The Oil and Gas Journal (12/28, Snow) reports, “A federal appeals court rejected a request by the oil and gas industry and others to delay the US Environmental Protection Agency’s plans to begin regulating greenhouse gas emissions on Jan. 2,”ruling that the request failed to meet “stringent standards required for a stay pending court review.” Quentin Riegel, vice-president of litigation and general counsel for the Manufacturers,said “EPA’s agenda places unnecessary burdens on manufacturers, drives up energy costs, and imposes even more uncertainty on the nation’s job creators. We will continue our efforts to stop the EPA from pursuing its job-destroying agenda.” The agency says the ruling confirms “that [EPA’s] reasonable actions to address carbon pollution will unfold in a manageable and sensible way.”
Last Week A “Blizzard Of Legislative Action And Regulatory Excess.” In a posting on the Manufacturers’ Shopfloor (12/27) blog, Carter Wood wrote about “last week’s blizzard of legislative action and regulatory excess,” noting the EPA’s decision “to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from such sources as coal-fired power plants and refineries,” as well as Congressional agreement on H.R. 6517, the Omnibus Trade Act, and H.R. 847, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, among other measures. Regarding the EPA, Jay Timmons, executive vice president of the Manufacturers is quoted as saying, “Today’s announcements demonstrate the EPA’s commitment to move forward with an overreaching agenda that will only raise energy costs and hurt manufacturers’ ability to grow, create jobs and compete in the global marketplace.”
China Auto Sales Surge 27 Percent In November
The AP (12/10, Kurtenbach) reports, “China’s auto sales powered ahead in November, jumping 27 percent to 1.7 million vehicles as car buyers rushed to beat expected increases in license plate fees in some cities.” The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers noted “the rebound after a slowdown during the summer pushed sales for the year to 16.4 million vehicles, up 34 percent from the year before.”
New Items for Sale at the Die Casting Equipment & Supplies Exchange!!
Recently, NADCA launched its newest tool to help address the die casting industry – The Die Casting Equipment & Supplies Exchange – where users can post items to sell and search items to buy, as well as place requests for an item that you are looking for. The site is easy to use and acts as a type of classified “hub” for buying, selling, and requesting equipment and supplies. For only $10, your item can be listed -complete with description, image, and asking price.
LG Electronics has committed to replacing conventional magnesium used in its mobile phones to a more environmentally friendly magnesium alloy dubbed eco-magnesium. To be rolled out by 2012, this would effectively reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 4kg for every handset manufactured.
“Eco-magnesium is one of LG’s key strategies in our ongoing effort to transform LG into a leader in more environmentally responsible manufacturing,” President and Chief Technology Officer Skott Ahn said in a statement.
LG claims that almost no sulphur hexafluoride, which is used in the casting of magnesium and which LG cites as one of the most potent greenhouse gases, is created during production.
To view the rest of this article, click here.
Ford Shipping All-Electric Transit Connect Vans
The New York Times (12/8, B3, Bunkley) reports, “The Ford Motor Company said on Tuesday that it had started shipping a battery-powered version of a delivery van, the Transit Connect Electric, to a handful of business customers. The Transit Connect is Ford’s first electric vehicle, coming to market about a year before it plans to challenge the Leaf and the Volt with a battery-powered car, the Focus Electric.” The automaker “will ramp up production in April and produce about 600 or 700 a year initially. In comparison, General Motors is building 10,000 Volts in the first year.”
Similarly, the Detroit News (12/8, Rogers) reports the Transit Connect, with a price tag of $57,400, is “the first in a wave of new battery-powered vehicles slated for release by the automaker over the next two years. … The body is made in Turkey and final installation of the electric motor and battery will be performed at AM General in Livonia,” MI. The automaker “has sold about 30,000 gas-powered Connects” since its release last year. Ford “collaborated with Azure Dynamics Corp. to develop the commercial van’s electric technology, getting it ready for sale in 13 months.”
According to Michigan Radio (12/7, Samilton), “Ford views the vehicle as a learning experience, rather than a money-maker. The Electric Transit Connect will cost twice as much as a regular Transit Connect. It could take up to ten years for customers to recoup the extra cost from fuel savings.” While the automaker “doesn’t expect to sell more than 700 electric Transit Connects next year,” Ford’s Brad Probert noted that “companies using the vans will find them ideal for well-defined routes of under 80 miles a day – the vehicle’s upper limit.”
Reuters (12/8, Woodall) and the Wall Street Journal (12/8) “Driver’s Seat” blog also reported the story.
Several Companies See Advantages In Electric Truck Fleets. The Wall Street Journal (12/8, B1, Ramsey, subscription required) reports ont eh front page of its Marketplace section several companies, including Staples Inc., PepsiCo, FedEx Corp., and AT&T Inc. are buying electric trucks for their delivery fleets. Supporters argue electric trucks outperform cars that run on diesel or gasoline in terms of savings, including savings from energy efficiency and maintenance. Additionally, delivery trucks make more sense than other electric vehicles as they usually drive short and defined routes, making them more suitable to their limited driving range.
New Items for Sale at the Die Casting Equipment & Supplies Exchange!!
Recently, NADCA launched its newest tool to help address the die casting industry – The Die Casting Equipment &Supplies Exchange – where users can post items to sell and search items to buy, as well as place requests for an item that you are looking for. The site is easy to use and acts as a type of classified “hub” for buying, selling, and requesting equipment and supplies. For only $10, your item can be listed -complete with description, image, and asking price.
Check out some of the new items that have been put up for sale by users recently:
- Prince Vacuum System – Comes with Vacuum Valve, Actuator and accessories.
- Gooseneck for Kux BH-120; New and Resleeved Quantity 4. One new, never used. Two others freshly resleeveed. Onoe has been used a few days after resleeving and taken out when the machine was taken out of circulation.
Global auto makers sold nearly 6.2 million vehicles in October,marking an 8.8% increase over year-ago, the third-lowest gain in 2010 and a slight drop fromSeptember’s 10.2% rise.
October’s result was hampered by the fourth-straight month of year-over-year declines in Europe, where deliveries of fewer than 1.6 million vehicles represented a 4.5% drop from prior-year.
To view the rest of this article, click here.
Toyota, Panasonic Seek Expansion Into Green-Housing Sector
The Washington Post (11/20, Kojima, Nakagawa) reported, “Toyota Motor Corp. and Panasonic Corp., areattempting strong advances in the housing sector,” anticipating “huge opportunities…for energy-saving technologies.”Both manufacturers “have been pushing their subsidiaries to do more to exploit the growing preference for environmentallyfriendly homes. Toyota has integrated certain operations with subsidiary Toyota Home with a view to adaptingautomobile-manufacturing techniques to the housing sector,” and last month “announced a new design concept for homes.”Meanwhile, “Panasonic has combined its most advanced technologies in an experimental ‘eco home’ built by its PanaHomeCorp. subsidiary.”
Boston Scientific To Acquire Heart Valve Manufacturer
The Boston Globe (11/20, Weisman) reported, “Boston Scientific Corp., moving to boost sluggish sales growth,said it has agreed to pay up to $450 million to acquire Sadra Medical Inc., a Los Gatos, Calif., company that makes gear foraortic valve replacements.” Boston Scientific “will make a $225 million upfront payment for Sadra, plus potential additionalpayments up to $225 million if it meets certain revenue and regulatory milestones over the next six years.”
Bloomberg News (11/19, Olmos, Lopatto) reported Boston Scientific “faces an industrywide slowdown in its two biggest markets, heart-rhythm devices and cardiac stents used to open clogged arteries. The company will cut costs to improve profitability over three years, and seek to double sales growth to 6 percent to 8 percent within five years.” The acquisition of Sadra “puts Boston Scientific in competition with heart-valve maker Edwards Lifesciences Corp., of Irvine, California, and Minneapolis-based Medtronic Inc., which paid $700 million to acquire CoreValve, another valve maker, in 2009.” The San Francisco Business Times (11/19, Sailors), and the Wall Street Journal /Dow Jones Newswire (11/22, Kamp) also reported the story.
New Items for Sale at the Die Casting Equipment & Supplies Exchange!!
Recently, NADCA launched its newest tool to help address the die castingindustry
- The Die Casting Equipment &Supplies Exchange
- where users can post items to sell and search items to buy, as well as placerequests for an item that you are looking for. The site is easy to use and acts as a type of classified”hub” for buying, selling, and requesting equipment and supplies. For only $10, your item can be listed -complete with description, image, and asking price.
Check out some of the new items that have been put up for sale by users recently:
- Prince Vacuum System
- Comes with Vacuum Valve, Actuator and accessories.
- Gooseneck for Kux BH-120; New and Resleeved Quantity 4. One new, never used. Two others freshly resleeveed. Onoe has been used a few days after resleeving and taken out when the machine was taken out of circulation.
The AP (11/16) reports, “After leading the economy out of recession last year and then flagging over the summer, manufacturers might be getting a second wind.” According to the Federal Reserve’s report published on Tuesday, “factories boosted their output in October by the most since July.” The “report follows several other positive readings on the economy, including data released Monday that showed retail sales rose in October by the most in seven months.” Paul Ashworth, an economist at Capital Economics, noted, “After a pretty disappointing summer, the economic recovery might be picking up.”
Business For Auto Suppliers Improving
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (11/14, Napsha) reported on the uptick in business for auto industry suppliers. According to James Gillette, an industry analyst at IHS Automotive, “thousands of suppliers…will experience business condition improvements through next year.” The Tribune-Review noted that “big auto suppliers in Western Pennsylvania, such as PPG Industries Inc. and Kennametal Inc., are seeing increases. “Many of these “have benefited from a 40 percent increase in car and light truck production from January through September over the same period a year ago, according to data from Ward’s Automotive Group.” Daniel Gilmore, president of Supply Chain Digest, pointed out that “suppliers that were left standing after the recession ‘are more financially and operationally stronger,’ than before.”
China Expected To Fuel Global Demand For Energy
The New York Times (11/10, Krauss) reports China’s “push for rapid economic development will dominate global energy markets and be the single biggest force in spurring higher oil prices and carbon emissions linked to climate changeover the next quarter-century, the International Energy Agency reported on Tuesday.” But the IEA also said China is”poised to be the driving influence behind the development of renewable energy like wind and solar power, according to the agency’s annual energy outlook.” The agency “predicted that Chinese energy demand would soar 75 percent by 2035, accounting for more than a third of the growth in global consumption. While China today accounts for 17 percent of world demand for energy, it should account for 22 percent in 25 years, at the same time that India and other developing countries also expand their energy use.
Bloomberg New (11/3, Naughton) reports, “US auto sales, fueled by closeout deals and pickup promotions, ‘broke through the glass ceiling’ in October to achieve the highest unaided pace in more than two years,” according to George Pipas, Ford Motor Co.’s sales analyst. “Industry wide light-vehicle sales topped a 12 million annual pace last month, Pipas said today in an interview. That’s the highest rate since September 2008, excluding the spike in sales from the US government’s cash-for-clunkers incentive program in August 2009, he said.” According to Pipas, “this is certainly a good sign and an indication the fourth quarter will be higher.” The Wall Street Journal (11/3, Boudette, subscription required) also carries Pipas’ remarks.
Tuesday Reports Show Increases In October Sales For Some Automakers. The AP (11/3) reports, “A handful of automakers reported Tuesday that their US sales increased in October from a year ago. … October sales are expected to come in slightly below 1 million vehicles, hitting around 12 million on a seasonally adjusted annual sales rate.” Other “automakers, including Ford Motor Co. and General Motors, [are] expected to come out with their numbers Wednesday
Outdoor Power Equipment, Snow Throwers Help Briggs & Stratton Improve Sales
Briggs & Stratton’s first quarter fiscal 2011 consolidated net sales were $334.1 million, up $9.5 million or 2.9% from the first quarter of fiscal 2010.
The $9.5 million consolidated net sales increase was credited to increased international engine shipments and improved sales volumes of lawn and garden equipment and snow throwers, offset by lower sales of pressure washers and portable generator products.
To view the rest of this article, click here.
Lighting Industry Looks To OLED Technology
The Wall Street Journal (10/27, B7, Ramstad, subscription required) reports that as the lighting industry faces a switch from incandescent light bulbs to more efficient versions, some companies are looking to a bright display technology called OLED, which is used primarily in cellphones right now. The technology uses less energy than traditional light bulbs, and is almost as efficient as fluorescent light bulbs in laboratory testing. It also produces light whose color is closer to natural light than the two traditional bulbs. However, the cost remains prohibitive, as a small panel of OLED lights would cost more than $100 to produce now.
Discuss Die Casting Design
Do you have a question related to die casting, would youlike to discuss the topics in this newsletter further?Feel free to visit the NADCA Die Casting Message Board at: www.diecasting.org/forum/ and register to start discussing your die casting design topic!
Bloomberg News (10/13, Kitamura et al.) reports some suppliers of Toyota Motor Corp. “believed to be testing products four times a year were only doing so once a year, Dino Triantafyllos, vice president of North American product quality, said.” The company “set out to audit suppliers in North America following its biggest recall crisis.” Triantafyllos noted that the audit “found areas where maybe there was a misunderstanding about some aspects of the process. … These improvements we’re making, if we’d made them two years ago, maybe some of these issues wouldn’t have happened. “Hiroshi Osada, the head of “a panel formed by the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers to help Toyota evaluate its efforts to boost quality,” said, “This crisis was a problem that came from the design-development stage,” noting that “closer examination of components ‘should be able to help prevent quality defects.'”
GE To Invest Over $430 Million, Create 500 New Jobs In Four US Centers
The AP (10/19) reported General Electric Co. is planning to invest “$432million to establish four US-based refrigeration design and manufacturing centers that will be the focus for its new energy efficient line of refrigerators and other appliances.” The company announced Monday “the move will create 500 new jobs by 2014 and help preserve another 1,166 existing positions.” According to GE, the investment “is an effort to revitalize its appliance business and take advantage of increasing global competitiveness of US factories. … GE said this will drive down costs by making the manufacturing process more efficient and improve product quality.”
Bloomberg News (10/18, Layne) reported, “Factories and design centers in Bloomington, Indiana; Louisville, Kentucky; Decatur, Alabama; and Selmer, Tennessee, will open during the next four years, Fair field, Connecticut- based GE said. Designs will incorporate Energy Star standards in effect in 2014 and target the US. …Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Immelt said in September that he planned to bring appliance jobs back from China and Mexico, because US workers were making higher-quality products for less. Employees and unions agreed to cut expenses including reducing starting wages for production employees.” Campbell said GE “decided to invest at a time when the industry is suffering so that GE will be ready when business picks up with new products.”
Commenting on the move, the Wall Street Journal (10/19, Sechler, subscription required) reports, GE CEO James Campbell said, “This is a big commitment on the part of GE to really transform the business and put us in a much different place over the next couple of years. … Our US plant can and will be competitive in the production of these products.” The company noted a total of about $78 million of local government, state, and federal incentives.
Manufacturers Discuss Product Counterfeiting, Piracy With Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator
TMCNet (10/13, Silverstein) reported, “Representatives from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) met in person with US Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator Victoria Espinel in Illinois to discuss the growing problem of intellectual property theft.” The Manufacturers said that the industry “continues to face a growing threat of product counterfeiting and piracy around the world, especially in China. Intellectual property theft overseas continues to harm US exports and negatively impact manufacturers’ ability to create jobs, according to the NAM.”
Discuss Die Casting Design
Do you have a question related to die casting, would you like to discuss the topics in this newsletter further?Feel free to visit the NADCA Die Casting Message Board at: www.diecasting.org/forum/ and register to start discussing your die casting design topic!
Do your current designs push the limits of conventional die casting alloy properties?Does your product demand the lightest weight, but also needs the properties only obtainable with metals?Then you may be interested in the High Integrity and Magnesium Die Casting Design Seminars!The Magnesium Design Seminar will provide information useful to a designer or purchaser interested in the option of die casting their next product design in magnesium.All conventionally die cast products have the advantage of shape flexibility,consolidation of multiple part assembles and reduced machining due to high as cast tolerances.However using magnesium die casting can add additional benefits, such as extremely light weight,damping, and other features to you product design.In addition High Integrity die casting processes such a semi-solid metal, squeeze casting, and other newer die casting technologies can offer atighter range of material properties, low to zero porosity, weld-ability and heat treatability and more. To learn more about designing for magnesium and high integrity die casting processes visit the links below for a summary of topics and to register to attend.
Magnesium Die Casting Design Seminar:
http://www.diecasting.org/meetings/magnesium/
High Integrity Die Casting Design Seminar:
http://www.diecasting.org/meetings/ssm/
Maglite: made in the U.S.A.
Many of know that Maglite Flashlites are made in the U.S.A., but do you know the story behind how Maglite accomplishes this in a product market saturated with imported products?Well a few things stand out about Maglite right away, a dedication to keeping manufacturing in the U.S.A., coupled with automation.But probably the most noticeable is Maglite spassionate founder Tony Maglica who still walks Maglite’s factory floor every morning to visit fellow employees, see what’s happening, and develop new, more competitive, ways of making Maglite Flashlights.To read and hear more about Maglite visit: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130197557
Manufacturing Critical to Defense and National Security
On Wednesday, September 22, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. in the Capitol Visitors Center (CVC), the Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs held a hearing entitled, “Made in the USA: Manufacturing Policy, the Defense Industrial Base, and U.S. National Security.”
This hearing examined the national security implications of U.S. manufacturing policy, with a focus on the security challenges posed by a shrinking defense industrial base and domestic supply chain. Manufacturing – including the defense industrial base – currently accounts for 12 percent of U.S Gross Domestic Product and 10 percent of national employment. Yet increasingly, the defense industry faces the proliferation of foreign-made and counterfeit parts, outdated technology, and a depleted manufacturing workforce. This hearing reviewed recent scholarship and research on the challenges facing U.S. manufacturing and the implications for U.S. national security. Witnesses were also asked to offer their recommendations to improve U.S. manufacturing policy in order to strengthen and protect national defense.To view the actual hearing visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swAfMstip6o
Discuss Die Casting Design
Do you have a question related to die casting, would you like to discuss the topics in this newsletter further?Feel free to visit the NADCADie Casting Message Board at: www.diecasting.org/forum/ and register to start discussing your die casting design topic!
Apple recently entered into an exclusive license agreement with Liquid metal Technologies. Does this mean we’ll see the die castable Liquid metal material integrated into a future Apple products, will it be the next generation iPhone? The amorphous glass like composite material called Liquid metal seems to fit well into apples product design philosophy. Read more on how Apple may use this material: Liquid metal May Be Used For New iPhone. Also feel free to discuss this topic on the new NADCA Die Casting Design Forum.
Increase Engine Performance by 23%
By including an aluminum high pressure die cast block in their engine design Jaguar has increased performance of their new AJ-V8 5.0 liter engines by 23 percent. This increased performance is compared to Jaguars previous lower horsepower 4.2liter engines. Aluminum die casting allowed lighter weight with a better finish and dimensional control.
Award Winning Die Castings
Have you had a chance to review award winning die castings from the 2010 International Die Casting Competition? This years winners are from a wide range of interesting applications, including motorcycles, theft deterrence,sport utility vehicles, military radios, and tv mounting systems. Visit www.diecastingdesign.org/castings for more details on all of the 2010 die casting winners and their associated applications.If you have a die casting design you would like to enter for 2011 visit: www.diecastingdesign.org/castings/competition
Speak Your Mind
Do you have a question related to die casting, would you like to discuss the topics in this newsletter further?Feel free to visit the NADCA Die Casting Message Board at: www.diecasting.org/forum/ and register to start discussing your die casting design topic!
Do you have a group of fellow employees that would like to learn more about die casting design and development? Then you may be interested in the NADCA Design Seminar! Why not schedule a NADCA Design seminar on-site at your company; it’s one of the best ways to learn more about the benefits of die cast products. The seminar covers topics from die casting development, design, specification,and purchasing all the way to manufacturing. Join companies like Bosch Power Tools having a NADCA Design Seminar at your location. To learn more about having a NADCA Design Seminar at your company visit: www.diecastingdesign.org/seminars/
Fishing Reels Use Die Cast Frame for Rigidity
Exceprt: The ‘DL’ range was designed to take advantage of key Shimano technologies whilst being offered at a price that is right. All models feature the trademark smooth Baitrunner drags that can only be found in Shimano reels. Couple this with lightweight graphite body, aluminium die-cast spool, Power Roller, Super Stopper II and Vari-Speed oscillation system and you have a range that offers unprecedented value for money.
To view the rest of this article, click here.
Video demonstrating compact and lightweight fishing reel with die cast parts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weAdx9sQsHM
Uniform Walls
Did you know that non-uniform walls in you die casting can effect metal flow and encourage internal defects?Many modern die castings are successfully produced with non-uniform walls, but keeping walls as uniform as possible can improve metal flow and reduce the appearance of internal shrinkage.Certain part geometry may also create thin walls in the die used to create the die casting resulting in premature die failure.Unnecessarily thick walls add to the time it takes for a die casting to cool in the die increasing cycle time and cost.To learn more about uniform walls visit: https://www.diecastingdesign.org/design/basic/walls/ Your current CAD package may have wall thickness analysis; check your help file to see if it does.In addition Cast View software is available from NADCA to analyze casting and die wall thicknesses as well as filling patterns. A 30 Day Trial of CastView is available at: http://www.diecasting.org/publications/316-cd/
Audi R8 Spyder
Excerpt from arcticle:
The compact V8, which is hand-assembled at the engine factory in Györ, Hungary, has the classic cylinder angle of 90 degrees and weighs just 216 kilograms (476 lb). Its crankcase is made of analuminum-silicon alloy using the low-pressure die casting method, which ensures particular homogeneity. The high silicon content makes the cylinder barrels extremely resistant to wear.
To view this article in its entirety, click here.
Would you like to learn more about die casting design and development? Then you may be interested in the NADCA Design Seminar! Why not Schedule a NADCA Design seminar on-site at your company, it’s one of the best ways to learn more about the benefits of die cast products. The seminar covers topics from die casting development, design, specification, and purchasing all the way to manufacturing. Join companies like Encompass Lighting Group, a producer of high end lighting systems,in gaining the benefits of a NADCA Design Seminar.To learn more about having a NADCA Design Seminar at your company visit: www.diecastingdesign.org/seminars/
Die Cast Symbols
Die casting is one of the few casting processes capable of producing finely detailed symbols without requiring secondary operations. A wide range of symbols such as text,logos, and trademarks may be cast directly into your die cast parts.There are a few different options for how symbols may be added to a die casting that may affect the symbol appearance as well as die life.To learn more about adding symbols to your next die casting design please visit: https://www.diecastingdesign.org/design/basic/symbols/
Magnesium Alloy Sources
Have you ever wondered where the magnesium alloys used in die casting come from? Find out what natural resources are rich in elements used in the production of magnesium metal. For more information on Magnesium die casting alloy supplies view the video module at: https://www.diecastingdesign.org/alloys/supply3.htm
Outsourcing May Be Going Out of Style
The U.S. has lost roughly six million manufacturing jobs in the last decade. Much of that work has gone to China where labor is cheaper, but some American factories are having a change of heart when it comes to outsourcing. Diane Eastabrook takes us to an Illinois plant now making all of its products in America and creating new jobs here too…
Page 8 of 9« First«...56789»
