Author: Serkadis

By Nelson D. Schwartz

(New York Times, January 25, 2010) Better Place, the closely watched start-up that hopes to create vast networks of charge spots to power electric cars, is set to receive a vote of confidence on Monday, in the form of $350 million in new venture capital.  Although Better Place will most likely require billions more in financing, this investment is an important step for the company and its chief, Shai Agassi, an Israeli-American software executive who founded the company in 2007.

“Better Place is a huge experiment in how you sell and fuel vehicles, and these investors are becoming convinced this will make money,” said Rod Lache, an analyst at Deutsche Bank. “It is a financial validation. Now we need to see technical validation and consumer validation.”

HSBC is leading the new round of financing, contributing $125 million in exchange for a 10 percent stake in Better Place. That gives Better Place a market value of $1.25 billion.

“This is a pretty big round,” Mr. Lache added. “I am impressed that they have succeeded in raising this amount of capital even before the business has started operating.”

Both Mr. Agassi and HSBC executives portrayed the investment as a business-based decision, rather than as an effort to enhance the bank’s green credentials.

Better Place is scheduled to make its commercial debut in 2011 in Israel and Denmark, but HSBC’s investment could ease doubts about its complicated — and expensive — answer to the longstanding chicken-and-egg problem of getting electric cars on the road without the infrastructure to support long-distance driving. Click here to read more…

(Yahoo News, January 25, 2010) NASA’s latest sky-mapping space telescope has found an asteroid never-before-seen from Earth, the first of hundreds of new objects the telescope is expected to find. The near-Earth object, designated 2010 AB78, was discovered by NASA’s Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, on Jan. 12. The space rock doesn’t appear to pose any threat to Earth, NASA officials said.

The newfound asteroid is currently about 98 million miles (158 million km) from Earth and has an estimated diameter of 0.6 miles (I km).

The rock comes as close to the sun as Earth does, but because it circles the sun in an elliptical orbit tilted with respect to the Earth’s orbital plane, the asteroid isn’t thought to come near enough to our planet to pose a hazard. Scientists will monitor the asteroid though to make sure it doesn’t pose an impact threat.

The WISE mission’s software was able to pick out the object moving against a background of stationary stars. Researchers confirmed the object’s identity with the University of Hawaii’s 2.2-meter visible-light telescope near the summit of Mauna Kea.

WISE is expected to find about 100 to 1,000 previously undiscovered asteroid in the belt between Mars and Jupiter, as well as hundreds of new near-Earth asteroids during its all-sky survey, which began on Jan. 14.  Click here to read more…

Ah, the things that happen when you sign your life away. A month or so ago singer Keith Urban won a People’s Choice Award for “Favorite Male Audience.” In his acceptance speech, he declared that he was so happy, even for the folks who downloaded his music in an unauthorized manner:

“I don’t even care if you download it illegally, give it to your friends. I really don’t care. I love the people to hear the music and come out and see us play live.”

Apparently, though, he no longer means it. He’s now he meant something entirely different:

“What I said came out nothing like I meant,” explained Urban. “I was referring to the old days when you’d buy a record, do a cassette tape and give it to your girlfriend, and then maybe she likes it and becomes a fan.”

Of course, if that was the case, why did he say “download it illegally” and why did he say — twice — that he doesn’t care about that. If he was talking about people buying it and sharing it with their friends, why not just say that? So why did he misspeak:

“I’ve never done an awards show where they seem to let you talk infinitely,” he said. “I was waiting for the ‘wrap’ sign to come up, and it never came up.”

Looking at the video, he expresses his love for people who download his music about 20 seconds into the acceptance speech. Before he even thanks his wife. I don’t think you can chalk that up to rambling because he had too much time.

All in all, it sounds like those who he signed his life away to at EMI/Capitol Records probably sat him down and had a chat.

Permalink | Comments | Email This Story

The Pioneer IFR system is designed for continuous or on-line purification of central coolant sumps. These systems utilize micro-processor controls and an automatic, self-discharging Mitsubishi disc centrifuge for unattended operation.

Integrated operations include hydrocyclonic solids pre-separation, post-processing pasteurization and optional automatic coolant make-up to ensure a trouble free operation.

These components working together gaurantee the highest quality recovered fluid and the least amount of fluid waste.

Our SJ-700 Pioneer is capable of maintaining sumps up to 10,000 gallons. Larger Pioneer systems can maintain sumps up to 100,000 gallons. The skid-mounted system occupies less than 50 square feet of floor space.

Pioneers can operate at a fixed location or as a portable system on multiple sumps.

Features
Extremely High Quality Purification – Removes solids down to one micron – Separates tramp fluids down to 1/4 of 1% (0.0025).

Simple and Efficient Operation
Single-pass processing returns completely purified fluid
System delivered pre-piped, pre-wired and pre-tested

Benefits
Dramatic Direct Cost Savings
Reduce fluid waste disposal costs up to 99%
Reduce new fluid purchases by up to 95%

Improved Quality and Productivity
Cut machine down time for sump cleanouts
Improve tool efficiency and product quality

High performance AC model with additional filling hopper and integrated pre-compactor for crumpled paper, for use in IT departments and office floors. Can even destroy entire computer listings and shred floppy disks, CDs, credit and store cards as well as DAT cartridges. Infeed slot with splinter protection.

Keypad control for constant operation and reverse. Photoelectric cell for automatic start/stop control. Stops automatically when the waste bag is full and when the door is open. Convenient automatic reverse in the event of paper jam. Modern electronic controller. Stand-by mode with LED indicator. With removable, reusable waste bag. Made in Germany.

This new RS20 robot is very compact and is built for high speed. Entirely designed by Stäubli, it features the same qualities as the other robots in the range in terms of performance and robustness.

Its harness is integrated inside the arm making it possible to connect the tool directly at the flange.

Compact
Competitive package for A3 tabletop automation
Fastest robot in its class Increased throughput
All cables running internally Proven reliability of Stäubli design

The 1st isothermal Carry Box light and sturdy

FREETECH Insulated Carry Box can maintain a stable -30/+37°C temperature range up to 12 Hours without electrical connection using dry ice or eutectic packs

Stronger than a soft cooler bag, ideal for the secure pedestrian transport of your medicines, biological samples… in full respect of the cold chain:
-Utilisation with ice packs or dry ice
Available in 40l or 100L for transport by truck or airplane

Damage in the form of scratches, dull spots, shiny spots, packaging marks or resins from foam materials can create immense costs in manufacturing. For example, bathroom fittings, glass and furniture manufacturers already benefit from the Mink U-System, with its flexible and versatile bristles,
in avoiding scrap.

Advantages:
• Damage is avoided
• Parts in all shapes and sizes can be held in position as required, simply and reliably
• Items can be safely placed on order picking trolleys for assembly lines

The GRAF company based at Teningen has recently commissioned a coextrusion blow-moulding machine manufacturing products for rainwater use with a volume of up to 3000 l. The Graf company has a large product range all about water management and is the greatest German manufacturer of rainwater containers.
The multilayer containers are produced in one single production step and side products of each finished part are tops and tails with a unit weight of more than 20 kg, the weight of the purgings can be many times higher. A Herbold granulator of the SMS series recycles these tops and tails, still warm, next to the line where they are produced. Herbold Meckesheim GmbH is the manufacturer of this turn-key customised grinding plant.

A characteristic feature of this plant is the little power input needed for the size-reduction of these viscoplastic high-molecular PE tops and tails – this was in the end run the decisive criterion for GRAF to decide in favour of the Herbold granulator.
The delivered plant consists of a belt conveyor, the granulator itself of the SMS 60/100 series, a suction unit and sound insulation for sound level below 80 dB.
( Fig.1:Herbold granulator SMS 80/160)

The low power input is due to the special rotor design: the rotor of the Herbold granulator has been manufactured from a single forged piece. For the rotor this does not only mean an enormous centrifugal mass but also a great stability due to the fact that there are no welding seams. The rotor knives of this rotor have been fixed against a back stop, thus preventing the rotor knives from moving even with extremely high cutting forces. This is absolutely necessary for this application since the tops and tails and the purgings can have wall thicknesses of up to 100 mm.

Herbold granulators work with a true double cross cutting action: Not only have the rotor knives been mounted at an inclined angle but also the stator knives have been mounted at an inclined opposed angle: this staggered configuration is the only one to ensure a constant cutting gap across the whole length of the knife and neatly cut material. The end product has extremely good flowing properties, few fines and a high bulk density.

Herbold Meckesheim GmbH
Industriestraße 33
D-74909 Meckesheim

www.herbold.com
[email protected]

In order to securely and permanently protect warehouse storage areas from being overloaded, HBM has developed the digital amplifier VKIA405.

Up to four analog load cells can be connected to the new amplifier. The VKIA405 guarantees long-term stability of the storage system as the digital weighing system enables monitoring of the storage during ongoing operation, thereby preventing overloading of the storage area.

This application in storage lifts and automatic warehouses places special requirements on measurement technology: Any maintenance would interrupt the continuous removal and storage of goods, costing a lot of money.

Long-term stability is therefore the main criterion in the selection of the right measurement and weighing technology. The VKIA enables digi-tal measured value processing with long-term stable supply voltage for the analog load cells. In addition, a HBM-tested off-center load compensation network is integrated in the VKIA405, enabling a simple installation of the system without additional wiring connection boxes for the load cells.

The VKIA405 also has a serial RS485 interface, which permits problem-free integration in the control and data processing system of the warehouse. A typical solution for the use of the VKIA405 is the integration of the amplifier and corresponding load cells in the material flow, i.e. in the charging station. In addition, the VKIA405 is suitable for simple weighing and monitoring tasks that lie outside legally required legal for trade requirements.

New iVu BCR from Banner Engineering reads multiple codes in the same image
and is set up without a PC.

A versatile, competitively priced bar code reader that is easily configured from the touch-screen has been introduced by Banner Engineering. The new iVu BCR reads DataMatrix and all standard linear bar codes, and includes the ability to read multiple codes of different types in the same image. Information is output by serial port. An intuitive multi-language user interface allows for easy configuration without the need for a PC.

The reader’s extensive capabilities make it appropriate for a wide range of identification and verification applications. These include packaging, component tracking for automotive and other assembly operations, pharmaceutical and medical products, material handling and distribution, food and beverage, and electronics. The unit’s compact IP67 rated housing withstands harsh industrial environments.

The menu-driven interface and color LCD touch-screen controls allow easy setup and changes to inspection parameters. A software emulator lets users optimize their applications offline. Image processing expertise is not required. The interface and emulator are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese. A USB 2.0 interface is provided for easy updating and diagnostics.

In addition to DataMatrix, the iVu BCR reads the following linear codes: Code 128, Code39, CODABAR, Interleaved 2 of 5, EAN13, EAN8, UPCE, Postnet, IMB and Pharmacode.

All necessary information is displayed on the 68.5 mm LCD screen displaying 320 x 240 pixels. An adjustable focus lens makes image acquisition fast and easy. Cables, mounting brackets, lenses, filters and external light rings (red, blue, green and infrared) are available to support all applications.

Banner Engineering is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of vision sensors, photoelectric and ultrasonic sensors, fiber optic assemblies, indicator lights, machine guarding systems, precision measurement and inspection systems and wireless network products. The company provides local application support worldwide.

Res-Kem is a leading manufacturer of industrial water demineralizer and deionizer (DI) equipment designed for the economical and efficient removal of dissolved salts and minerals. These water treatment systems produce high purity water for commercial and industrial applications. Res-Kem designs and manufactures a complete line of DI systems to meet your water quality requirements.

Res-Kem OHM-§Ù-TECH Deionizers

Res-Kem¡¯s OHM-§Ù-TECH Series two-bed deionizers are available as standard pre-engineered units or as custom designed systems with the flexibility to meet a wide range of requirements.

These DI water systems can be manufactured with a full range of options and related equipment to provide fully integrated water purifications systems. Tanks range in size from 8″ to 48″ in diameter, with flows up to 188 gallons per minute.

OHM-§Ù-TECH Series two bed deionizers are a highly efficient means of removing dissolved minerals and solids to produce high purity DI water.

TNR leads the way with a Springless Low Headroom rubber roll up door for parking applications.

The Model HDP combines rugged durability with high performance drive systems. It is best suited for underground parking applications with low headroom issues, door impact concerns, high traffic and continual traffic flow. Provides peace of mind with maximum uptime in your fast pace, non-stop rugged workplace.

Process and Maintenance Engineers recognize the value of TNR’s proven indestructibility and endurance qualities combined with high speed performance. The Model HDP is ideal for condos, office complexes, hotels, parking garages and airports.

SP-High Modulus, the marine business of Gurit, is to exhibit at the forthcoming Italian trade exhibition Seatec on 10-12th February 2010 alongside its local Italian distributor Resintex Technology. The Show will be an important platform for SP-High Modulus to showcase its world-leading composite engineering and materials expertise to the growing Italian marine market.

Following Gurit’s acquisition of High-Modulus in December 2009, the marine business of Gurit now operates under the new brand name of SP-High Modulus. The new entity offers a comprehensive range of composite solutions which combine its industry-leading technologies and in-house engineering expertise. New products to be exhibited at Seatec, all of which are available from Frosinone-based Resintex Technology, include:

Corecell™ M-Foam is a new structural marine foam core which offers a complete cost-effective package comprising high shear strength, low weight and high elongation, low resin uptake for infusion processes and high temperature stability for prepreg processes. It is the performance leader for all marine applications and offers a unique combination of benefits unmatched by any other product on the market.

Prime 20ULV (Ultra Low Viscosity), which utilises Prime 20LV resin combined with new hardener chemistry, delivers exceptionally low viscosity and high toughness and is ideal for the infusion of medium to large composite structures. The low viscosity of Prime 20ULV reduces the time to infuse components and the number of resin feed lines required to infuse a part. These attributes lead to significant cost savings and reduce the risk associated with infusing large composite structures.

Spabond 540 is designed for bonding large polyester and epoxy GRP structures. It’s extended working times, exceptional toughness and high strength make this adhesive ideal for bonding stringers/bulkheads, frames and hull-to-deck joints on medium to large production boats. This tough, gap filling adhesive offers low exotherm and shrinkage in thick bondlines and is available in a range of working/cure times.

As well as these new products, SP-High Modulus will be showcasing its leading structural SPRINT® and Ampreg laminating system ranges, and will have engineers available at the Show to answer specific questions.

Further product information is available at www.gurit.com/marine.

Filed under: Government/Legal, Japan, Recalls, Toyota

Man, when it rains, it absolutely pours. Especially if you’re a carmaker called Toyota and are already embroiled in a credibility-killing (and sales-smothering) gas pedal recall plus another for defective floor mats. According to the Detroit Free Press, none other than U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has absolutely blasted the Japanese giant, calling it “a little safety deaf” and noting he was upset that NHTSA officials had to fly to Japan “to remind Toyota management about its legal obligations.” That’s just the tip of the spear stuff, too. Check out the shaft:

Since questions were first raised about possible safety defects, we have been pushing Toyota to take measures to protect consumers. While Toyota is taking responsible action now, it unfortunately took an enormous effort to get to this point. We’re not finished with Toyota and are continuing to review possible defects and monitor the implementation of the recalls.

To paraphrase L.A. Confidential’s Captain Dudley Smith, we wouldn’t trade places with Toyota right now for all the whiskey in Ireland. Still, we find the timing of Secretary LaHood’s comments a little odd. Here’s what we mean: the NHTSA official that flew to Japan to verbally beat on Toyota did so in December. And while Toyota seems to have behaved badly at first, the company has found an unobjectionable solution (according to the safety agency) to its gas pedal problem. So, why whip on ’em today? Could it have something to do with next week’s Congressional inquiry scheduled to begin on February 10? We’d wager yes.

[Source: Detroit Free Press | Image: Alex Wong/Getty Images]

LaHood: Getting Toyota to recall took “enormous effort,” calls automaker “a little safety deaf” originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

When BMW unveiled the 2011 BMW M3 GTS in November 2009, it made it clear that the special-edition model will not make it to the United States. Wondering why? Well, the folks at BimmerFile sat down with M Brand Manager Larry Koch to ask him why. His response:

When I first started discussing the GTS with M in Garching [Munich], I knew it could be a hit in the US, albeit most likely a short-lived hit given such a high price [110,000 Euros before US homologation]. However, when taking a closer look, we realized the car does not pass any EPA or federal safety standards. Those are two big catches for importing a new BMW, even in small volumes. Modifying the GTS to make it US-compliant would be a very costly affair because the car lacks airbags, proper DOT seatbelts, proper bumper height, etc. And those are just the safety items. Keep in mind the 4.4 liter engine is not homologated for the US which would require more than a simple set of racing catalysts [as the car is currently equipped].

It’s sad. We know.

Refresher: Weighing in at 3,285 pounds (the standard BMW M3 coupe weighs 3,704 pounds), the 2011 BMW M3 GTS is powered by a 4.4L V8 making 450-hp. Power is transmitted to the wheels through a 7-speed M DKG Drivelogic gearbox.

2011 BMW M3 GTS:

– By: Kap Shah

Source: BimmerFile

Nearly three years after its introduction, the Apple TV remains a hobby in the eyes of Apple. This view was confirmed by CEO Steve Jobs during a post-iPad Town Hall meeting among employees, where he reiterated that the company still views the set-top box as experimental.

Many other details about the Town Hall have already leaked online. As noted by Wired, Jobs thinks Google’s “don’t be evil” mantra is less-than-genuine and that Adobe is lazy; he said that no one will be using Flash in the future and the world is moving to HTML5. MacRumors added that Apple plans to release aggressive updates to the iPhone and that the iPad ranks with the iPhone and the Mac as important products that Jobs has been party to. We confirmed all of these details with our own sources; it’s clear that Apple is very confident in its iPhone and iPad strategy for the coming years.

Buy This Item: [Click here to buy this item]

Article

Last year’s CES found us at the booth of the iTable, which was an overlay for LCDs and TVs of any size that turned them into a multi-touch surface. We thought it was awesome, and the possibilities were many and various. Now we find that someone has one-upped the iTable, creating a multi-touch surface that’s thinner than a sheet of paper and can just be rolled onto any surface. How cool is that?!

It’s called DISPLAX, and I can’t describe it any better than Physorg did:

Based on patent-pending projected capacitive technology, DISPLAX Multitouch Technology uses a controller that works by processing multiple input signals it receives from a grid of nanowires embedded in the film attached to the enabled surface. Each time a finger is placed on the screen or a user blows on the surface, a small electrical disturbance is caused. The micro-processor controller analyses this data and decodes the location of each input on that grid to track the finger and air-flow movements.

I don’t know if you caught that, but it detects change in air flow. You can blow on it!

It detects up to 16 touches at once, which probably has something to do with the power-of-two number of nanowires embedded in the stuff, but it’s not clear how precise it is. The IR solution of the iTable was very precise and could have basically as many inputs as you could throw at it, like the Surface. The benefit of DISPLAX, of course, is that it’s microscopically thin and very flexible. I’m looking forward to hearing more about this technology. They’re supposed to start shipping this July.

Buy This Item: [Click here to buy this item]

Read Original Article

Okay, look. I wasn’t going to post about these, because every bit of attention these things get will make it that much harder for me to acquire them before they sell out. But then this little nagging voice in my head (which sounds like a freakish cross between CrunchGear editor John Biggs and my mother) started saying “But, Greg! It’s your job! You have to post awesome things that people will be interested in!”

Damn you, responsibilities. Damn you to hell.

Read the rest at MobileCrunch >>

Buy This Item: [Click here to buy this item]

Read Original Article

FoMoCo has confirmed that it will unveil a new all-electric version of the Ford Transit Connect van at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show next week. The battery-powered Transit Connect will be the first in a series of electric-vehicles from the Dearborn automaker and will be available to fleet customers later this year.

“Ford Transit Connect Electric is an urban, zero emission, light commercial van that serves the environment as well as its owners,” said Ford spokesman Robert Parker. “Instead of an internal combustion engine, the Transit Connect Electric uses a high-voltage electric motor that takes its power from a battery pack charged by plugging into a 120- or 240-volt outlet and uses not a single drop of gas.”

In October, FoMoCo announced that it has teamed up with Azure Dynamics Corporation to produce batteries for the Transit Connect BEV.

The Ford Transit Connect BEV will be followed by the Ford Focus BEV in 2011.

2010 Ford Transit Connect:

– By: Omar Rana

Source: Detroit News