Monday, May 31, 2004
The New Materials Angle
INDUSTRYWEEK: LEADERSHIP IN MANUFACTURING -- The New Materials Angle
Information technology has transformed materials science, giving product designers the knowledge tools once controlled by specialists and turbo-charging the product-development process.
When a materials research team posited in a 1989 issue of Scientific American that the Age of Materials was over -- that it would be replaced by the Era of Information -- they were only half right. Instead, the two periods collided, then fused into a new material age, one in which information technology enables manufacturers to better understand and take better advantage of material performance. Manufacturers began using simulation tools such as finite element analysis (FEA) to test how a particular material will perform in a specific application.
Information technology has transformed materials science, giving product designers the knowledge tools once controlled by specialists and turbo-charging the product-development process.
When a materials research team posited in a 1989 issue of Scientific American that the Age of Materials was over -- that it would be replaced by the Era of Information -- they were only half right. Instead, the two periods collided, then fused into a new material age, one in which information technology enables manufacturers to better understand and take better advantage of material performance. Manufacturers began using simulation tools such as finite element analysis (FEA) to test how a particular material will perform in a specific application.
Saturday, May 29, 2004
U.S., Bahrain Reach Free-Trade Pact
INDUSTRYWEEK: LEADERSHIP IN MANUFACTURING -- DAILY PAGE
The United States and Bahrain struck a free-trade agreement (FTA) May 27 after four months of negotiations, prompting cheers from business leaders. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick and Bahrain Finance and Economy Minister Abdullah Seif announced the deal, which must still be approved by the U.S. Congress. "This free-trade agreement provides the essential tools that will fortify our two nations' political, economic, cultural and strategic relationships," Seif said in a statement. Seif said the deal would help the United States in its effort to create a free-trade zone in the Gulf region.
The United States and Bahrain struck a free-trade agreement (FTA) May 27 after four months of negotiations, prompting cheers from business leaders. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick and Bahrain Finance and Economy Minister Abdullah Seif announced the deal, which must still be approved by the U.S. Congress. "This free-trade agreement provides the essential tools that will fortify our two nations' political, economic, cultural and strategic relationships," Seif said in a statement. Seif said the deal would help the United States in its effort to create a free-trade zone in the Gulf region.
Saturday, May 22, 2004
Purdue Engineers Design CAD Search System
Purdue Engineers Design CAD Search System
Researchers at Purdue University say they have developed a system for searching a company's database of 3-D parts created using computer-aided-design (CAD) software. The new system lets users find the desired part either by selecting a part that resembles the specific part and retrieving a selection of 'like' items or by sketching the desired part.
Researchers at Purdue University say they have developed a system for searching a company's database of 3-D parts created using computer-aided-design (CAD) software. The new system lets users find the desired part either by selecting a part that resembles the specific part and retrieving a selection of 'like' items or by sketching the desired part.
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Congratulations to Randy Johnson on his Perfect Game
MLB Johnson oldest in baseball history to throw perfect game
Randy Johnson had pretty much done it all -- Cy Young Awards, a no-hitter, strikeout records, a World Series championship. Only one thing was missing in his brilliant career, that rarest of pitching feats. At the ripe ol' age of 40, the Big Unit took care of that, too.
Randy Johnson had pretty much done it all -- Cy Young Awards, a no-hitter, strikeout records, a World Series championship. Only one thing was missing in his brilliant career, that rarest of pitching feats. At the ripe ol' age of 40, the Big Unit took care of that, too.
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Energy Shortages Could Limit China's Manufacturing
Energy Shortages
Energy Crisis. That's how U.S. drivers now paying more than $2 a gallon for gasoline might describe their situation. But it's also what Daniel Yergin, chairman of Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA), and Scott Roberts, CERA's director of China energy, suggest is taking place in China. Significantly, manufacturing, a major factor in rising demand for energy in China, could also fall victim to demand-created shortages.
Energy Crisis. That's how U.S. drivers now paying more than $2 a gallon for gasoline might describe their situation. But it's also what Daniel Yergin, chairman of Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA), and Scott Roberts, CERA's director of China energy, suggest is taking place in China. Significantly, manufacturing, a major factor in rising demand for energy in China, could also fall victim to demand-created shortages.
Monday, May 17, 2004
Forecast: Fuel Cells To Power Nearly 15% Of Laptops In 2012
Fuel Cells To Power Nearly 15% Of Laptops In 2012
Micro fuel cell technology will power nearly 15% of the world's laptop computers by 2012, predicts Oyster Bay, N.Y.-based ABI Research.
The technology will appear in limited use in laptops and personal digital assistants (PDA) as soon as 2005, with production scaling up after that, the research group says. Projections show about 2,000 units in trial production next year, propelled primarily by Japan and the United States.
Micro fuel cell technology will power nearly 15% of the world's laptop computers by 2012, predicts Oyster Bay, N.Y.-based ABI Research.
The technology will appear in limited use in laptops and personal digital assistants (PDA) as soon as 2005, with production scaling up after that, the research group says. Projections show about 2,000 units in trial production next year, propelled primarily by Japan and the United States.
Friday, May 14, 2004
Time To Negotiate A U.S.-Japan FTA
IIE's Bergsten: Time To Negotiate A U.S.-Japan FTA
Those who look at recent economic history and are ready to write off Japan as a major economy are "almost certainly wrong," asserts C. Fred Bergsten, director of the Institute for International Economics (IIE), Washington, D.C. Indeed, Bergsten is promoting a free-trade agreement (FTA) with the United States as a means of reinforcing the economic recovery now under way in Japan and reasserting bilateral economic leadership.
Those who look at recent economic history and are ready to write off Japan as a major economy are "almost certainly wrong," asserts C. Fred Bergsten, director of the Institute for International Economics (IIE), Washington, D.C. Indeed, Bergsten is promoting a free-trade agreement (FTA) with the United States as a means of reinforcing the economic recovery now under way in Japan and reasserting bilateral economic leadership.
Saturday, May 08, 2004
Greenspan Says U.S. Can Withstand Higher Rates
U.S. consumers and businesses are financially fit enough to take an interest-rate rise, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said May 6.
On Tuesday, Greenspan and fellow policymakers indicated the days of rock-bottom rates -- with the federal funds target rate at a 1958 low of 1% for the past 10 months -- were numbered. Rates could eventually rise at a "measured" pace, they said.
On Tuesday, Greenspan and fellow policymakers indicated the days of rock-bottom rates -- with the federal funds target rate at a 1958 low of 1% for the past 10 months -- were numbered. Rates could eventually rise at a "measured" pace, they said.
