CONTROVERSIAL watered down national poker machine reforms are set to go ahead after the Greens finally agreed to back the Gillard government's scheme, which will also give the green light for a trial of mandatory precommitment in the ACT.
After months of negotiation, and several offers from the Greens to support the bill if $1 bets were accommodated, the reforms will eventually lead to every poker machine in Australia offer punters the option to preset how much they are willing to lose.
This morning Families Minister Jenny Macklin introduced the bill, which was referred to a special standing parliamentary committee on gambling for inquiry.
The committee will report back within weeks so the bill can be voted on in the final sitting week of the year later this month.
From the end of next year the bill will require precommitment on all new poker machines, with all machines to be part of a state-linked precommitment system by the end of 2016.
If the trial is conclusive — to be assessed by the Productivity Commission — mandatory precommitment can be activated on all machines with a "the flick of a switch."
The bill also sets a $250 daily withdrawal limit from ATMs in gaming venues (excluding casinos) from next May.
Long time anti-pokies campaign Nick Xenophon told ABC radio that the bill was "piss weak".
Greens gambling spokesman, and public health doctor, Richard Di Natale said the party agreed to back the bill in exchange for government funding of a national gambling research centre.
The centre will cost $1.5 million a year and Ms Macklin said it would begin work in July under the auspices of the Australian Institute of Family Studies.
"These pokies reforms are a long way short of what is needed to curb problem gambling but at least we've made some progress," Senator Di Natale said.
"For the first time we've got national legislation to tackle the scourge of problem gambling."
Senator Di Natale attacked the government for buckling under pressure as well as independent Andrew Wilkie who, he said, "blew" the opportunity for "real reform".
"He should have pushed for $1 bet limits from the start but he let the government steer him towards a policy that was a much harder sell and played right into the hands of the pokies industry," he said.
"For all his bluster about bringing down the government he went to water and we've been left to negotiate a better outcome."
Senator Di Natale said he would continue to support a $1 bet maximum limit on pokies.In January, Prime Minister Julia Gillard reneged on her deal with Mr Wilkie for a national scheme that would force all punters to preset how much they are willing to lose on the pokies.
Facing a multi-million dollar public campaign from the clubs and pokies industry, particularly in marginal NSW and Queensland seats, the government said it did not have support of the parliament to pass the reforms.
Despite Mr Wilkie being duped by the government he has "reluctantly" backed the reforms. Last night he said "sometimes compromise is necessary, and I have no doubt that history will record the limited reforms of this parliament as being the start of the clean-up of an industry that has grown fat on the misery of Australia's most vulnerable people".
2012年10月30日 星期二
Acoustic Duck Calls made in Monette
Acoustic Duck Calls are made on Buffalo Island in Monette by Chris Hill. The Hills, Chris and his wife, Amy, have had Acoustic Ducks Calls for two years.
Duck call-making went from a hobby to a passion for Chris in just four years.
Chris, a longtime avid duck hunter, has always appreciated duck calls. It was about four years ago when Amy found some wood from a hackberry tree and brought it home. With a set of files and a mini lathe, Chris made his first duck call.
"I just wanted to call the ducks on something I made myself," Chris said. "Some of the guys I hunted with liked the way it sounded and so I started making a few for friends. I would have never thought I would be making duck calls for the public."
The motto for Acoustic Duck Calls is "Music to their Ears." The business soon grew out of the back porch area and into a small shop where the Acoustic Ducks Calls are custom made by Chris. Amy is also part of the operation and enjoys taking the calls, helping with the shipping, and polishing. She said she leaves the tools to Chris.
"We were fortunate enough to purchase Acoustic Duck Calls about two years ago," Chris said. "The original creator of Acoustic Duck Calls was Randal Floyd, who passed away in 2006. He started his business in 1979. Randal made an awesome call and I admired his passion for duck calls and hunting. He was a good mentor."
In addition to spending hours in his shop and a full time job, Chris takes time to teach kids how to blow a duck call. He doesn't care if it is one he made or not if a young person is interested in learning, Chris will work with him.
Chris and Amy are excited to have a young man from Paragould, Brayden Buck, competing in the World Duck Call competition with an Acoustic Duck Call.
"When I made that first one four years ago, I could not even imagine one I made on a world stage," Chris said. "Brayden is awesome."
Acoustic Duck Calls made in Monette have been sold and shipped to Atlanta, Ga., Tennessee, Illinois, California, Louisiana, Texas, and other places far and near.
Chris has a passion for making duck calls. It is an art form and it takes an eye and an ear.
"I want every duck call right when it goes out of here," Chris said. "If someone doesn't like one of my calls, I want them to bring it back and tell me what it is they don't like about it. I want my customers satisfied."
Chris makes acrylic calls and various wood calls. There are advantages to each. The acrylic will hold its shape. He makes two types of calls, a timber call and an open water call. The calls are laser-engraved and can display company logos, names, etc. He can customize the call for any occasion. He made 10 for the BIC FFA auction which featured a Mustang, the school's mascot.
Through the years he has been able to update the equipment and uses a computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine.
"It is a challenge to get the tones correct," Chris said. "It has to make the same sounds as a duck makes."
Chris and Amy recently held a duck-calling contest at the Big Lake Chili Cooking Contest in Manila.
Duck call-making went from a hobby to a passion for Chris in just four years.
Chris, a longtime avid duck hunter, has always appreciated duck calls. It was about four years ago when Amy found some wood from a hackberry tree and brought it home. With a set of files and a mini lathe, Chris made his first duck call.
"I just wanted to call the ducks on something I made myself," Chris said. "Some of the guys I hunted with liked the way it sounded and so I started making a few for friends. I would have never thought I would be making duck calls for the public."
The motto for Acoustic Duck Calls is "Music to their Ears." The business soon grew out of the back porch area and into a small shop where the Acoustic Ducks Calls are custom made by Chris. Amy is also part of the operation and enjoys taking the calls, helping with the shipping, and polishing. She said she leaves the tools to Chris.
"We were fortunate enough to purchase Acoustic Duck Calls about two years ago," Chris said. "The original creator of Acoustic Duck Calls was Randal Floyd, who passed away in 2006. He started his business in 1979. Randal made an awesome call and I admired his passion for duck calls and hunting. He was a good mentor."
In addition to spending hours in his shop and a full time job, Chris takes time to teach kids how to blow a duck call. He doesn't care if it is one he made or not if a young person is interested in learning, Chris will work with him.
Chris and Amy are excited to have a young man from Paragould, Brayden Buck, competing in the World Duck Call competition with an Acoustic Duck Call.
"When I made that first one four years ago, I could not even imagine one I made on a world stage," Chris said. "Brayden is awesome."
Acoustic Duck Calls made in Monette have been sold and shipped to Atlanta, Ga., Tennessee, Illinois, California, Louisiana, Texas, and other places far and near.
Chris has a passion for making duck calls. It is an art form and it takes an eye and an ear.
"I want every duck call right when it goes out of here," Chris said. "If someone doesn't like one of my calls, I want them to bring it back and tell me what it is they don't like about it. I want my customers satisfied."
Chris makes acrylic calls and various wood calls. There are advantages to each. The acrylic will hold its shape. He makes two types of calls, a timber call and an open water call. The calls are laser-engraved and can display company logos, names, etc. He can customize the call for any occasion. He made 10 for the BIC FFA auction which featured a Mustang, the school's mascot.
Through the years he has been able to update the equipment and uses a computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine.
"It is a challenge to get the tones correct," Chris said. "It has to make the same sounds as a duck makes."
Chris and Amy recently held a duck-calling contest at the Big Lake Chili Cooking Contest in Manila.
2012年10月29日 星期一
ZOL Startup Challenge 2011 winners
Last month, as we prepared to hold the ZOL Jumpstart Challenge 2012, we contacted the winners and finalists of the challenge in 2011 to check on the progress of their products and companies. The 2011 winner was Mukela Travel, a startup building an online reservation and hospitality management platform. The runner-ups were Softwarehouse with a product called Hardware Inventory, and Sadomba Mahari who were working on 3D animation software.
From interaction with the Zimbabwe based leader of the Mukela Travel team, Takudzwa Mhlanga, the startup has not made much progress commercially since 2011. According to them, they have had difficulties raising money to proceed at the pace they should have.
We didn’t get a response from the Sadomba-Mahari team on the state of their project. We did manage to get in touch Matthew Hood, founder of Softwarehouse, and below are the responses he provided on the state of the product and the difficulties they have faced so far.
Softwarehouse is doing well, unfortunately we have not had the time or man power to dedicate to making Hardware Inventory (rebranded NetSnitch) the success we feel it can still be. Softwarehouse is currently involved in a number of very exciting projects for clients in the horticultural and financial services sectors, unfortunately NDAs mean I cannot go into details on any of the financial products at this time. We have also released a Premium and Micro Finance application and a Procurement and Stock Handling system, both of which have started being adopted by clients here and replacing their existing systems.
With so much on we have unfortunately not been able to push NetSnitch hard to the market. We have however made a few sales and it is currently running on a couple of hundred machines at various organisations. We found the most interest from an IT support individual who maintains a number of Private School’s IT infrastructure, their main need was to monitor hardware changes and easily create asset registers for their regular audits and budgeting sessions.
Based on his requirements we are working on a number of improvements to the system and added further functionality, when time permits, for example monitoring all printer usage by user on the network. We are hoping to have all the changes completed by the end of the year and still want to push sales of NetSnitch in the new year.
Up until now our main business has been focused on bespoke, one off development and while there is a great need for this service in Zimbabwe we, as a company, are starting to move towards Software As A Service as a more profitable long term model, we have a number of applications which would be suitable for resale in Zimbabwe and externally, NetSnitch included, and are now in a position to take this plunge, probably in a partnership with another Zimbabwean company better suited to the sales and support side of a Software As A Service business, the exact arrangements are not finalised but we are very excited about the possibilities.
Probably the biggest problem we faced was trying to devise a pricing structure. We wanted to bill NetSnitch on an on-going license basis and keep the per machine cost very low so it was available to any company. However such a model is only profitable when you have a large install base.
From interaction with the Zimbabwe based leader of the Mukela Travel team, Takudzwa Mhlanga, the startup has not made much progress commercially since 2011. According to them, they have had difficulties raising money to proceed at the pace they should have.
We didn’t get a response from the Sadomba-Mahari team on the state of their project. We did manage to get in touch Matthew Hood, founder of Softwarehouse, and below are the responses he provided on the state of the product and the difficulties they have faced so far.
Softwarehouse is doing well, unfortunately we have not had the time or man power to dedicate to making Hardware Inventory (rebranded NetSnitch) the success we feel it can still be. Softwarehouse is currently involved in a number of very exciting projects for clients in the horticultural and financial services sectors, unfortunately NDAs mean I cannot go into details on any of the financial products at this time. We have also released a Premium and Micro Finance application and a Procurement and Stock Handling system, both of which have started being adopted by clients here and replacing their existing systems.
With so much on we have unfortunately not been able to push NetSnitch hard to the market. We have however made a few sales and it is currently running on a couple of hundred machines at various organisations. We found the most interest from an IT support individual who maintains a number of Private School’s IT infrastructure, their main need was to monitor hardware changes and easily create asset registers for their regular audits and budgeting sessions.
Based on his requirements we are working on a number of improvements to the system and added further functionality, when time permits, for example monitoring all printer usage by user on the network. We are hoping to have all the changes completed by the end of the year and still want to push sales of NetSnitch in the new year.
Up until now our main business has been focused on bespoke, one off development and while there is a great need for this service in Zimbabwe we, as a company, are starting to move towards Software As A Service as a more profitable long term model, we have a number of applications which would be suitable for resale in Zimbabwe and externally, NetSnitch included, and are now in a position to take this plunge, probably in a partnership with another Zimbabwean company better suited to the sales and support side of a Software As A Service business, the exact arrangements are not finalised but we are very excited about the possibilities.
Probably the biggest problem we faced was trying to devise a pricing structure. We wanted to bill NetSnitch on an on-going license basis and keep the per machine cost very low so it was available to any company. However such a model is only profitable when you have a large install base.
2012年10月28日 星期日
Calculate the returns on automation
Automation is a word that immediately comes to mind when we think about improving productivity and profitability in the manufacturing sector.
When considering whether the purchase of a piece of automation equipment such as a CNC router makes sense, price alone does not tell the whole story.
Profile cutter automation earns returns in various ways, some of which will be more or less valuable to different businesses, and all of the returns on automation deserve to be figured into the analysis.
Of course, the absolute pinnacle of automation is the chance to keep producing while the machine is unattended.
But even if this is not the immediate goal, there can be wide ranging benefits for extending your CNC cutting machine with an automated sheet loading system.
Although this might make the CNC router seem more expensive, it can quickly bring returns on investment through improved productivity in a number of areas.
A plant that depends on operators to load its machines has to add both machines and people in order to increase its volume.
Moreover, for large, heavy part applications two or more operators may be required in order to load and unload the part to and from the machine. However, a business that uses at least some automation can add machines without necessarily adding people, making it that much easier to quickly respond to increasing demand.
In general and in particular for parts with short cycle times, the principle reason to automate is productivity. If the sheet is relatively lightweight, an automated system is likely to load and unload the blanks and sheets faster than a human being can, and this loading time advantage will accumulate over time.
The ART automatic sheet loader allows automation of the production process straight from the pallet, which means there is no operator intervention when lifting from the material stack to the machine.
Most materials and thickness can be handled by the automatic loader. The sheet loading system includes an automated scissor lift which automatically elevates a whole pallet of material to table height.
This is integrated with the CNC router gantry which includes a powerful lifting arm fitted with automated vacuum cups. While the machine is doing its work, the sheet lifter positions the next sheet on the loading station behind the machine’s table.
In conjunction with the CNC controller, the arm automatically picks up the material from a designated area and transports it safely onto the machine table.
The unit positions the sheet against the side and back stops and then automatically starts the CNC cutting process. With the sheets lifted off the pack using vacuum, there is no damage to sheets or the machine, which can happen with manual handling.
After cutting, the optional pusher bar can also unload the cut panels onto an unloading table or conveyor system. The pusher can also be fitted with a vacuum cleaning head to extract any loose particle from the base board to retain optimum vacuum hold-down on subsequent jobs.
When considering whether the purchase of a piece of automation equipment such as a CNC router makes sense, price alone does not tell the whole story.
Profile cutter automation earns returns in various ways, some of which will be more or less valuable to different businesses, and all of the returns on automation deserve to be figured into the analysis.
Of course, the absolute pinnacle of automation is the chance to keep producing while the machine is unattended.
But even if this is not the immediate goal, there can be wide ranging benefits for extending your CNC cutting machine with an automated sheet loading system.
Although this might make the CNC router seem more expensive, it can quickly bring returns on investment through improved productivity in a number of areas.
A plant that depends on operators to load its machines has to add both machines and people in order to increase its volume.
Moreover, for large, heavy part applications two or more operators may be required in order to load and unload the part to and from the machine. However, a business that uses at least some automation can add machines without necessarily adding people, making it that much easier to quickly respond to increasing demand.
In general and in particular for parts with short cycle times, the principle reason to automate is productivity. If the sheet is relatively lightweight, an automated system is likely to load and unload the blanks and sheets faster than a human being can, and this loading time advantage will accumulate over time.
The ART automatic sheet loader allows automation of the production process straight from the pallet, which means there is no operator intervention when lifting from the material stack to the machine.
Most materials and thickness can be handled by the automatic loader. The sheet loading system includes an automated scissor lift which automatically elevates a whole pallet of material to table height.
This is integrated with the CNC router gantry which includes a powerful lifting arm fitted with automated vacuum cups. While the machine is doing its work, the sheet lifter positions the next sheet on the loading station behind the machine’s table.
In conjunction with the CNC controller, the arm automatically picks up the material from a designated area and transports it safely onto the machine table.
The unit positions the sheet against the side and back stops and then automatically starts the CNC cutting process. With the sheets lifted off the pack using vacuum, there is no damage to sheets or the machine, which can happen with manual handling.
After cutting, the optional pusher bar can also unload the cut panels onto an unloading table or conveyor system. The pusher can also be fitted with a vacuum cleaning head to extract any loose particle from the base board to retain optimum vacuum hold-down on subsequent jobs.
2012年10月25日 星期四
Boat show a safe harbor
The winds and rain associated with Hurricane Sandy as it spun north into the Bahamas barely affected the boat show, which is being held outdoors at five marinas and inside the Broward County Convention Center through Monday.
There was some standing water at the Bahia Mar Yachting Center and some wet carpets inside the tents there, but that was great for business at the Capt. Harry's Fishing Supply booth, where Kim Vernon and her crew were selling flip-flops to showgoers wearing their best leather pumps and loafers.
"We were debating even having flip-flops this year," she said. "We finally decided at the last minute, 'Let's bring some.' We are selling them like crazy. Hats, too."
Although the weather was tolerable at the show, imagine being stuck offshore in those winds and rainstorms. That's when you hope you have reliable safety gear — and there is plenty of it at the show.
Lifeline had the new two-, four- and six-person Revere Coastal Compact life rafts at its booth in the entrance tent at Bahia Mar. The rafts come in a case about the size of a briefcase, which makes them ideal for center consoles where storage space is at a premium.
Finding someone who falls overboard can be difficult, especially in bad weather, which is why Lifeline has the new Smartfind S10 AIS beacon from McMurdo (about $300). The manually activated beacon can be attached to a life jacket. A boater who falls overboard activates the Smartfind, which sends out Automatic Identification System and GPS information that can be picked up by boats with AIS equipment within a 4-mile radius. Using a chart plotter, those boats can lock in on the person's location.
One of the most important pieces of safety gear is a personal flotation device, according to Steve Baum of Boat Owners Warehouse.
"You get caught out in a storm like the one we have today, it's you and the elements," said Baum, who explained that a life jacket will keep you afloat if a storm sinks your boat. "Even if it's beautiful out, things can happen."
Another essential, Baum said, is a GPS-enabled Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon or Personal Locator Beacon. Both types are on display at the BOW booth at Bahia Mar.
BOW stores sell U.S. Coast Guard Type II-rated life jackets that sell for $6 to $8 and Type I PFDs that have more flotation and keep your head out of the water even if you're unconscious.
BOW has inflatable PFDs at the show. One you manually inflate by pulling a plastic tab, the other inflates automatically when it hits the water. The benefit of inflatable PFDs is they are so light and comfortable, boaters have a greater tendency to wear them. There's nothing worse than having your boat sink and you can't get to where the life jackets are stored.
Once you're floating in the water wearing your life jacket, you can activate your EPIRB or PLB, which sends a distress signal to satellites that are monitored by rescue agencies. Beacons with GPS allow rescuers to pinpoint your position rather than having to triangulate your position.
"They know it's you and they go right to you," Baum said, adding that ACR's ResQLink+ PLB ($300) is small enough to fit in your pocket. ACR's EPIRB is bigger and has a battery that lasts longer.
If your boat is at the dock behind your house or in a marina, the wind and waves of a storm can damage the vessel. So can a drastic increase in water level, like after a storm surge.
TideSlide eliminates the threat of boat damage due to changing water levels from storms, tides and boat wakes. It consists of stainless steel poles that are secured to a dock's pilings. A polyurethane cleat slides up and down the poles.
There was some standing water at the Bahia Mar Yachting Center and some wet carpets inside the tents there, but that was great for business at the Capt. Harry's Fishing Supply booth, where Kim Vernon and her crew were selling flip-flops to showgoers wearing their best leather pumps and loafers.
"We were debating even having flip-flops this year," she said. "We finally decided at the last minute, 'Let's bring some.' We are selling them like crazy. Hats, too."
Although the weather was tolerable at the show, imagine being stuck offshore in those winds and rainstorms. That's when you hope you have reliable safety gear — and there is plenty of it at the show.
Lifeline had the new two-, four- and six-person Revere Coastal Compact life rafts at its booth in the entrance tent at Bahia Mar. The rafts come in a case about the size of a briefcase, which makes them ideal for center consoles where storage space is at a premium.
Finding someone who falls overboard can be difficult, especially in bad weather, which is why Lifeline has the new Smartfind S10 AIS beacon from McMurdo (about $300). The manually activated beacon can be attached to a life jacket. A boater who falls overboard activates the Smartfind, which sends out Automatic Identification System and GPS information that can be picked up by boats with AIS equipment within a 4-mile radius. Using a chart plotter, those boats can lock in on the person's location.
One of the most important pieces of safety gear is a personal flotation device, according to Steve Baum of Boat Owners Warehouse.
"You get caught out in a storm like the one we have today, it's you and the elements," said Baum, who explained that a life jacket will keep you afloat if a storm sinks your boat. "Even if it's beautiful out, things can happen."
Another essential, Baum said, is a GPS-enabled Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon or Personal Locator Beacon. Both types are on display at the BOW booth at Bahia Mar.
BOW stores sell U.S. Coast Guard Type II-rated life jackets that sell for $6 to $8 and Type I PFDs that have more flotation and keep your head out of the water even if you're unconscious.
BOW has inflatable PFDs at the show. One you manually inflate by pulling a plastic tab, the other inflates automatically when it hits the water. The benefit of inflatable PFDs is they are so light and comfortable, boaters have a greater tendency to wear them. There's nothing worse than having your boat sink and you can't get to where the life jackets are stored.
Once you're floating in the water wearing your life jacket, you can activate your EPIRB or PLB, which sends a distress signal to satellites that are monitored by rescue agencies. Beacons with GPS allow rescuers to pinpoint your position rather than having to triangulate your position.
"They know it's you and they go right to you," Baum said, adding that ACR's ResQLink+ PLB ($300) is small enough to fit in your pocket. ACR's EPIRB is bigger and has a battery that lasts longer.
If your boat is at the dock behind your house or in a marina, the wind and waves of a storm can damage the vessel. So can a drastic increase in water level, like after a storm surge.
TideSlide eliminates the threat of boat damage due to changing water levels from storms, tides and boat wakes. It consists of stainless steel poles that are secured to a dock's pilings. A polyurethane cleat slides up and down the poles.
2012年10月24日 星期三
Marking Broach creates letters or numbers in metal parts
Polygon Solution’s innovative letter broach is a unique on-machine alternative to present day stamping and punching techniques for marking parts.
Fort Myers, FL – Polygon Solution’s Letter Broach is a new cutting tool used to create letters or numbers in metal parts. The Letter Broach is used in a rotary broach tool holder and is driven in a rotary motion around a fixed pivot point. This rotary motion reduces wear on the cutting tool, and eliminates secondary operations. Letter Broaches may also improve tooling costs and quality systems.
Typical methods of marking parts with letters or numbers include stamping presses, hand punches and automated methods which forcefully press a stamp into the metal part. This new method of marking eliminates the impact of a high powered press or hammer, and gently displaces the material until the desired depth is achieved. The reduced impact will improve life for the cutting tool, tool holder and machine.
Using the Letter Broach within the machine eliminates secondary operations and reduces opportunities for operator error. Cost savings can include less machines, manual labor and tooling costs. The Letter Broaches are designed to fit inside most industry standard rotary broaching tool holders.
A benefit of using letter marking broaches in modern CNC machines with a tool holder carousel is the opportunity to mark mixed batches of parts. For example, if one machine is programmed to run three different parts, each can have a dedicated Letter Broach. Parts can be clearly marked A, B or C. Parts with similar features not easily seen by the naked eye can be marked with characters for improved quality. Parts marked this way can also be sorted faster.
Soft materials including aluminum and brass are ideal for rotary broaching. Various characters and symbols can be made, sometimes including multiple characters or custom designs.
Polygon Solutions Inc. is an innovative manufacturer of rotary broaching tools. Polygon’s Letter Broaches are the same size as standard hexagon and square rotary broach tools, and will fit into the popular GT Series rotary broaching tool holder.
The Organization of American States (OAS) on Tuesday donated a firearm marking machine to the government of the Dominican Republic to be used by the Ministry of Interior and Police to combat the illicit trafficking of firearms.
This initiative, implemented in 25 countries of the region, forms part of the efforts outlined by the secretary general of the OAS, Jose Miguel Insulza, and defines the organization as a strategic actor in the fight against crime.
The donation -- funded by the government of the United States -- is part of the program “Promoting Firearms Marking in Latin America and the Caribbean,” following the Inter-American Convention against Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials (CIFTA), and seeks to strengthen national capabilities on matters of firearms marking.
The OAS presented to the government of the Dominican Republic a special computer to facilitate the process of record-keeping on marked firearms. Among the organization’s principal goals is the strengthening of national capabilities of the member states to respond, in an effective and efficient way, to the growing levels of crime and violence caused by the illicit trafficking in firearms.
In this sense, the OAS cooperates with the countries of the region with the objective that, in the shortest time possible, all the member states will have established policies, as well as relevant legislation, to mark firearms at the time of manufacturing and/or import.
Fort Myers, FL – Polygon Solution’s Letter Broach is a new cutting tool used to create letters or numbers in metal parts. The Letter Broach is used in a rotary broach tool holder and is driven in a rotary motion around a fixed pivot point. This rotary motion reduces wear on the cutting tool, and eliminates secondary operations. Letter Broaches may also improve tooling costs and quality systems.
Typical methods of marking parts with letters or numbers include stamping presses, hand punches and automated methods which forcefully press a stamp into the metal part. This new method of marking eliminates the impact of a high powered press or hammer, and gently displaces the material until the desired depth is achieved. The reduced impact will improve life for the cutting tool, tool holder and machine.
Using the Letter Broach within the machine eliminates secondary operations and reduces opportunities for operator error. Cost savings can include less machines, manual labor and tooling costs. The Letter Broaches are designed to fit inside most industry standard rotary broaching tool holders.
A benefit of using letter marking broaches in modern CNC machines with a tool holder carousel is the opportunity to mark mixed batches of parts. For example, if one machine is programmed to run three different parts, each can have a dedicated Letter Broach. Parts can be clearly marked A, B or C. Parts with similar features not easily seen by the naked eye can be marked with characters for improved quality. Parts marked this way can also be sorted faster.
Soft materials including aluminum and brass are ideal for rotary broaching. Various characters and symbols can be made, sometimes including multiple characters or custom designs.
Polygon Solutions Inc. is an innovative manufacturer of rotary broaching tools. Polygon’s Letter Broaches are the same size as standard hexagon and square rotary broach tools, and will fit into the popular GT Series rotary broaching tool holder.
The Organization of American States (OAS) on Tuesday donated a firearm marking machine to the government of the Dominican Republic to be used by the Ministry of Interior and Police to combat the illicit trafficking of firearms.
This initiative, implemented in 25 countries of the region, forms part of the efforts outlined by the secretary general of the OAS, Jose Miguel Insulza, and defines the organization as a strategic actor in the fight against crime.
The donation -- funded by the government of the United States -- is part of the program “Promoting Firearms Marking in Latin America and the Caribbean,” following the Inter-American Convention against Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials (CIFTA), and seeks to strengthen national capabilities on matters of firearms marking.
The OAS presented to the government of the Dominican Republic a special computer to facilitate the process of record-keeping on marked firearms. Among the organization’s principal goals is the strengthening of national capabilities of the member states to respond, in an effective and efficient way, to the growing levels of crime and violence caused by the illicit trafficking in firearms.
In this sense, the OAS cooperates with the countries of the region with the objective that, in the shortest time possible, all the member states will have established policies, as well as relevant legislation, to mark firearms at the time of manufacturing and/or import.
2012年10月23日 星期二
Youth sports safety
Cringing at bumps, falls, trips and nudges is a common response among parents of young athletes. Seventy-two percent of parents of children ages 6 to 17 report that they are highly concerned about their child experiencing a head injury on the sports field, according to a recent survey conducted by NMI Research and DSM Nutritional Products, and their concern is not unwarranted. In fact, data indicates that emergency room visits of school-age athletes for serious injuries like concussions have significantly increased in recent years.
Parents should continue to encourage their children to get involved with youth sports, but they need to be aware that hard-hitting spills could have a lasting impact on their child’s brain health if not handled properly.
“I’ve worked with young and old athletes who are experiencing the lasting effects of head trauma during sports,” says Dr. Julian Bailes, a neurosurgeon and sports medicine expert who has worked with professional and college athletes for more than two decades. “In many cases, their parents or coaches were eager to get them back in the game because they didn’t show signs of an injury. Through research, we’re finding that even minor repeated head injuries can cause long-term effects on brain function.”
Every parent on the sidelines should be aware of the signs that a more serious injury may have occurred. A father of five children and former athlete himself, Bailes recommends that parents educate themselves about sports safety.
“There are things parents can do to help protect their children from sports-related injuries, from selecting the right protective gear to working with coaches and leagues to build awareness around recognizing and treating head injuries,” says Bailes. “And we’re learning more every day. For example, recent pre-clinical studies have looked at the use of DHA omega-3 as a nutrient to help reduce the impact of traumatic brain injury.”
Tip No. 1: Know the signs. Not all concussions involve a loss of consciousness. In fact, most people who have concussions never black out. Some indicators that a child may have a concussion and needs to see a doctor include headaches, listlessness, irritability, changes in sleeping, eating, school performance or play behaviors, and loss of balance or unsteady walking.
Tip No. 2: Limit exposure in practice. As a parent you can encourage coaches to have lighter practice days, focused on agility versus full-on player contact.
Tip No. 3: Play it safe and slow. Less than half of parents rely on a medical professional to examine their child to determine if they should return to play after a head injury, according to the survey. Don’t take any chances. If your child experiences head trauma or you suspect a concussion during practice or in a game, seek medical attention immediately. And don’t be too eager to get them back in the game – wait until you get the go ahead from a doctor.
Tip No. 4: Be smart about nutrition. Important for brain development and function throughout the lifecycle, DHA is a structural fat in the brain that is particularly important during early childhood when the brain is in a rapid period of growth and development. Look for foods rich in DHA, like fatty fish, foods and beverages fortified with a vegetarian and sustainable algal source of DHA.
Tip No. 5: Take a lead from the pros. Stay up to date on the latest regulations and new equipment that is imposed by professional and collegiate teams. Many times, what happens at the professional or collegiate level will trickle down to youth sports.
“Sports are an important and healthy part of childhood, but being an athlete is not without risks,” says Dr. Bailes. “It only takes one poor or uninformed choice for a game to turn from fun to tragedy. Every parent, coach and child should be educated on how to recognize and handle head injuries during sports.”
Parents should continue to encourage their children to get involved with youth sports, but they need to be aware that hard-hitting spills could have a lasting impact on their child’s brain health if not handled properly.
“I’ve worked with young and old athletes who are experiencing the lasting effects of head trauma during sports,” says Dr. Julian Bailes, a neurosurgeon and sports medicine expert who has worked with professional and college athletes for more than two decades. “In many cases, their parents or coaches were eager to get them back in the game because they didn’t show signs of an injury. Through research, we’re finding that even minor repeated head injuries can cause long-term effects on brain function.”
Every parent on the sidelines should be aware of the signs that a more serious injury may have occurred. A father of five children and former athlete himself, Bailes recommends that parents educate themselves about sports safety.
“There are things parents can do to help protect their children from sports-related injuries, from selecting the right protective gear to working with coaches and leagues to build awareness around recognizing and treating head injuries,” says Bailes. “And we’re learning more every day. For example, recent pre-clinical studies have looked at the use of DHA omega-3 as a nutrient to help reduce the impact of traumatic brain injury.”
Tip No. 1: Know the signs. Not all concussions involve a loss of consciousness. In fact, most people who have concussions never black out. Some indicators that a child may have a concussion and needs to see a doctor include headaches, listlessness, irritability, changes in sleeping, eating, school performance or play behaviors, and loss of balance or unsteady walking.
Tip No. 2: Limit exposure in practice. As a parent you can encourage coaches to have lighter practice days, focused on agility versus full-on player contact.
Tip No. 3: Play it safe and slow. Less than half of parents rely on a medical professional to examine their child to determine if they should return to play after a head injury, according to the survey. Don’t take any chances. If your child experiences head trauma or you suspect a concussion during practice or in a game, seek medical attention immediately. And don’t be too eager to get them back in the game – wait until you get the go ahead from a doctor.
Tip No. 4: Be smart about nutrition. Important for brain development and function throughout the lifecycle, DHA is a structural fat in the brain that is particularly important during early childhood when the brain is in a rapid period of growth and development. Look for foods rich in DHA, like fatty fish, foods and beverages fortified with a vegetarian and sustainable algal source of DHA.
Tip No. 5: Take a lead from the pros. Stay up to date on the latest regulations and new equipment that is imposed by professional and collegiate teams. Many times, what happens at the professional or collegiate level will trickle down to youth sports.
“Sports are an important and healthy part of childhood, but being an athlete is not without risks,” says Dr. Bailes. “It only takes one poor or uninformed choice for a game to turn from fun to tragedy. Every parent, coach and child should be educated on how to recognize and handle head injuries during sports.”
2012年10月22日 星期一
World-leading GCC laser engravers-cutters available
Re-Engineering Australia Foundation introduces the world-leading GCC laser engravers/cutters to the Australian market.
The not-for-profit social enterprise has been appointed the Australian distributor of the Taiwan-based corporation, which dominates the global electro optical automation industry.
Designed for industrial and educational use, the robust GCC laser engravers-cutters are the product-of-choice in the United Kingdom with 8 out of every 10 technical training colleges and universities using a GCC product.
Available in two models, the Mercury III and Spirit LS, the laser engravers are capable of engraving and cutting an extensive range of materials such as metal, wood, glass, acrylic, leather and rubber.
GCC laser engravers-cutters are ideal for making prototypes of products, miniature architectural models, automotive parts, furniture parts, labels, tags, signage, jewellery design, name plates for parts or for engraving part numbers and logos directly on to components and tools.
The new GCC laser engravers-cutters have been added to the range of Denford routers and milling machines supplied by REA Foundation to both industry and education sectors.
Mercury III has a work area of 635mm x 458mm and its pass-through front and rear doors allow long pieces of material to be fed through the machine. The Spirit LS is slightly larger at 640mm x 460mm. Both machines have adjustable speed control with the Mercury reaching 42 IPS and the Spirit, 80 IPS.
Customer Ronald Smith said “These dual purpose pen and styluses are selling like hot cakes. What else do you carry in your pocket at all times but a pen, so if you have a combined pen and stylus, you will always have a stylus to hand when you need one. At this low price you can afford to have several.”
The Pen Warehouse has taken the opportunity to fill the gap in the promotional market, combining one of the most popular pen ranges, the Contour, with a capacitive stylus. These inexpensive ballpens are really suitable for every pocket and the range comes in a selection of colours.
There is no doubt that using a capacitive stylus is more accurate and faster than using fingers, not to mention tiny keys that can be difficult to master. Screens need to be protected from greasy fingerprints so a stylus really is the only answer.
It is a known fact that most consumers prefer an intermediary accessory to interact clearly and concisely. The weather can also play a part, if it is cold outside and perhaps glove weather; a stylus will keep the cold at bay and protect hands.
Of course, manufacturers are selling millions of styluses but some are quite costly and not always close to hand and unfortunately can get lost or misplaced. Cheaper disposable styluses are the ideal solution at a fraction of the cost. And if they also allow the promotion of business with the company logo or contact details on them, what more can you want? The Pen Warehouse does also cater to the needs of those looking to promote their brand with a traditional stylus.
The Pen Warehouse is a supplier of printed promotional goods, including many different ranges of pens, pencils and other writing instruments. The company has established itself as one of the top trade suppliers in the UK market, providing screen printing, pad printing, laser engraving and digital printing services to the industry.
The not-for-profit social enterprise has been appointed the Australian distributor of the Taiwan-based corporation, which dominates the global electro optical automation industry.
Designed for industrial and educational use, the robust GCC laser engravers-cutters are the product-of-choice in the United Kingdom with 8 out of every 10 technical training colleges and universities using a GCC product.
Available in two models, the Mercury III and Spirit LS, the laser engravers are capable of engraving and cutting an extensive range of materials such as metal, wood, glass, acrylic, leather and rubber.
GCC laser engravers-cutters are ideal for making prototypes of products, miniature architectural models, automotive parts, furniture parts, labels, tags, signage, jewellery design, name plates for parts or for engraving part numbers and logos directly on to components and tools.
The new GCC laser engravers-cutters have been added to the range of Denford routers and milling machines supplied by REA Foundation to both industry and education sectors.
Mercury III has a work area of 635mm x 458mm and its pass-through front and rear doors allow long pieces of material to be fed through the machine. The Spirit LS is slightly larger at 640mm x 460mm. Both machines have adjustable speed control with the Mercury reaching 42 IPS and the Spirit, 80 IPS.
Customer Ronald Smith said “These dual purpose pen and styluses are selling like hot cakes. What else do you carry in your pocket at all times but a pen, so if you have a combined pen and stylus, you will always have a stylus to hand when you need one. At this low price you can afford to have several.”
The Pen Warehouse has taken the opportunity to fill the gap in the promotional market, combining one of the most popular pen ranges, the Contour, with a capacitive stylus. These inexpensive ballpens are really suitable for every pocket and the range comes in a selection of colours.
There is no doubt that using a capacitive stylus is more accurate and faster than using fingers, not to mention tiny keys that can be difficult to master. Screens need to be protected from greasy fingerprints so a stylus really is the only answer.
It is a known fact that most consumers prefer an intermediary accessory to interact clearly and concisely. The weather can also play a part, if it is cold outside and perhaps glove weather; a stylus will keep the cold at bay and protect hands.
Of course, manufacturers are selling millions of styluses but some are quite costly and not always close to hand and unfortunately can get lost or misplaced. Cheaper disposable styluses are the ideal solution at a fraction of the cost. And if they also allow the promotion of business with the company logo or contact details on them, what more can you want? The Pen Warehouse does also cater to the needs of those looking to promote their brand with a traditional stylus.
The Pen Warehouse is a supplier of printed promotional goods, including many different ranges of pens, pencils and other writing instruments. The company has established itself as one of the top trade suppliers in the UK market, providing screen printing, pad printing, laser engraving and digital printing services to the industry.
2012年10月21日 星期日
Exterior Wanaque library renovations underway
It's been a long time coming, but the borough library's exterior makeover is underway and expected to be completed this fall.
Passersby might have noticed the recent arrival of a miniature excavation machine and a low orange hazard fence in front of the building and assumed these elements to be part of the ongoing water main replacement project beneath Ringwood Avenue, but they are not. Instead, they are the first indication that the 42-year-old library is poised to receive planned renovations that include redesigned steps, a new portico, and fresh roofing before winter.
When asked if the nearby road construction project has affected the day-to-day business of the library, Acting Director Gillian Buonanno told Suburban Trends on Oct. 10 that the "impact has been minimal. People who want to use the library are still coming."
Buonanno said that the exterior renovations were somewhat delayed by heavy rainstorms in the area late this summer. Public Service Electric & Gas Co. was required to mark the locations where the utility lines entered the building before actual construction could begin, but "they were backed up because of all the damage," she said.
Much of North Jersey experienced a fierce storm that came with tornado warnings and high winds on Sept. 18, causing widespread power outages and numerous fallen trees. Buonanno went on to say that PSE&G arrived to do the work "about 10 days" after it was initially expected.
The library has retained Element Architectural Group of Paramus to design and oversee all elements of construction. The library's contractual end date with the firm is Dec. 1.
However, Buonanno believes the project will be wrapped up in time, "as long as the weather cooperates," she added.
According to Buonanno, the exterior renovations will be completed at no additional cost to taxpayers. Money for the project was made available through the library's capital reserves and fund-raising efforts. Interior renovations were completed in early 2010.
Storms that occurred in 2011 necessitated the urgency of the exterior renovations, as noted by the rapid decay of the portico after Hurricane Irene swept through the region. Instead of diverting water away from the building, Buonanno explained, the damaged structure was absorbing it. The old portico was removed last December.
The library will remain open during construction. Children's story times and other activities will go on as scheduled. Patrons are being directed to use the backdoor to the facility, requiring them to maneuver a couple of stairs.
Passersby might have noticed the recent arrival of a miniature excavation machine and a low orange hazard fence in front of the building and assumed these elements to be part of the ongoing water main replacement project beneath Ringwood Avenue, but they are not. Instead, they are the first indication that the 42-year-old library is poised to receive planned renovations that include redesigned steps, a new portico, and fresh roofing before winter.
When asked if the nearby road construction project has affected the day-to-day business of the library, Acting Director Gillian Buonanno told Suburban Trends on Oct. 10 that the "impact has been minimal. People who want to use the library are still coming."
Buonanno said that the exterior renovations were somewhat delayed by heavy rainstorms in the area late this summer. Public Service Electric & Gas Co. was required to mark the locations where the utility lines entered the building before actual construction could begin, but "they were backed up because of all the damage," she said.
Much of North Jersey experienced a fierce storm that came with tornado warnings and high winds on Sept. 18, causing widespread power outages and numerous fallen trees. Buonanno went on to say that PSE&G arrived to do the work "about 10 days" after it was initially expected.
The library has retained Element Architectural Group of Paramus to design and oversee all elements of construction. The library's contractual end date with the firm is Dec. 1.
However, Buonanno believes the project will be wrapped up in time, "as long as the weather cooperates," she added.
According to Buonanno, the exterior renovations will be completed at no additional cost to taxpayers. Money for the project was made available through the library's capital reserves and fund-raising efforts. Interior renovations were completed in early 2010.
Storms that occurred in 2011 necessitated the urgency of the exterior renovations, as noted by the rapid decay of the portico after Hurricane Irene swept through the region. Instead of diverting water away from the building, Buonanno explained, the damaged structure was absorbing it. The old portico was removed last December.
The library will remain open during construction. Children's story times and other activities will go on as scheduled. Patrons are being directed to use the backdoor to the facility, requiring them to maneuver a couple of stairs.
2012年10月19日 星期五
Efficient LED lighting is Deeply impressive green choice for submarium
The Deep's Lagoon of Light display, which features vivid colours and 66 species of animals, is floodlit by a light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which have been supplied by Hull firm Bonus Electrical.
The environmentally friendly lights at the landmark centre offer a more sustainable way of lighting the lagoon, lasting up to ten times longer than the lamps they replaced and offering an 80 per cent reduction in energy use.
Aquarists at The Deep said the new lights, which run in two lines above the water tank, help recreate a tropical habitat common to the species in the lagoon.
Andrew Mcleod, assistant curator at The Deep, said: "The Lagoon of Light is a tropical fish display, where bright, light conditions are needed.
"These advanced LEDs provide a very intense, vivid type of light that recreates the environment you find on a tropical island where there is a great deal of sunshine."
The intensity of the 14 LED floodlights means the light is able to penetrate the surface of the water and properly illuminate the 200,000-litre tank.
It allows visitors looking through the tank's glass walls to see in great detail the lagoon's coral reef and the colours of 1,100 fish, such as surgeonfish and lipstick tangs.
The LEDs have a life-span of several years, compared with 12 months for the halide lamps the technology has replaced.
Given the power of the LEDs, which are a fraction of the wattage of a traditional light bulb, fewer bulbs are needed. And as LEDs produce a negligible amount of heat, The Deep is no longer required to reduce the temperature in the areas using the lights by air conditioning – saving yet more energy.
The Deep calculates the individual LED installations are already offering a 50 per cent cost reduction on the previous halide lamps.
Mr Mcleod said: "We have considered LEDs before but have been waiting for the technology's development and progress.
"Now, the designs have become a lot more advanced and these particular high-power floodlights offer the type of intensity we need."
Bonus Electrical is now working with The Deep on further applications for the LEDs, from installation in the car parks to being used to grow coral in captivity.
Rob Carter, sales manager of Bonus Electrical, said: "As the use at The Deep shows, there is no downside to advanced LED technology, which offers a sustainable, energy-efficient and cost-effective alternative to traditional lighting.
"This is particularly important at The Deep, where the lights are on for 12 hours every day and have to be reliable, environmentally friendly and not impact on the marine life.
"We're delighted to have supplied to such an iconic attraction and look forward to working with The Deep on rolling out the LEDs to more areas and applications."
The environmentally friendly lights at the landmark centre offer a more sustainable way of lighting the lagoon, lasting up to ten times longer than the lamps they replaced and offering an 80 per cent reduction in energy use.
Aquarists at The Deep said the new lights, which run in two lines above the water tank, help recreate a tropical habitat common to the species in the lagoon.
Andrew Mcleod, assistant curator at The Deep, said: "The Lagoon of Light is a tropical fish display, where bright, light conditions are needed.
"These advanced LEDs provide a very intense, vivid type of light that recreates the environment you find on a tropical island where there is a great deal of sunshine."
The intensity of the 14 LED floodlights means the light is able to penetrate the surface of the water and properly illuminate the 200,000-litre tank.
It allows visitors looking through the tank's glass walls to see in great detail the lagoon's coral reef and the colours of 1,100 fish, such as surgeonfish and lipstick tangs.
The LEDs have a life-span of several years, compared with 12 months for the halide lamps the technology has replaced.
Given the power of the LEDs, which are a fraction of the wattage of a traditional light bulb, fewer bulbs are needed. And as LEDs produce a negligible amount of heat, The Deep is no longer required to reduce the temperature in the areas using the lights by air conditioning – saving yet more energy.
The Deep calculates the individual LED installations are already offering a 50 per cent cost reduction on the previous halide lamps.
Mr Mcleod said: "We have considered LEDs before but have been waiting for the technology's development and progress.
"Now, the designs have become a lot more advanced and these particular high-power floodlights offer the type of intensity we need."
Bonus Electrical is now working with The Deep on further applications for the LEDs, from installation in the car parks to being used to grow coral in captivity.
Rob Carter, sales manager of Bonus Electrical, said: "As the use at The Deep shows, there is no downside to advanced LED technology, which offers a sustainable, energy-efficient and cost-effective alternative to traditional lighting.
"This is particularly important at The Deep, where the lights are on for 12 hours every day and have to be reliable, environmentally friendly and not impact on the marine life.
"We're delighted to have supplied to such an iconic attraction and look forward to working with The Deep on rolling out the LEDs to more areas and applications."
LEDs winning light race to save energy
"The light-emitting diode lamp is a rapidly evolving technology that, while already energy efficient, will become even more so in just a few short years," said Marc Ledbetter, who manages PNNL's solid-state lighting testing, analysis and deployment efforts. "Our comprehensive analysis indicates technological advancements in the near future will help people who use these lamps to keep shrinking their environmental footprints."
The report examines total environmental impact, including the energy and natural resources needed to manufacture, transport, operate and dispose of light bulbs. Fifteen different impacts were considered when evaluating environmental footprints, including the potential to increase global warming, use land formerly available to wildlife, generate waste and pollute water, soil and air. The report examines the complete life cycles of three kinds of light bulbs: light-emitting diodes, also called LEDs, compact fluorescents, or CFLs, and traditional incandescent light bulbs.
Completed for the Solid-State Lighting Program of DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, this is the first public report to examine the environmental impact of LED manufacturing in depth. Manufacturing processes contribute substantially to a light bulb's overall environmental impact, but companies generally keep manufacturing information private. The research team was able to gather manufacturing data with the help of industry consultants and some companies on the condition that the final report would not reveal individual company data.
To do the analysis, the team chose specific bulbs that best represent what's most typical and widely available for each of the three types of lights they studied. They then used a database to calculate the resources needed to produce the various components of the three light bulbs. That analysis revealed both LEDs and CFLs are substantially more environmentally friendly then traditional incandescents, which consume far more electricity. For example, the specific incandescent light bulb the team studied consumes 60 watts of electricity, while the LED model they studied uses just 12.5 watts and the representative CFL only uses 15 watts to create about the same amount of light.
"By using more energy to create light, incandescent bulbs also use more of the natural resources needed to generate the electricity that powers them," Ledbetter said. "Regardless of whether consumers use LEDs or CFLs, this analysis shows we could reduce the environmental impact of lighting by three to 10 times if we choose more efficient bulbs instead of incandescents."
The energy consumed by lights when they're turned on makes up the majority of their environmental impact. But, with power consumption being similar between LEDs and CFLs when they are lit, the research team found the difference between those two bulbs' overall environmental performance is largely determined by the energy and resources needed to make them.
CFLs were found to cause slightly more environmental harm than today's LED lamp in all but one of the 15 impact areas studied. The one standout area was generating hazardous waste that must be taken to a landfill. This is because LED lights include a component called a heat sink, a ribbed aluminum segment that is attached to the bottom of LED bulbs. Aluminum heat sinks absorb and later dissipate heat that's generated by the light bulb, preventing it from overheating. The process to mine, refine and process the aluminum in heat sinks is energy-intensive and creates several byproducts such as sulfuric acid that must be taken to a hazardous waste landfill.
The report examines total environmental impact, including the energy and natural resources needed to manufacture, transport, operate and dispose of light bulbs. Fifteen different impacts were considered when evaluating environmental footprints, including the potential to increase global warming, use land formerly available to wildlife, generate waste and pollute water, soil and air. The report examines the complete life cycles of three kinds of light bulbs: light-emitting diodes, also called LEDs, compact fluorescents, or CFLs, and traditional incandescent light bulbs.
Completed for the Solid-State Lighting Program of DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, this is the first public report to examine the environmental impact of LED manufacturing in depth. Manufacturing processes contribute substantially to a light bulb's overall environmental impact, but companies generally keep manufacturing information private. The research team was able to gather manufacturing data with the help of industry consultants and some companies on the condition that the final report would not reveal individual company data.
To do the analysis, the team chose specific bulbs that best represent what's most typical and widely available for each of the three types of lights they studied. They then used a database to calculate the resources needed to produce the various components of the three light bulbs. That analysis revealed both LEDs and CFLs are substantially more environmentally friendly then traditional incandescents, which consume far more electricity. For example, the specific incandescent light bulb the team studied consumes 60 watts of electricity, while the LED model they studied uses just 12.5 watts and the representative CFL only uses 15 watts to create about the same amount of light.
"By using more energy to create light, incandescent bulbs also use more of the natural resources needed to generate the electricity that powers them," Ledbetter said. "Regardless of whether consumers use LEDs or CFLs, this analysis shows we could reduce the environmental impact of lighting by three to 10 times if we choose more efficient bulbs instead of incandescents."
The energy consumed by lights when they're turned on makes up the majority of their environmental impact. But, with power consumption being similar between LEDs and CFLs when they are lit, the research team found the difference between those two bulbs' overall environmental performance is largely determined by the energy and resources needed to make them.
CFLs were found to cause slightly more environmental harm than today's LED lamp in all but one of the 15 impact areas studied. The one standout area was generating hazardous waste that must be taken to a landfill. This is because LED lights include a component called a heat sink, a ribbed aluminum segment that is attached to the bottom of LED bulbs. Aluminum heat sinks absorb and later dissipate heat that's generated by the light bulb, preventing it from overheating. The process to mine, refine and process the aluminum in heat sinks is energy-intensive and creates several byproducts such as sulfuric acid that must be taken to a hazardous waste landfill.
2012年10月10日 星期三
Intershape is Lighting the Way to Higher Yields
Intershape Ltd has launched AniLEDlight, a new range of LED lights specifically designed for use in dairy buildings. Installing LED lights in dairy buildings reduces energy and maintenance costs while providing a superior quality light that improves cow well-being and so increases yields.
Increase Comfort and Yield
A recent study by Oklahoma State University found that the switching the lights in dairy sheds from fluorescent to LED lights increased milk yields by up to 6%. LED light is of superior quality - less harsh and closer to natural daylight, and researchers suggest that this reduces stress, improves cow well-being and so increasing yields.
LED lights produce no ultraviolet light, so they don’t attract flies like conventional lights, they don’t flicker and switch on and off instantly. The more natural light allows dairy workers to see the cows more clearly and identify any injuries or welfare issues more quickly.
Reduce Energy Costs
AniLEDLights use 70% less energy than conventional lights, and can be dimmed when there is plenty of natural daylight to save even more energy.
Reduce Maintenance Costs
The lights burn for up to 60,000 hours, nearly 7 years continuous use, before they need to be changed, they are IP66 rated and are vibration and shock proof so once installed, they need no ongoing maintenance.
Comfortable Cows
Paul Butland, Managing Director of Intershape Ltd explains, “As dairy units get bigger and cows spend more time inside, Intershape is committed to providing dairy farmers with the most up-to-date technology to keep their cows in the best possible conditions.
“These lights, in combination with our mattress, rubber flooring and ventilation products will allow dairy farmers in the UK to make their dairy buildings as comfortable and healthy as natural pasture, with healthy, stress-free, high yielding cows and reduced labour and energy costs.”
More Information
AniLEDlights are made in the UK and are being used in dairy buildings across Europe and North America. They come with a 5 year warranty and are supplied direct to farm across the UK and Ireland exclusively by Intershape Ltd.
The Nova Scotia company, which makes energy-efficient lighting, said Wednesday that it will provide 8,000 LED street lighting units to the Corporacion Dominicana de Empresas Electricas Estatales, the Dominican Republic’s state power holding company.
The utility began converting its public lighting to energy-saving light-emitting diode technology in July and installation is underway on major avenues and streets in Santo Domingo and other urban centres.
LED Roadway Lighting said in a statement that the Dominican Republic will benefit from energy savings of 50 per cent from the existing high-pressure sodium lighting units and that its technology will help “reduce the burden on the national energy system.”
Increase Comfort and Yield
A recent study by Oklahoma State University found that the switching the lights in dairy sheds from fluorescent to LED lights increased milk yields by up to 6%. LED light is of superior quality - less harsh and closer to natural daylight, and researchers suggest that this reduces stress, improves cow well-being and so increasing yields.
LED lights produce no ultraviolet light, so they don’t attract flies like conventional lights, they don’t flicker and switch on and off instantly. The more natural light allows dairy workers to see the cows more clearly and identify any injuries or welfare issues more quickly.
Reduce Energy Costs
AniLEDLights use 70% less energy than conventional lights, and can be dimmed when there is plenty of natural daylight to save even more energy.
Reduce Maintenance Costs
The lights burn for up to 60,000 hours, nearly 7 years continuous use, before they need to be changed, they are IP66 rated and are vibration and shock proof so once installed, they need no ongoing maintenance.
Comfortable Cows
Paul Butland, Managing Director of Intershape Ltd explains, “As dairy units get bigger and cows spend more time inside, Intershape is committed to providing dairy farmers with the most up-to-date technology to keep their cows in the best possible conditions.
“These lights, in combination with our mattress, rubber flooring and ventilation products will allow dairy farmers in the UK to make their dairy buildings as comfortable and healthy as natural pasture, with healthy, stress-free, high yielding cows and reduced labour and energy costs.”
More Information
AniLEDlights are made in the UK and are being used in dairy buildings across Europe and North America. They come with a 5 year warranty and are supplied direct to farm across the UK and Ireland exclusively by Intershape Ltd.
The Nova Scotia company, which makes energy-efficient lighting, said Wednesday that it will provide 8,000 LED street lighting units to the Corporacion Dominicana de Empresas Electricas Estatales, the Dominican Republic’s state power holding company.
The utility began converting its public lighting to energy-saving light-emitting diode technology in July and installation is underway on major avenues and streets in Santo Domingo and other urban centres.
LED Roadway Lighting said in a statement that the Dominican Republic will benefit from energy savings of 50 per cent from the existing high-pressure sodium lighting units and that its technology will help “reduce the burden on the national energy system.”
Scar Tissue
At half past five I'm in the kitchen, pulling on an apron and twisting my hair into a rubber band. The air is thick with the steamy smell of beefstock. Beside me, Christine's kneeling on the floor, chalking the board. "Special's monkfish," Chef shouts from the range. "For fucksake get rid of it before it turns." Christine looks up at me and rolls her eyes. I open the door to the cold room and take a look. The monkfish lie on a plastic tray, glued together with their own oils, waiting to be gutted. I close the door fast and go check my face in the stainless steel worktop. Then I head out front.
I open up, and stand at the door a while. It's late September, but outside it looks like winter. The sky's a moody grey, and gusts of wind are lifting rubbish from bins, sending ragged newspapers and squashed plastic bottles scuttering around the feet of people hurrying home from work. A trapped feeling comes over me when I look at the people passing on the street, knowing they're free to walk in but I can't walk out, not till my face is throbbing with heat, my legs are spikes of pain, and Greg says he supposes we can go.
Greg offered me time off when I needed it though, I'll say that for him. Told me take a few weeks, whatever I wanted; that he'd hold my job for me. Greg's no fool, he knows a good worker. I was back in the kitchen as soon as the stitches came out, but it was weeks before he allowed me out front again. He had no choice: there are rules in our contracts banning piercings, tattoos, nothing about scars.
I go to the desk and count the bookings. "Greg's off tonight," Christine says, pushing past me with the board. "I'm going for a fag."The table-tops are sticky and spotted with crumbs; Christine must have taken a few shortcuts last night. I flick the crumbs onto the floor with a torn menu I find in one of the booths. Then I dim the lights to camouflage the stained seat covers and faded wallpaper. "Creating atmosphere," Greg calls it. When he's not there, I turn the lights even lower.
In the kitchen I roll cutlery in napkins, and watch Chef fillet the monkfish. He selects the largest fish first. It lies on the board facing me, its jaws wide with silent fury, while he sharpens his knife in the air above its head. He slits the murky green skin neatly down each side, lifts the fish by the nostrils, and flips it onto its back. He tugs the loose membrane free, then curves the blade down through the length of the tail, severing flesh from bone.
When he's finished the whole tray, he lays the fillets in rows and they glisten under the fluorescent lights. He piles the open-mouthed heads into a stockpot, scoops handfuls of curling entrails into the bin. Then he sees me watching, and runs his tongue across the tips of his front teeth. I say nothing, just keep rolling cutlery, and he laughs.
It was Joe who taught me how to fillet fish, back in the early days, before Greg promoted me to waitress. Joe could cut so fine he'd leave little more than bare bones behind. The first time I tried, I left bloodied chunks of flesh clinging to the backbone, and Joe laughed, and took the knife from my hand. "Learn from the master," he'd said, and he began to cut.
Chef sends the fish board skimming across the worktop, making me jump. Then he takes up the cleaver and guillotines piles of raw chicken, severing legs from carcasses with single blows. He's sweating already, muscles straining through his whites, as he pounds through the meat. He's attractive in a shaggy sort of way, with three days' growth bristling on his jaw, and straggling, dirty-blonde hair escaping the sides of his black skull cap.
When he stows the first tray of dismembered chicken on the counter beside me, I get an acrid smell of last night's beer on his breath. He goes back to the worktop, wipes his forehead on his sleeve, and slaps the next chicken onto the board. I listen to the strike of steel on bone.
I open up, and stand at the door a while. It's late September, but outside it looks like winter. The sky's a moody grey, and gusts of wind are lifting rubbish from bins, sending ragged newspapers and squashed plastic bottles scuttering around the feet of people hurrying home from work. A trapped feeling comes over me when I look at the people passing on the street, knowing they're free to walk in but I can't walk out, not till my face is throbbing with heat, my legs are spikes of pain, and Greg says he supposes we can go.
Greg offered me time off when I needed it though, I'll say that for him. Told me take a few weeks, whatever I wanted; that he'd hold my job for me. Greg's no fool, he knows a good worker. I was back in the kitchen as soon as the stitches came out, but it was weeks before he allowed me out front again. He had no choice: there are rules in our contracts banning piercings, tattoos, nothing about scars.
I go to the desk and count the bookings. "Greg's off tonight," Christine says, pushing past me with the board. "I'm going for a fag."The table-tops are sticky and spotted with crumbs; Christine must have taken a few shortcuts last night. I flick the crumbs onto the floor with a torn menu I find in one of the booths. Then I dim the lights to camouflage the stained seat covers and faded wallpaper. "Creating atmosphere," Greg calls it. When he's not there, I turn the lights even lower.
In the kitchen I roll cutlery in napkins, and watch Chef fillet the monkfish. He selects the largest fish first. It lies on the board facing me, its jaws wide with silent fury, while he sharpens his knife in the air above its head. He slits the murky green skin neatly down each side, lifts the fish by the nostrils, and flips it onto its back. He tugs the loose membrane free, then curves the blade down through the length of the tail, severing flesh from bone.
When he's finished the whole tray, he lays the fillets in rows and they glisten under the fluorescent lights. He piles the open-mouthed heads into a stockpot, scoops handfuls of curling entrails into the bin. Then he sees me watching, and runs his tongue across the tips of his front teeth. I say nothing, just keep rolling cutlery, and he laughs.
It was Joe who taught me how to fillet fish, back in the early days, before Greg promoted me to waitress. Joe could cut so fine he'd leave little more than bare bones behind. The first time I tried, I left bloodied chunks of flesh clinging to the backbone, and Joe laughed, and took the knife from my hand. "Learn from the master," he'd said, and he began to cut.
Chef sends the fish board skimming across the worktop, making me jump. Then he takes up the cleaver and guillotines piles of raw chicken, severing legs from carcasses with single blows. He's sweating already, muscles straining through his whites, as he pounds through the meat. He's attractive in a shaggy sort of way, with three days' growth bristling on his jaw, and straggling, dirty-blonde hair escaping the sides of his black skull cap.
When he stows the first tray of dismembered chicken on the counter beside me, I get an acrid smell of last night's beer on his breath. He goes back to the worktop, wipes his forehead on his sleeve, and slaps the next chicken onto the board. I listen to the strike of steel on bone.
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