Author: Serkadis

High performance gateway enhances the availability of Turck’s zone 1 remote I/O system, excom

Turck has introduced a new intrinsically safe Profibus-DP gateway for its zone 1 remote I/O system, excom. At the core of the GDP-IS is a new microcontroller that enhances the performance remarkably and enables an even better availability of the complete system. Due to their 100 percent downward compatibility, already existing gateway variants can be replaced by the new solution. In spite of the new functionality, the GDP-IS has a lower dissipation loss, because the power consumption is 1W at maximum.
The GDP-IS offers additional status information and special excom error codes, such as for power supply, projection and HART communication errors, next to the usual diagnostic tools, including the channel related diagnosis. The gateway to gateway communication that is needed for redundancy operation takes place over a separate interface. For communication with the modules, the gateway provides two full-fledged controllers.

excom is a remote I/O system for use in hazardous areas. It offers IP20 rated bus compatible, local in/output modules to connect binary and analog field devices that are intrinsically safe. The explosion protection category of the system allows the use in the zone 1 and 2. The field circuit is approved for
zone 0.

Turck’s new excom profibus gateway, GDP-IS, offers more functionality and low dissipation loss

Label-Aire Introduces Its Newest Air-Blow Label Applicator: The 3111-NV Air-Blow.
The new Label-Aire® 3111-NV Air-Blow Labeler: Underneath the skin of the NEW Label-Aire 3111-NV Air-Blow Primary Applicator is an advanced labeler that offers speed, precision, reliability, and ease of use-all the things customers come to expect from Label-Aire. What they get in return is lower operating costs and increased productivity for thier operation.
Fullerton, Calif. — Label-Aire, the innovative company that first brought to the packaging industry 40 years ago the patented “air-blow” concept for applying pressure-sensitive labels, is at it again with its new 3111-NV Air-Blow Labeler.
The Label-Aire Model 3111-NV was designed for high-speed air-blow labeling applications at a standard dispense speed of up to 1,500″ (38.1 m) of web per minute or up to 2,000″ (50.8 m) with the optional powered rewind. Advanced features include Velocity Compensation for improved label placement accuracy, a microprocessor controller with digital display, and ambidextrous parts. Zero Downtime Labeling allows your production to continue without costly interruptions. Missing label compensation virtually eliminates unlabeled products. Furthermore, the 3111-NV comes standard with a heavy duty double stack stepper motor-at no extra charge. The standard 7.13″ (181 mm) wide applicator can be configured with a 4.13″ (105 mm) wide or a 7.13″ (181 mm) wide air grid. Not only can the 3111-NV be easily converted to left- or right-hand use, it can also apply labels to the top, side, or bottom of products with a label dispense accuracy of up to +/- 1/32″ (.8 mm). Adding to the 3111-NV’s versatility are the availability of tamp-blow and wipe-on conversion kits.
For more information go to http://www.label-aire.com/products/3111-NV.cfm. Also visit the company’s Web site at www.label-aire.com to view other labeling options and equipment. The site also offers custom systems, accessories, RFID solutions, sleeving equipment, technical information, a video library, and a unit conversion calculator for changing measurements to various units used by differing countries. About Label-Aire: Over 40 years ago, Label-Aire introduced a revolutionary new method for applying pressure-sensitive labels. The patented “air-blow” concept provided the packaging industry with a preferred method of label application which eliminates the need for additional product handling. This pioneering technique has gained complete acceptance and contributed to the widespread growth of pressure-sensitive labels in existing and new markets, worldwide. Label-Aire’s tradition of providing the easiest and most effective labeling solutions carries on today. No matter what the application, Label-Aire has the expertise to get the job done right – the first time. With a full line of quality pressure-sensitive labeling machinery, the company is able to provide the industry’s broadest range of labeling solutions – including primary applicators, print & apply applicators, inline and rotary labeling systems, and RFID labeling solutions. Label-Aire’s ultra-modern facility (located in Fullerton, CA) houses a professional, hard-working sales & marketing staff, dependable customer representatives, and a highly-skilled workforce of technicians and engineers using the most sophisticated and technically advanced equipment. Its dedicated employees design and manufacture the most reliable and innovative pressure-sensitive labeling machinery in the world.

Genevac, world leader in evaporation and freeze drying technologies, has announced a new online video demonstrating the ease of use and market-leading operational versatility offered by its Rocket™ Evaporator.

Presented as a Flash media presentation (www.genevac.com/movie/rocket/) the new video includes an informative introduction to the revolutionary evaporation technology used by the Rocket. Following this the viewer is seamlessly guided through the system operation – from the wide range of compatible sample holders for drying and concentration, loading samples, ease of operation, stored method programming through to proprietary Genevac innovations that ensure sample integrity.

Benefiting from a patented low temperature, low pressure steam heating technology – the Rocket Evaporator is able to uniquely achieve the dual goals of very fast evaporation with very precise temperature control thereby accelerating the safe concentration or drying of samples. Developed in response to user requests for an evaporator that could quickly process larger volumes of solvent in parallel and without supervision, the Rocket Evaporator is designed to dry or concentrate six flasks, each containing up to 450ml of solvent. For scientists looking to concentrate extracted samples prior to analysis – the new Puck sampling accessory extends the sampling versatility of a Rocket Evaporator to simultaneously accommodate up to eighteen 60ml Accelerated Solvent Extractor (ASE®) tubes. Offering true unattended operation capability the Rocket Evaporator requires no training, even a beginner can competently use the system in less than 5 minutes. A 2-stage cold trap built into the Rocket Evaporator provides very high levels of solvent recovery, even with volatile organic solvents. In addition Genevac’s patented Dri-Pure® technology prevents solvent bumping and cross contamination inherent with rotary evaporator and other vacuum evaporation systems. Requiring no peripherals for operation the compact Rocket Evaporator fits neatly onto a laboratory bench or into a fume hood. All key components on the robust and reliable system are user serviceable ensuring a low the cost of ownership.

For further information on the Rocket Evaporator please contact Genevac on +44-1473-240000 / +1-845-267-2211 or email [email protected]

• ASE is a Registered trademark of Dionex Corporation

J+J Automation UK Ltd have become a partner with the quality Swiss electric actuator manufacturer Newenta who produce a range of quality low torque IP65 weatherproof electric damper and valve actuators which include on-off, mechanical spring return and 0-10V modulating versions.
The key benefit of the Newenta actuator range is its modular concept which allows a variety of applications to be covered by one standard actuator which then has either electrical or mechanical interfaces added to suit the particular market.
Newenta actuators are perfectly suited for HVAC, water, agriculture, chemical and transport applications.
J+J offer the Newenta product either as an actuator alone for the customer to install, or as a motorised valve assembly mounted typically with 2 or 3 way brass, 2 way stainless steel or 2 & 3 way small bore plastic ball valves.
The Newenta actuator range is ISO-9001 manufactured, IP65 weatherproof, CE marked and WEEE compliant.
Please contact J+J UK for information.

Tele Radio’s system Tiger has been updated with unique features.
All Tiger transmitters can now receive feedback from various field bus systems (CANopen, Profibus or Modbus/TCP), weight indication system or internal feedback from the receiver itself (digital inputs). The feedback can be indicated on LEDs, the internal buzzer and the transmitters display. The feedback for the transmitters with display can be showed as images – for example a logotype, as symbols or as text depending on the user’s requirements and needs.

The functional relays of the Tiger receivers are extremely flexible. All functional relays, maximum 28, can be configured to the users’ requirements and needs or used with standard settings.

Weight indication is possible by adding an extern module to the receiver. Each module has two channels and can receive analogue signals of 0-10V, 4-20 mA or 0-20 mA for weight indication. The receiver can receive up to 16 weight values where each value can indicate under/overload as well as trigger overload protection. Both the modules and the receiver can be configured to be adapted to the user’s weight system.

An important safety aspect is that Machine ID/Crane ID now can be set in the receiver and be sent as feedback to the transmitter.

The number of load selections has increased and can be configured on all Tiger transmitters. If required, there is also a possibility to forbid some combinations of load selections.

The joysticks on the Tiger joystick transmitter have been updated. Both joysticks can now be controlled in x- and y-axis, that is (x,y) (2,2) + (2,2) or (x,y) (4,4) + (4,4). If needed there is possibility to block the right joystick in x-axis, that is (x,y) (2,2) + (2,0) or (x,y) (4,4) + (4,0).

New remote display units expand capabilities of Image sensor and barcode reader

Turck has introduced remote display versions to extend the capabilities of its iVu TG Image Sensor and iVu BCR Bar Code Reader. Designed by Turck’s partner Banner Engineering* for applications where the sensor must be placed in a difficult-to-reach location, the new units allow setup and inspection monitoring to be done at a remote control position.
For example, the sensor could be located inside a machine or on an elevated conveyor, with the control unit placed outside for easy operator access. Applications for the new sensors are found in a wide range of industries, including automotive, packaging, material handling, pharmaceutical, plastics, electronics (PCB and assembly), appliances and metalworking.
The iVu TG image sensor monitors parts for type, size, orientation, shape and location. It includes a match sensor to determine whether a pattern on the item being inspected matches a reference, an area sensor to detect presence or absence of a particular feature, and an area sensor that adjusts for motion.
The iVu BCR reads all common linear and DataMatrix (ECC200) codes and includes the ability to read multiple codes of different types in the same image.
With intuitive user interface and LCD touch-screen display, the sensors are easy to configure with no need for image processing expertise or an external PC. A USB 2.0 compliant host allows easy updating and diagnostics. They have IP67 rated housings for use in harsh industrial environments. Appropriate cables and mounting brackets are available for all applications.

* Banner Engineering is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of vision sensors, photo
electric and ultrasonic sensors, fiber optic assemblies, indicator lights, machine guarding systems, precision measurement and inspection systems and wireless network products.

Correct orientation of consumer products in packaging is assured by Turck’s iVu TG Remote Display Sensor from Banner Engineering

The ROSTA Type AB oscillating mountings have created a good name for themselves as screen box suspensions in screening technology thanks to their high isolation effect, high level of lateral stability, security against overload and high resistance to corrosion.

For reasons related to the process, approximately 20 % of all screen and discharge chutes have suspended mounts under material bunkers and metering shafts. ROSTA Type AB oscillating mountings are also often used for the assembly of these vibration units, as a suspended screening machine can be directly connected to silos and bunkers using AB suspensions without having to organise complicated yoke constructions.

Up to now, however, the isolating effect resulting from AB oscillating mountings with suspended vibration units has been less efficient, especially as the suspensions, which have been designed for pressure loads, are considerably stiffer under tensile loads, with widely opened guide arms.

The new HS suspensions (Hänge-Sieb / suspended screen) have a guide arm geometry that is designed for tensile loads. With ideal loading, the natural frequency of this suspension thereby sinks from its former 5.5 Hz to only approx. 3.5 Hz, which guarantees an isolating effect > 97 %.

The HS suspensions are now available for the load values listed below:

HS 27 for tensile loads of 500 – 1,250 N
HS 38 for tensile loads of 1,200 – 2,500 N
HS 45 for tensile loads of 2,000 – 4,200 N
HS 50 for tensile loads of 3,500 – 8,400 N
HS 50-2 for tensile loads of 6,000 – 14,000 N

Customer benefits from ROSTA type HS oscillating mountings

– Direct installation under bunkers = No complicated yoke construction required

– Low natural frequency of the suspension = Low residual vibrations in the silo structure and
the building

– High lateral stability = Short, controlled and safe run-out of the vibrating machine

Greenray Industries, Inc. has announced the availability of the YH1300 Series OCXO.

The YH1300 has been designed to deliver consistent, reliable frequency control performance in high shock and vibration environments and features a compact 20.32 x 12.70 x 9.40 mm (0.80 x 0.50 x 0.37 in.) hermetic, DIP package.

Reduced acceleration sensitivity down to 5 x 10(-11)/g is available with improved phase noise performance during vibration and acceleration.

The YH1300 is available from 10 to 50MHz, and offers a choice of CMOS square wave or sine wave outputs and 3.3, 5 or 12V supply voltage. Electronic frequency control (EFC) is provided for precise tuning or phase locking applications.

Designed as a stable reference source for airborne and mobile communications and instrumentation requiring superior performance during shock and vibration, the YH1300 is available with custom specifications and environmental levels. The YH1300 can also be screened to MIL-PRF-55310 requirements.

For detailed information about the YH1300 OCXO, e-mail [email protected].

The Ascon’s deltadue offers a complete series of

· analogue and digital I/O modules,
· single and dual loop PID control modules
· acquisition and transmitter modules
· gateways, repeaters, line adapters and line converters
· WebSCADAs
· Manager modules

Applications include the use of the modules as independent units or as field interfaces of PC based systems or as integration/expansion of PLCs

Connectivity is the strong point of the ‘deltadue’ series of control and acquisition modules.
A wide range of control system architectures can be realized by connecting the modules to:

· a PLC or SCADA with MODBUS TCP via an Ethernet network or the web

· any web browser for the configuration of HTML management pages and to MODBUS TCP SCADAs via an Ethernet network

· a MODBUS TCP SCADA and to a PLC simultaneously (respectively via an Ethernet network and PROFIBUS DP/MODBUS RTU/DeviceNet)

· CANopen, PROFIBUS DP, DeviceNet networks

· MODBUS RTU networks with different baud rate, parity and stop bits

· two masters, such as Operator Panels, SCADA, PACs, simultaneously

An optional Manager module provides:

· automatic learning and back-up of the configuration data of the modules

· hot swapping. To maximize process uptime

· automatic configuration of replaced modules. To reduce machine downtime. While one failed module is replaced, the other modules work normally

· offline configuration to simplify start-up. When the modules are inserted, they are recognised, configured and parameters are downloaded

· diagnostics. The scanning of the connected modules allows to verify if they are the correct ones and if they work properly. Actions can be taken quickly

Features include:

universal analogue inputs (Pt100, T/C, mA, mV);
current transformer input; digital inputs/outputs;
PID algorithm with overshoot control; heat/cool PID;
Auto tuning; Set point management;
universal control outputs (mA, relay, SSR);
timer, PWM. toggle and flip-flop functions;
embedded RS485 Modbus RTU serial communications

Modules work as independent units; no backplanes or common modules are necessary
The Manager module and the Gateways are only needed when their functions are necessary

Ascon also offers a wide range of operator panels

Filed under: Motorsports, Ferrari, Racing

The Ferrari F430 Challenge isn’t on our normal scope of motorsports coverage, but when we heard that the series, along with the Corse Clienti cars, were going to be at Miller Motorsports Park we immediately started checking on flights. This year is the first time the series has come to the state-of-the-art track outside Salt Lake City, and hopefully it won’t be the last.

If you aren’t familiar with the F430 Challenge, it’s a spec racing series put on by Ferrari specifically for owners. Professional drivers, instructors or anyone involved in the sale of Ferraris or parts can’t drive in the series. Since each of the cars is exactly the same – a race-prepped Ferrari F430 coupe with 490 horsepower – the playing field is level. Think the races are a bunch of rich guys doing parade laps around the track? Think again. The drivers are extremely competitive and it’s not uncommon to see the cars bumping fenders and jostling for position. That was the case at Miller Motorsports Park, where there were several off-track excursions into the Tooele sand and various bits of body panels, splitters and diffusers left on the tarmac.

It makes for good entertainment, and we highly recommend attending any of the four remaining F430 Challenge races in North America this year – Infineon Raceway, Montreal, New Jersey Motorsports Park and Watkins Glen. If you can’t make it, then you’ll just have to settle for our high-res gallery below.

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Ferrari F430 Challenge makes first appearance at Miller Motorsports Park originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 4.12.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Nissan

If you want a Porsche to beat all other Porsches, Switzer Performance is a good place to start. The Ohio-based aftermarket tuner continues to crank out 800-horsepower 911s that would make even 9ff sweat. But what if you don’t want to beat a Porsche with your Porsche? What if you want to beat a Porsche with, say… a Nissan GT-R? Not an uncommon pursuit, and Switzer is glad to help there, too.

One GT-R owner turned to the tuning house with a simple mandate: increase the power-to-weight ratio. Switzer answered by reducing the weight while increasing the power at the same time. The P800 package includes new intercoolers, air intakes, turbochargers and exhaust – the latter a ceramic-coated titanium system – plus a new spoiler and sport seats. The result? 200 pounds off the scale and 300 more horsepower, for a total of 800 horses and 700 pound-feet of torque. Yeah, that ought to do the trick. Check out the photos in the gallery below.

[Source: GlobalMotors.net]

Switzer Performance takes on Godzilla with P800 Nissan GT-R originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 18:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With the new body scanning machines showing up at more and more airports, there still are lots of concerns over privacy and what might happen to the images of the scans. The TSA insists that the images are quickly discarded, but Michael Scott points us to the news that the TSA has now admitted that the devices can store and record images, but insists that’s only done for “testing, training, and evaluation purposes.” However, the TSA also admitted that there’s nothing preventing this “test mode” from being turned on while in regular use. How long until there’s some sort of “terrorist” incident that leads to a new requirement that all scans be recorded?

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In case you didn’t know, tomorrow sees the release of the highly delayed Grand Theft Auto IV downloadable contents for the PS3 and PC. So to hype up the upcoming expansion pack, Rockstar has released the launch

From Green Right Now Reports

Thousands of events will commemorate this 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. In the U.S., many gatherings will focus on making environmental progress by cleaning up a wildlife area or prepping a community garden. Some cities will host festivals, with info booths and giveaways, live music and food.

In Washington D.C., The Climate Rally on the National Mall on April 25 aims to show broad support for climate legislation, which has been stalled in the Senate. Speakers will include the Reverend Jesse Jackson; film director James Cameron; AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka; Olympic gold medalist Billy Demong; producer Trudie Styler; author Margaret Atwood and others. Headline performers will include Sting, John Legend, The Roots, Passion Pit, Bob Weir, Patrick Stump, Mavis Staples, Q-Tip and Booker T.

The Earth Day Network is offering free buses to the event from Baltimore, Columbus, Pittsburg and selected other cities; those coming in cars are encouraged to park at RFK Stadium and take mass transit into the district for the rally. Organizers are not projecting how many will attend, but hope for a strong showing to send a signal that the U.S. populace wants climate and clean energy legislation.

Those who can’t make the rally — which will be carbon neutral — can find events in their immediate area  via the tool at Earth Day Network events page, searching by city or zip code. We have included a sampling of events from around the country below:

• Austin – Texas’ greenest city offers several events include Eat=Earth at Republic Square Park, a food-focused event, and a more wide-ranging festival with music and activities at the Triangle on April 21. The Slow Money movement will have a “showcase” at City Hall on April 21 featuring Slow Money Alliance founder Woody Tasch. See Slow Money Austin for details.

• Chicago – Several green fairs are planned in communities and on college campuses (DePaul and the University of Chicago). The Nerds at Heart’s “Earth Date”,  a two-day event for gay and hetero couples with a green fashion show and garden plantings, may be among the most ambitious, or certainly best-named events. Partial proceeds benefit Northside Collge Prep’s Joy Garden, a multi-use wildlife-friendly site.

• Denver/Boulder – Wild Earth Saturday in Boulder looks to be a good way to kick off Earth Day week, on April 17, with drumming, experiential activities in environmental education and astronomy lessons. Later, on April 24, Colorado College hosts a Pikes Peak Earth Day Fair with workshops, activities , enternatianment and art.

• Houston – Houston got a jump start on Earth Day with a festival and 5 K run at Discovery Green Park in downtown on April 3. There are scattered other events.

• Los Angeles – Events include an “Earth Day” with Avatar director James Cameron at the Nokia Theater, which benefits The Los Angeles Partnership Schools and will provide scholarships for at-risk youth.  Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.   And there’s a celebration at Loyola Marymount University, with a day of film screenings and a farmer’s market, among other events.

• New York City – “Be the E” – EDAY40 campaign centered at Grand Central Station will be a week of events, including indoor displays in Vanderbilt Hall from April 19-24^th and a two-day outdoor festival or art, entertainment and advocacy along Vanderbilt Avenue on April 23-24. Earth Day New York, a nonprofit, also provides an interactive website where you can register your contributions to reducing carbon greenhouse gas emissions. It’s called Count Down Your Carbon.

• Philadelphia –Various event  including the Earth Day Festival and Flea Market, on April 17 at Clark Park, sponsored for the African Village Surval Initiative.  And the Earth Day celebration April 24 at the Philadelphia Zoo, in coordination with the EPA, City of Philly, the Mayor’s Office and others.

• San Francisco / Berkeley– Several events,  including a month-long Nature in the City series of projects to help restore biodiversity and wildlife habitats in the city. Berkeley also has several events planned, including the Berkeley Shoreline Cleanup, set for April 17.

• Washington D.C. — Climate Rally on the National Mall, April 25.

True story: Lately I have been finding myself cutting down on the massive amounts of coffee I love to drink, not for health reasons, but for time management reasons. These days, I often go from one conference call to another, then head from one meeting to another, to writing one thing or another — and so I literally barely have time to hit the restroom — let alone rest.

It seems every morning I wake up to face a list of 20 things to do, with time only to do 10, and somehow I always wind up squooshing in 30.

In The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, author Sogyal Rinpoche describes a Western tendency he calls “active laziness”: the need to compulsively cram your life with a myriad of unimportant activities, leaving little time to confront what really matters. He jokingly renames the petty projects called “responsibilities” as “irresponsiblities.”

What Rinpoche describes is reminiscent of what author Milan Kundera philosophized about in his book Slowness, a slender volume I ironically sped through in a night. Kundera explains how we live in a highly sped-up culture, and that our need for speed promotes forgetting. For example: If you want to forget something, you will pick up speed walking down the street. If you want to remember something, you’ll slow down your steps.

With this in mind, Kundera warns how speeding up your life not only keeps you from remembering daily details like “Oops! Forgot to pick up more milk,” but also keeps you forgetful about your overall life values and how to live your most passion-filled, love-filled, growth-filled, fun-filled life.

Meaning? The next time you find yourself racing quickly down the street, know that you’re not only running to your next appointment, you are literally running from contact with your truest feelings, deepest needs and most valuable insights.

With this in mind, I would love to encourage everyone to take DAILY BREATHERS, where you literally take time to focus on your breathing, which is a form of healthful meditation that can clear your mind and create more clarity.

DAILY BREATHER ASSIGNMENT: Set aside anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes to sit in a quiet place, and focus on breathing out negativity, breathing in positivity, breathing out fear, breathing in courage, breathing out anger, breathing in love.  Repeat until you feel calm, relaxed, centered. When you’ve finished your DAILY BREATHER, look at your TO DO LIST, then figure out how you can re-write it so it becomes a TO DO WHAT MATTERS MOST LIST! Make sure you have a balanced list of activities relating to a variety of categories including work, love, family, friendship, health, growth, community, entertainment, fitness, self-growth.

WANT MORE DAILY HAPPINESS? Check out THIS daily blog at my site!

ADDED BONUS FOR OVER-WORKED, OVER-STRESSED NEW YORKERS! (Hmmm, is that redundant?) How’d you love to enjoy a nice, relaxing massage? (Hmmm, is that a DUH?) DailyFlock.com is practically giving away massages – with a 50% discount at Azure day spa + laser center. You get $100 worth of massage services on any massage from their menu for 50 buckeroos! Plus any Dailyflock members who sign up get $5 added to their account! And just for signing up on Dailyflock.com from me telling you about this fab deal, YOU get an added $5 to your account! Just CLICK on this LINE RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW – and maybe I’ll see you at Azure in a nice plush robe feeling happy, dammit!

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

Back in September of 2007, State Farm sent a letter to Toyota asking that the Japanese automaker pay for an insurance claim for a 2005 Camry that had reportedly wrecked as a result of unintended acceleration. According to a report in USA Today, State Farm wrote, “we are aware of several complaints to your company of sudden acceleration involving the Toyota Camry.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was copied on the note, and the government agency wrote back to State Farm stating that it had been looking into unintended acceleration claims since August of 2006, but the investigation had been closed.

State Farm wasn’t reimbursed back in 2007, but in light of Toyota’s recall of 7.7 million vehicles for acceleration-related issues, the insurance company is taking a second crack at getting cash from Toyota. The process of an insurance company receiving money from an automaker is called “subrogation” and USA Today says Toyota spokesman Brian Lyons told the national newspaper that the process is fairly common.

Common or not, State Farm can recoup up to $30 million from Toyota, and the insurance company says customers involved in unintended acceleration crashes in a Toyota could get their deductible cash back, which can range from $250 to $1,000 or more. However, customers shouldn’t expect money any time soon. Case Closure mediation attorney Mark Bunim reportedly told said that the process could take some time to resolve as someone would need to check every Toyota claim and determine whether the accident involved sudden acceleration.

If Toyota doesn’t pay for the insurance claims, the automaker could indirectly foot the bill with higher insurance premiums. Due to Toyota’s otherwise strong quality and safety reputation, its vehicles are currently relatively inexpensive to insure. If Toyota pays State Farm for accidents involving unintended acceleration it’s a near guarantee that other insurers will follow suit.

[Source: USA Today]

Report: State Farm asks Toyota to pay for unintended acceleration insurance claims originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lately, it seems that most media outlets are up in arms over Google and other news aggregators using their content. So, it’s somewhat ironic to hear veteran journalist, Robert X. Cringely, complain that he has wanted to be included on Google News for years, but has had a hell of a time getting listed. He goes as far as to claim that he is on a “blacklist” of news sources that are denied from Google News.
While this may seem like an exciting and interesting conspiracy theory, I’d have to wonder if Occam’s razor applies here. Most likely, the Google News product managers have made some sort of algorithmic decision figure into whether or not a site is included in Google News, and simply put, Cringely.com did not fit the bill. No harm or ill will need be implied. Actually, after looking at Google News’ technical requirements, it appears that Cringely’s site does not meet Google’s requirements of a numeric URL or news site map — so, perhaps the first step would be to satisfy those requirements.

That said, while Cringely does run an excellent site, he gives no reason why he should feel entitled to be included in Google News. After all, Google is incentivized to create the best news product that they can reasonably create, and if including a Cringely post would make Google News better for their users, then they would include it. After all, we are thrilled when Google News includes Techdirt on their site, but to this date, it is a mystery to us which posts are included — and we don’t feel entitled to that inclusion. That said, Cringely’s ire is a reminder to the media outlets that there are plenty of sites that would love to take their place in news aggregators, if the opportunity should arise, so perhaps they should count their blessings for now.

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Due to demand in the United States, Mini USA has decided to bring a limited number of the John Cooper Works World Championship 50 to the stateside. Mini originally planned a limited production run of just 250 units for Europe only.

The United States will now get 50 of the 250 units of the limited production special edition hatchback. Sales will start later this summer with prices expected to be around $40,300.

Click here to get prices on the 2010 Mini John Cooper Works.

The Mini John Cooper Works World Championship 50 is based on the Mini John Cooper works and is powered by a 1.6L 4-cylinder with Twin-Scroll turbocharger and petrol direct injection. That’s good for a total of 211-hp with a maximum torque of 207 lb-ft. 0 to 60 mph comes in 6.5 seconds with a top speed of 148 mph. Estimated fuel-economy comes in at 6.9 liters per 100 km (34 mpg in U.S. terms).

Mini John Cooper Works World Championship 50:

– By: Kap Shah

Source: AutoWeek

The Jaguar XJ is ready to go on sale next month in the United States, U.K., China and Germany – the first time ever the brand has launched a vehicle simultaneously in four major markets, said Mike O’Driscoll, managing director of Jaguar Cars Ltd.

Click here to get prices on the 2010 Jaguar XJ.

The company is counting on the XJ sedan to boost sales by as much as 50 percent in 2010. It hopes that the XJ will increase sales to 75,000 units this year. Jaguar sales fell 21 percent last year to 51,855 worldwide. U.S. sales were down 19 percent to 11,955 units.

Before the XJ, Jaguar dealers were relying primarily on the XF sedan, which went on sale in 2008. Prices for the base 2010 Jaguar XJ will start at $71,650.

Click here for more news on the Jaguar XJ.

2010 Jaguar XJ:

– By: Stephen Calogera

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)