exceeding peer comparisons; Talent development, delivering technical training and professional development in record numbers to Kennametal employees, customers and supply chain partners worldwide; Safety, including two consecutive months with zero injuries requiring days away or restricted time (DART), key milestones toward the aim of keeping all employees and visitors 100% safe, 100% of the time; Community stewardship, including employee volunteerism and fundraising, from participation and support for the United Way in North America, to educational programs and service to community organisations worldwide; Environmental performance, including ISO 14001 certifications, waste reduction, recycling and management programs across the companyÕs supply chain worldwide; Information technology, including industry-leading execution of standardised enterprise resource systems and processes; and Innovation, including consistently exceeding 40% of sales realized from new products, which offer at least 20% performance improvement. Through in-depth research and a multi-step analysis, Ethisphere reviewed nominations from companies in more than 100 countries and 36 industries. Kennametal showcased exemplary standards in its code of ethics, investment in innovation and sustainable business practices as well as its activities designed to improve corporate citizenship. […]

CEO confidence in growth down

Only 36% of CEOs worldwide are ‘very confident’ of their company’s growth prospects in the next 12 months, according to PwC’s 16th Annual Global CEO Survey. That’s down from 40% who were ‘very confident’ of short term growth last year and 48% in 2011, but still above the lows of 31% and 21% in 2010 and 2009. Looking at the economy generally, 28% of CEOs say the global economy will decline further in 2013, and only 18% predict economic improvement; 52% say it will stay the same. While the CEOs outlook remains gloomy, the forecast is an improvement on last year when 48% of CEOs predicted the global economy would decline in 2012. CEOs in Western Europe were least confident of short term revenue growth. Faced with ongoing recession, just 22% 0f Western European CEOs said they were very confident of growth, down from 27% last year and 39% in 2011. Confidence in short term growth also declined in North America to 33% (42% in 2012) and in Asia Pacific to 36% (42% in 2012). Even in Africa, seen by many as the next high-growth economy, CEO confidence in company growth slipped to 44%, from 57% last year. Latin American CEOs, however, bucked the trend. Their short term confidence rose to 53% of CEOs, up slightly from last year. At the country level, confidence varied widely: CEOs are most confident in Russia where 66% are very confident of revenue growth in 2013, closely followed by India (63%) and Mexico (62%). They were trailed by countries including Brazil (44%), China (40%), Germany (31%), the US (30%), the UK (22%), Japan (18%), France (13%) and finally Korea, where only 6% of CEOs are very confident of revenue growth in the year ahead. Longer term, overall CEO confidence remained stable; 46% of CEOs […]

Hypertherm introduces fibre laser cutting system

SINGAPORE: Hypertherm has released of a new 3 kW fiber laser system- the HyIntensity Fibre Laser HFL030 with a recommended cut capacity of 3/4 inch (20mm) for mild steel, a 1/2 inch (12mm) for stainless steel, and 3/8 inch (10mm) for aluminum. Like all Hypertherm HyIntensity Fiber Laser systems, the HFL030 is specifically optimised for cutting applications. It comes complete with pre-developed cutting processes, and all the needed components for significantly simplified table integration and operation. As a result, the system can cut thicker materials in some cases much faster than many higher powered competitive systems. In other words, HyperthermÕs 3 kW system has the cut capacity of other 4 kW fiber laser systems without sacrificing cut quality. When compared with CO2 laser systems, the fiber laser cutting process significantly simplifies table design requirements and integration. Operating costs, thanks in part to the high energy efficiency of the fiber laser, and maintenance requirements which are virtually nonexistent are also much lower than with CO2 laser for lower total cost of ownership. All of the HyIntensity systems were developed and manufactured by Hypertherm in the United States, making Hypertherm the only company to offer both laser and plasma cutting expertise.

Mobile ERP: Mobilising your competitive advantage in the field, factory and warehouse

By Craig Charlton, senior vice president and general manager, Asia Pacific Epicor Software No longer something that simply offers a competitive edge, having mobility in the workforce today is a competitive necessity; particularly in certain vertical sectors such as the metalworking industry. The vast majority of medium-sized businesses already utilise the benefits of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system to optimise and improve organisational processes and cut costs. Enter enterprise mobility, which is all about flexibility, provides easy access to information and processes to employees wherever they are located. It can encompass everything from the integration of mobile phones into a corporate telephone system to vertically oriented solutions involving the quick delivery of productivity enhancing information to people in the field, the factory and in the warehouse. The Internet and ubiquitous mobility play an essential part in the daily lives of the information-hungry global economy, but how do you make ERP mobile? Furthermore, how do you use mobility to the benefit of the metalworking industry and other manufacturers? The image of the traditional ERP system doesn’t match with today’s powerful mobile devices and flexible, scalable software solutions. The traditional image has become outdated. There is a new set of technologies which enable ERP with’ Enterprise Mobility.’ ‘Enterprise Mobility’ improves employee performance and increases productivity by ensuring employees access to data from your ERP system at all times and in all locations. Inventory tracking is improved by labelling and scanning inventory to achieve optimum traceability and to make immediate adjustments during counting, leading to improved confidence in your enterprise data; you know your stock levels are accurate and can therefore make better business decisions when buying and selling products. Material handling and visibility on the plant floor is also improved. The use of mobile solutions allows an organisation to track Work […]

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Doug Green

About Doug Green

Posts by Doug Green: