The AP (4/3) reports on the Detroit Electric car company which built 13,000 electric cars between its founding in 1906 and going out of business in 1939. However, “Detroit Electric was revived five years ago by Albert Lam, a former Lotus Cars and Apple Inc. executive” and has set up offices in Michigan where it intends to build its cars. The company plans to offer first off the two-seat, $135,000 SP: 01 which “has a top speed of 155 miles per hour and can go from zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, the same as BMW’s high-performance M5 sedan. Detroit Electric says it will be the world’s fastest pure electric production car.” The company plans on making 999 SP: 01s which will be available worldwide in August.
The Detroit News (4/4, Henkel) reports, “The rear-wheel drive car is composed of an aluminum chassis, based on the platform of the Lotus Elise, and a carbon-composite body. The lightweight materials mean the two-seat sports car weighs a trim 2,403 pounds.” The car “has a four-speed manual transmission, with an optional twin-speed automatic gearbox, offering rapid acceleration and maximum speed. But there is no need to use the clutch when accelerating from a stop – only when swapping gears – and no need to depress it when coming to a stop because the motor stops on its own.”
The Detroit Free Press (4/4, Snavely) notes that the company faces challenges. “Consumers have grown comfortable with paying $3.50 to $4 per gallon, and a variety of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars much less expensive than the SP: 01 are not selling well. In addition, the cost of battery technology is not dropping significantly.” Moreover, “a newcomer such as Detroit Electric will face questions about quality and affordability as more established electric vehicle startups have discovered.”
The Wall Street Journal (4/4, White) also reports the story.
OSHA Injury and Illness Prevention Program (I2P2)
OSHA’s injury and illness prevention program rule (known as I2P2) has been the agency’s top regulatory priority. It has been under development for almost three years. The next step would be for OSHA to begin the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) process, in which the agency would solicit input from affected small business entities. This is key step in developing OSHA regulations.
An I2P2 is a program whereby employers take the initiative to “look for and address” workplace safety and health hazards. Most I2P2 programs have some form of the following elements: Management Leadership; Employee Participation; Risk Identification and Prioritization; Hazard Control; Education and Training; and, Evaluation and Continuous Improvement. There is significant concern in the business community that no matter how often the employer trained employees, even if safeguards were put in place; it would not be enough if an accident happened. Some are calling it a 20/20 hindsight standard.
With respect to the I2P2, we anticipate OSHA will be engaging in a formal rule making process to implement an I2P2 standard for all businesses. The first step in this process is to convene a small business representative panel to review a draft proposed rule and then to comment on that draft. This process usually takes approximately 60-90 days. Based on the regulatory agenda from 2011, this process was to have taken place last year at this time, but OSHA did not convene the panel. We anticipate the panel to convene anytime and for the process to start back up again, but we are still waiting. For now, everything remains the same.
OSHA has guidance on its website about injury and illness prevention programs in general and you can find that at the link below. We will certainly keep you posted as things develop.
Please click here to read more.
Innovative Die Castings Wanted! Submit Your Casting for the International Die Casting Design Competition Today
To be a winner in today’s economy, you must meet and even exceed expectations. In a competitive global market, customers take notice of the best. NADCA knows that competition improves the competitor. With its annual Die Casting Competition, it recognizes and rewards the outstanding casting designs of the year.
Entering and winning is one of the best ways to gain visibility with leading decision-makers. The competition is open to aluminum, magnesium, zinc die castings and other alloy families. Any number of castings may be entered. However, a separate entry form is required for each casting or assembly of castings. In addition, the metal surface cannot be improved or concealed by tumbling, shot blasting, coating or other surface treatments.
Judging is conducted by an independent panel of experts from the die casting industry, with no ties to eligible companies. The four equally weighed criteria are ingenuity of casting/product design; overall quality; cost savings; and market-expanding potential. Winning castings will be displayed during the 2013 Die Casting Congress and Tabletop in Louisville, KY and winners will be honored during the Die Casting Design Luncheon. NADCA’s Die Casting Engineer Magazine, NADCA’s Website and the NADCA Design Website will also feature the winning castings.
This competition helps promote increased use of die castings by recognizing and publicizing outstanding designs. For more information on the 2013 International Die Casting Design Competition please visit, www.diecastingdesign.org/castings/competition/or email Dan Twarog at twarog@diecasting.org. The deadline to submit your casting is June 17, 2013. Don’t hesitate!