Mereja

Author: Serkadis

  • New Syringe Paddle enhances use of RVA as a “Miniature Pilot Plant”

    A new specially modified stirring paddle allows low viscosity fluids to be injected into the sample can during a test in the RVA. This enhances the RVA “miniature pilot plant” application in which the RVA is used as a tiny batch cooker to produce ultra small scale food formulations in a very low cost, efficient and rapid new product development process.

    The RVA can make 10-20 grams of products and process multiple batches a day whereas larger-sized pilot processing plants can only produce one or two batches per day and may require thousands of liters per batch. Sample may also conveniently be withdrawn from the RVA can for other tests using the modified paddle.

    RVA “Miniature Pilot Plant” applications include manufacture of yoghurt and other cultured soft dairy products, ice cream pre-mix, cream cheese, soft dairy desserts, and tofu, assessment of enzyme activity for bioethanol production and assessment of enzyme and ingredient effects in baking and cheese making.

  • Hyundai builds one millionth vehicle in Alabama

    Filed under: , ,

    Hyundai first started building cars at its Montgomery, Alabama assembly plant in May 2005, and last week amidst considerable fanfare, the plant’s one millionth car rolled off the line. The milestone vehicle was a 2010 Sonata sedan, one of the last of its type before the plant switches over to the new 2011 YF model that debuted in Los Angeles at nearly the same time.

    The plant also builds the mid-sized Santa Fe crossover and the mix so far has been about two-thirds Sonata with the CUV making up the rest. According to Hyundai, approximately 2,700 people work at the assembly plant. An adjacent engine plant produces V6 and four-cylinder engines including the new 2.4-liter direct injected engine for the Sonata. Official press release after the jump.

    [Source: Hyundai]

    Continue reading Hyundai builds one millionth vehicle in Alabama

    Hyundai builds one millionth vehicle in Alabama originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • More Specious Screams About Economic Armageddon From Global Warming Deniers

    PaulKrugman-0909-1

    The truth…is that cutting greenhouse gas emissions is affordable as well as essential.

    Serious studies say that we can achieve sharp reductions in emissions with only a small impact on the economy’s growth.

    And the depressed economy is no reason to wait — on the contrary, an agreement in Copenhagen would probably help the economy recover.

    Read the whole thing at NYT >

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  • Apple Tops U.S. Retail Sales Rankings in October

    NPD Group has released its latest numbers for U.S. computer sales in October, and Macs are occupying many spots at or near the top of the list in all categories. Sales of both Mac desktop and notebook computers were very impressive for the month, but a good amount of that success can be attributed to the introduction of new models.

    Among the big winners for October were the new 21-inch iMac, which topped the desktop sales charts, and the more expensive and powerful 27-inch iMac, which took a surprisingly high third place overall.

    The iMac wasn’t the only winner, as Apple also saw strong sales in the notebook department. The entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro came in first overall in notebook sales, and Apple occupied four of the top 10 spots for the month, though its other offerings placed low, taking the eighth, ninth, and 10th locations.

    NPD Group’s vice president of industry analysis attributed Apple’s success to low numbers on the PC side of the equation, too, in an interview conducted with CNET:

    Apple gets a bounce whenever they come out with new computers. For the most part, October was a down month on the Windows side because [PC manufacturers] were working through inventory before the Windows 7 launch.

    Baker goes onto speculate about what’s behind Apple’s success:

    Over past few years, Apple has continued to gain share in the market, and there are a lot of ways to explain that. It could be the stores, the computers themselves, the iPod, or iPhone. I think it’s a combination of all those things.

    There’s no doubt in my mind that customer experience is the key to Apple’s success of late. The iPod and iPhone might have been the gateway drug for many users, but these days I find just as many people for whom the opposite is true. The common denominator is user friendliness and great support. The November numbers will be a much better indicator of Apple’s true success, however, since it will see a lot of holiday sales, and also should show how Mac is faring against Windows 7 machines.

  • The Vaunted Weak Dollar Correlation Is Dead

    gold

    The dollar is rallying.

     

    Shouldn't stocks be falling according to the all-important weak dollar correlation we've been fed by traders and pundits over the last few months?

    It was supposed to explain everything.

    Well like most correlations, it seemed right until it simply wasn't. It will probably seem right again in the future.

    Thus the dollar is up today against most major currencies, while U.S. stock indices are rallying at the same time.

    Gold continues to sell-off, down almost another $30, to $1,140. The short-term chart above looks pretty ugly.

    Yet not all commodities are in bad shape. Natural gas is rallying over 6%.

    Join the conversation about this story »

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  • Rosenberg: There’s Just A 1-In-35 Chance Friday’s Employment Number Was Right

    DavidRosenberg

    It’s getting hard to keep track of all the different ways people are attacking Friday’s employment number.

    You’ve got TrimTabs which keeps banging the drum about the birth-death model.

    You’ve got folks talking about how it was all in temp work, or the public.

    Then there are those who point out all of the people who have left the workforce.

    David Rosenberg chimes in with another: that it just can’t be right, because it doesn’t jibe with the contraction in the services sector

    ——

    A 1-IN-35 EVENT 

    It’s remarkable nobody talks about this.  The big surprise in the payroll data was
    the service sector component; it rose 58k.  But we know from the ADP report
    that service sector employment fell 81k, which was fractionally worse than the
    79k decline in October.  Such a discrepancy has occurred less than 3% of the
    time in the past, and each time, the following month after the big gap, there was
    a convergence … with headline nonfarm payrolls swinging 100k lower on
    average, which would imply a 111k decline when December’s figure comes out.
    Also take note that the +58k print in the service sector payroll was completely at
    odds with the 41.6 reading in the ISM non-manufacturing employment index in
    November — a figure that in the past was consistent with a -192k tally in service
    sector payrolls and never before aligned with a positive number.  Go back to the
    2001 recession, and the worst ISM non-manufacturing jobs subindex was 43.9
    (right after 9/11) and here we published a figure that was more than two points
    shy of that! 

    So as we wonder how the headline number could only be -11k on Friday, there
    were some very lumpy increases in some very non-cyclical segments of the
    economy: 
    • Administration/waste management +87k
    • Health/education +40k
    • Government +7k

    The rest of the economy shed 145 jobs and the declines were spread across
    nearly 60% of the industrial base from retail, to transports, to manufacturing, to
    construction.  For some reason, we didn’t see this dichotomy mentioned
    anywhere in the weekend press.  

    Join the conversation about this story »

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  • GM investing $336 million in Detroit plant to build Chevrolet Volt

    Filed under: , , ,

    2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery

    Production of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt marks an important transition for General Motors. It’s the first plug-in electric drive vehicle that the automaker is building for sale to anyone that wants one. No more of the limited lease-only deals that were done with the EV1 a decade ago. To demonstrate its commitment to transforming transportation, GM decided to build the Volt on its home ground right in Detroit.

    Today, GM is announcing it’s spending $336 million to re-tool the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant to build the Volt. The factory, which had been building the Cadillac DTS and Buick Lucerne, is being refurbished for the Volt. GM will start building pre-pilot Volts on its assembly iine around March of 2010 to verify the production processes. The Hamtramck plant will also build the Opel/Vauxhall Ampera beginning later in 2011 for European consumption.

    The Hamtramck investment is part of $700 million being invested in Michigan facilities to produce the Volt and its components. That includes a new engine line at the Flint South engine plant and the battery pack assembly plant in Brownstown Township south of Detroit.

    Gallery: Quick Spin: 2011 Chevrolet Volt

    Photos Copyright (C)2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.

    [Source: General Motors]

    Continue reading GM investing $336 million in Detroit plant to build Chevrolet Volt

    GM investing $336 million in Detroit plant to build Chevrolet Volt originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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  • Artists To National Gallery Of Canada: ‘Pay Us Again And Again And Again!’

    Rose M. Welch writes in to point to the latest example of entitlement culture gone wrong. Apparently, two groups representing artists in Canada, The Canadian Artists’ Representation, known as CARFAC, and the Regroupement des artistes en arts visuels du Quebec (RAAV), have filed a complaint against the National Gallery in Canada. The National Gallery already pays artists an exhibition fee to display their art. But, CARFAC and RAAV think that the National Gallery needs to pay them multiple times for the same artworks, because the Gallery also uses some of the artwork it displays in brochures, catalogs and other offerings. Of course, you would think that artists would be thrilled to be displayed in the National Gallery, to get that recognition and promotion, and the ability to declare their artwork “as seen in the National Gallery,” which you would think would certainly boost what they can charge. But, apparently, that’s not enough. At some point, it makes you wonder if the National Gallery shouldn’t just focus on artists who aren’t members of these organizations, so they can work with artists who actually appreciate being in The National Gallery of Canada.

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  • Rumor Has It: Apple Says “No” to Mobile Intel Core i5 and i7 Chips

    Apple uses the desktop version of Intel’s Core i5 and Core i7 processors in its current iMac lineup, and despite some DOA machines and some odd display problems being reported, people seem generally pleased with the results. It makes sense then that Apple would be interested in using the mobile version of those processors, codenamed “Arrandale,” in upcoming versions of its notebooks.

    But Apple apparently isn’t interested in using the mobile platform, at least not in its default configuration. The problem is that the yet to be released 32nm Core i5 and Core i7 processors include mandatory integrated graphics. Since switching to the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor, we haven’t seen hide nor tail of an Intel integrated chip, and thank goodness for that.

    According to reports from Bright Side of News citing sources “close to the matter,” Apple is said to have demanded that Intel build it a custom version of the Arrandale platform that leaves off the integrated graphics. That would allow the Mac maker to then make use of its own graphics option, which at this point seems like it will continue to be NVIDIA despite rumblings about a serious rift between the two companies.

    In the past, Apple has received special treatment from Intel on numerous occasions. Perhaps most relevant to the matter at hand, the original MacBook Air featured a custom-designed Merom Core 2 Duo processor that featured very low power usage. Due to Apple’s continued success in the marketplace, and its high-profile public image, Intel must consider them a valuable customer and will probably try to accommodate if it isn’t financially irresponsible to do so.

    If no special, non-GPU version of the processor is forthcoming, two outcomes are possible. Most likely, Apple will just continue to use existing processor tech until Intel finally does introduce a GPU-free version. The other, less probable outcome is for Apple to either seek CPUs from AMD, Intel’s biggest competitor, or to begin producing its own in-house, something it might be prepared to do thanks to acquisitions and hires made over the years. I still think going in-house is kind of a nuclear option for Apple, since outsourcing is probably much more cost-effective.

    Either way, I’d love to see a major change in the MacBook and MacBook Pro line soon. They’ve been using Intel Core 2 Duo processors for quite a while now, and while incremental processor speed upgrades are all well and good, a serious boost would be much better. Still no quad-core mobile computing anywhere on the horizon, though, despite long-standing expectations.

  • .net Magazine Presents Awards

    It’s that time of the year again. Renowned websites, publications and famous magazines are issuing tops after tops, awards after awards for the entertainment and joy of curious masses. Everyone around the world is interested in finding out 2009’s top performers in the web design and development sector.

    Last week, the 15-year-old .net Magazine announced the winners of its highly respected and recognized annual awards given to celebrate the best in web design and development. Voting for these awards was opened to the public until October 12. After that date, the first three in each of the 17 categories went to a panel of 50+ industry judges who selected this year’s winners.

    The final and official results will be unveiled tomorrow, December 8, in the next issue of .net Magazine. Meanwhile, a preview of the winners was presented on the awards’ website.

    So, the winners are as follows:

    Web Application of the year: Dropbox wins over Spotify and Google Docs.

    Best Community Site: Twitter wins over Vimeo and Facebook.

    Best API Use: tweetdeck.com/beta wins over bit.ly and Twitpic.

    Best Interactive Site of the Year: Nvidia Speak Visual campaign wins over BBC Blast and Coca Cola Happy Me campaign.

    Blog of the Year: Smashing Magazine wins over CSS-Tricks and Tuts+ Network.<... (read more)

  • Uber-Bull Jeff Saut Turns Nervous On The Rally

    Jeff Saut, the Raymond James strategist whose bullish notes we’ve highlighted several times, is starting to sound nervous. He still sees upside to the market, but like many, he didn’t like what he saw on Friday. If we could distill his message into a sentance it would be: you have to keep buying the rally, but make sure you’re not holding the bag when it pops.

    —-

    Even though we spent most of last week in Manhattan seeing accounts and speaking to the media, there were some noteworthy market machinations in addition to Friday’s potential one-day downside reversal.  First, the recently lagging small/mid-capitalization stocks re-assumed their leadership role.  Whether this resurgence is in anticipation of the so-called “January Effect” remains to be seen, but it is a change in the “tone” of the markets.  Secondly, the D-J Transportation Index (TRAN/4101.76) broke out to a new reaction high.  Third, our proprietary Advance/Decline Index is challenging its October 2009 peak, suggesting the rally is broadening out.  Fourth, the NASDAQ Financial 100 Index (IXF/1960.64) continues to underperform and has failed to better its August, September, and October highs.  The sage folks at Riverfront Investment Group wrote about this a few weeks in their report titled, “Financials Back to Underweight, Healthcare to Overweight.”  In that report they recommended three stocks rated Outperform by Raymond James’ healthcare analysts:  Abbott (ABT/$53.78); Express Scripts (ESRX/$87.02); and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ/$64.36).  And finally, for the week the 10-year Treasury note’s yield rose 27 basis points, the Dollar Index rallied 1.22%, Henry Hub natural gas gained 26.8%, and gold fell some $80 per ounce from Thursday’s intra-day high to Friday’s intra-day low.

    The call for this week:  Since November 16th the S&P 500 (SPX/1105.98) has had a difficult time attempting to rally above the 1115 level.  Interestingly, that level represents a 50% recovery of the SPX’s price decline from October 2007 (1554) into its March 2009 low (676).  It also approximates the downtrend line formed by connecting the S&P’s October 2007 peak with the peak that occurred in May 2008, as can be seen in the following chart.  Accordingly, a breakout above this level, with a corresponding increase in Lowry’s Buying Power Index, would be a decided positive.  However, as the always insightful Lowry’s organization points out, “From the November 9th advance through (last) Thursday’s close, Buying Power has fallen 4 points while Selling Pressure has declined 37 points.  Thus, the market appears to be holding near its recent rally highs due to a lack of selling, not improving Demand.”  Still, “net long” positions at professional money management firms remain in the 50 – 60% range, which is well below the 70 – 75% level reached at the October 2007 peak.  That suggests the upside should continue to be favored into year-end as the under-invested portfolio managers chase stocks driven by performance pressure, bonus pressure, and ultimately job pressure.

    chart 

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  • ERD520: Valve tester

    With an ERD you have several instruments in one. Based on our very popular 5 series range of testing products, the ERD follows the same quality standards you’d come to expect from ATEQ.

    The ERD is an instrument designed to test components for which a response is expected at a given pressure. Also used as a “burst tester”, the ERD can record the pressure drop from a destructive pressure test.
    Perfect to pressure test:

    – relief valves
    – pressure switches
    – check valves
    – catheters
    – safety blocks
    – …

    Its design also allows it to be used for on-line testing of
    production parts as well as inside a laboratory.

  • NEW! YOKOTA SYSTEM IMPULSE WRENCHES WITH ANGLE MONITORING

    ZERO FAULT PRODUCTION
    100% Documentation:
    – Torque Curve
    – Results: Torque, Angle, Number of impulses
    – Judgement OK / nOK
    – Beeper or LED indication
    – Angle monitoring directly at frontside main shaft, 1° accuracy

    Controller YETC 300 R2L:
    Controls the tightening process
    Documents: Torque-level, Angle, OK / nOK, Date / Time
    2 – Channel-controllers, simultaneous
    2 Step tightening
    Ethernet, LAN TCP / IP standard

    IMPULSE WRENCHES
    – Fast
    – Reactionfree
    – Optimal clampforces
    – Light weight

  • New low cost laser sensors

    The new low cost optoNCDT1302 laser sensor from Micro-Epsilon replaces the optoNCDT 1300 in the product range. The new sensor will be on show for the first time at the SPS|IPC|DRIVES exhibition in Nürnberg. Compared to its predecessor, this model provides a measuring rate of 750Hz and is available for the first time with an RS422 port in addition to the analogue current / voltage output. The sensor has a trigger and a teach-in input, which enables the user to individually adjust the measuring range. Another special feature of the sensor is the integrated peak evaluation for selection of the first, last or highest peak measurement. Also new is the Threshold Function for adjustment of the threshold setting in three stages. The optoNCDT 1302 provides flexibility via a swivelling cable connector so that the direction of the cable output can be selected depending on the individual application. As before, the new series comprises four sensors, which offer measuring ranges between 20mm and 200mm. Together with the integrated controller, the very compact design facilitates rapid mounting and installation in tight spaces. The optoNCDT 1302 is suitable for all common measurement tasks. Despite its compact dimensions, the 1302 series provides precise measurement results and is therefore ideal for machine building and system integration.

  • SPRINGCON® ASP051 – Smallest pluggable springclamp terminal block

    Smallest pluggable springclamp terminal block on the market –
    RIA CONNECT’S SPRINGCON® Type ASP051 terminal block

    The RIA CONNECT ASP051 series of 2.5mm terminal blocks are the smallest pluggable springclamp terminal blocks on the market. The ASP051 uses tool-less spring clamp technology to ensure a constant and correct contact force. Available from 2-12 poles, it is UL recognized, and accepts 28-20 AWG wire. The ASP051 mates with industry standard headers, and as such, is a great way to upgrade your older two piece screw- type designs into the 21st century.

    Contact info:
    RIA CONNECT, Inc.
    200 Tornillo Way
    Tinton Falls, NJ 07712

    Ph.888.722.5625
    Fx.732.389.9066
    www.riaconnect.com
    [email protected]

  • QuickLogic Expands ArcticLink II Family To Support Qualcomm Mobile Processors

    à Embeds 2nd generation Visual Enhancement Engine (VEE), MDDI Type 2 client with PHY, and CellularRAM framebuffer Proven System Blocks (PSBs) with patented programmable fabric
    à Targets Multimedia and Smartphone handsets, Pocketable & Mobile Computing Devices (PCDs & MCDs), Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs), and Netbook segments with displays ranging from Wide QVGA to Wide SVGA resolution.

    Sunnyvale, CA – March 30, 2009 – In response to growing demand for its Visual Enhancement Engine (VEE) technology, QuickLogic Corporation (NASDAQ: QUIK) has announced the development of new solution platforms tailored for Qualcomm’s latest Mobile Station Modem (MSM) MSM7xxx-series and MSM8xxx-series mobile processors, including the recently announced Snapdragon family. The new ArcticLink® II VX4 family members incorporate the VESA compliant mobile data display interface (MDDI) used by Qualcomm MSMs with the 2nd generation VEE proven system block and embedded CellularRAM framebuffer PSBs.

    For more information, please visit http://www.quicklogic.com/images/033009a.pdf

  • QuickLogic Expands Performance with 2nd Generation Visual Enhancement Engine

    – Supports display resolutions up to Wide XGA (1366×768) format for Mobile Computing Device (MCD) and Netbook applications

    – Built-in sharpening and color space conversion for enhanced visual experience and simplified system integration

    Sunnyvale, CA – March 25, 2009 – Demonstrating its continued commitment to the mobile market, QuickLogic Corporation (NASDAQ: QUIK) today announced the 2nd generation of its popular VEE Proven System Block (PSB), providing a greatly improved consumer viewing experience even while extending the battery life of mobile devices. Improvements include performance enhancements that increase the supported display resolutions of the first generation of the VEE PSB from Wide SVGA (1024×600) to Wide XGA (1366×768).

    For more information, please visit http://www.quicklogic.com/images/032509.pdf

  • New Signa-Wave™ Low Loss Coaxial Cables

    Now introducing the Signa-Wave™ brand of high performance, American made low-loss 50 Ohm RF (radio frequency) coaxial cables.

    The Signa-Wave family of low-loss coaxial cables offer superior performance and loss characteristics over higher frequency bandwidths than the “traditional” Military type 50 Ohm coaxial cables: RG58, RG213, RG223, RG214, & RG217. These cables are predominantly used in Land Mobile Radio Communications, but have also evolved for use in: Wi-Fi Networks, Broadband, Satellite Antennas, Mobile Phone, Terrestrial Microwave, Military, Air Traffic Control, Medical, & RFID antennas, with new applications & challenges for low-loss 50 Ohm cables arising all the time.

    Signa-Wave low-loss coaxial cables are manufactured in the USA at Coleman Cable’s Hayesville, North Carolina plant. This facility has been a leading coaxial cable manufacturing plant for well over 36 years and is an ISO certified, MIL-I-45208 compliant Qualified Products List [QPL] facility with the Defense Logistics Agency the Defense Supply Center Columbus, OHIO. DSCC is the primary US Government Depot, servicing the electronic needs to all branches of our armed forces.

    According to Tony Gabriel, director of engineering at Coleman Cable, “the Signa-Wave coaxial cables are manufactured in accordance and meet these military standards for superior electrical performance.”

    About Coleman Cable Inc.
    Coleman Cable Inc. is a leading manufacturer and innovator of electrical and electronic wire and cable products for the security, sound, telecommunications, electrical, commercial, industrial, and automotive industries. With extensive design and production capabilities and a long-standing dedication to customer service, Coleman Cable, Inc. is the preferred choice of cable and wire users throughout North America. The company is located at 1530 Shields Drive, Waukegan, IL 60085.

  • New Welder Extension Cords 2/3/2009

    Now introducing the Welder Extension Cords that bring portability to welding machines and create convenience for the welding contractor.

    These 8/3 STW extension cords are available in 25 foot lengths (50 foot lengths coming in May 2009) and deliver 40A at 250 volts (10,000 watts). The Welder Extension Cords feature a STW jacket with molded ends for heavy-duty performance and lighted receptacle for convenience and safety. These cords are ideal for new commercial construction, MRO industrial and general welding applications.

    “The Welder Extension Cords provide a convenient, safe method to extend the range of welding equipment,” said Dave Oriatti, vice president of industrial distribution at Coleman Cable. “This new cord series is another example of Coleman Cable’s innovation and commitment to adding value to its customers and the markets it serves.”

  • Subaru returns to rallying for 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge

    Filed under: ,


    Subary Impreza WRC 2008 – Click above for high-res image gallery

    After only a one-year hiatus, Subaru is preparing to get back into the rally game next season. And when it does, it won’t be back into the World Rally Championship, but rather the rival Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

    The Japanese automaker has competed in the IRC since its inception – and even won the very first IRC stage in 2007 – but was not previously registered as an official manufacturer in the series. Rather than field its own works team, however, Subaru will supply cars to privateers, but will be eligible to score points in the manufacturers’ standings for 2010.

    With the addition of Subaru, that makes eight automakers signed up to compete in the series next year, along with Fiat/Abarth, Honda, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Proton, Skoda and Volkswagen. Follow the jump for the full press release.

    Gallery: Subaru WRC2008 Race Debut

    [Source: Subaru]

    Continue reading Subaru returns to rallying for 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge

    Subaru returns to rallying for 2010 Intercontinental Rally Challenge originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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