Car Sales Slow Down For Second Month Running

Fewer buyers drove out of showrooms in new cars for the second successive month in August, following the central bank’s serial intervention aimed at easing demand in the economy to tame inflation. Production cuts at two of the bigger carmakers, coupled with high fuel prices, compounded the challenge for the auto industry, dragging down car sales 10%, even as two-wheelers posted a 16% growth.

Passenger car sales declined 10% to 1,44,156 units, a month after the industry reported a 16% slowdown in July. Market leader Maruti Suzuki, which sells every second car in the Indian market, posted a 19.21% decline in sales, to 63,296 units, as it continued to face labour unrest at its factory in Manesar. Referring to Maruti’s labour problems and a two-week maintenance shutdown of a Tata Motors plant in Sanand in Gujarat, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers’ Director General Vishnu Mathur said, “Production has also been affected with large players not able to churn out optimum production in August.” [Read more...]

Hidden Danger

You know guys, one summer night a gas detector alarm went off, luckily, occupants of the building called up the fire assistance. Thereafter, fire crews arrived and after spending nearly two hours looking for the cause they eventually traced the source to a gas in a vent which was circulated by the air conditioning unit where the air level were tested to be 40 times what is considered safe. According to the fire department, that was a potentially lethal dose of the odorless, colorless gas. And had there been no gas detectors being installed at the building’s premise, a lot of people would have died. Well, many people really didn’t know that carbon monoxide poisoning can be a hidden danger at home, office or even in idling car.

Nevertheless, this silent killer has no taste, color or odor, but at high levels it can turn deadly in a minute which is why the installation of gas detector is very vital. What many do not realize is that according to research over two million gas appliances in homes, rental properties and businesses could be faulty.  And industry sources reveals, hundreds of people in western countries die every year from carbon monoxide produced by non-automotive consumer products. These include fuel-burning appliances such as furnaces, room heaters, water heaters, ranges, and engine-powered equipment in the like of portable generator.

Mercedes Eyes To Regain No 1 Rank In India, BMW Not Giving Up

Looking to hit back at its rival BMW which has toppled it from the top position in the Indian luxury segment, German auto major Mercedes Benz is planning to introduce up to 10 new brands in the next three years to regain the numero uno position by 2015.

BMW, on the other hand, said it is not ready to concede the position just yet and would redefine leadership by taking it to a new level of brand positioning, customer satisfaction, technology and also being an employer of choice. [Read more...]

Changing The World To Sustainability

Different businesses have already implemented the use of vending machines, a convenience-led innovation that are stocked with all-natural and healthy foods which could be an important step in helping to combat childhood obesity in some areas. Technology today really is at its simplest creation and in most effective invention when in delivering a help of convenience to time-pressed consumers who need it most. Though healthy vending is committed to changing the world, to sustainability and to turning a profit, these drink vending machines are found on several school campuses, in health and medical centers, shopping malls, and at a variety of other areas.

Meanwhile, in our just concluded high school reunion of batch 2000 at our place, a friend of mine who now happens to be among one of the school’s staff had opined that she’s looking forward of the possibility for their school to implement the use of a vending machine. Accordingly, the ability to put healthy Drink Vending Machines on campus is essential, and besides having such in the campus, it will give the schools an opportunity to earn a portion from all sales and offer snacks to their student body. Well, if you have high expectations of vending service, then look no further than yourchoicevending.com for you to meet and exceed those expectations.

Oz Firm To Invest $116m In Tanzania Coal

Australia’s Intra Energy Corporation (IEC) plans to invest $236 million in Tanzania’s first privately funded coal mine and a coal-fired power plant to reduce nation’s reliance on hydro power, its chairman told Reuters on Wednesday.

IEC Executive Chairman Graeme Robertson said mining was expected to begin in the coming week, with the first consignment of coal expected in September.

The mine was projected to expand its output to 500,000 tonnes a year by 2013 – with a long-term maximum output capacity of 5 million tonnes a year, he said.

IEC’s local unit in east Africa’s second largest economy, Tancoal Energy, had already spent $23 million on exploration and initial development costs of the Mbalawala mine, in the south-west of Tanzania, Robertson said. [Read more...]

Bladder Accumulator, A Variety Of Applications

Bladder accumulators are used in a variety of applications, ranging from industrial use to oil field to the service and entertainment industries. It consists of a fluid section and a gas section with the bladder acting as the gas-proof screen. It can ensure that your system fluid volume pressure maintains an even level despite any internal leaks; especially important if your system contains spool valves, cartridge valves or hydraulic cylinders. Bladder Accumulator can reduce energy costs in a variety of applications. By assisting the flow output for pumps with intermittent duty cycles, the accumulator will reduce system horsepower requirements.

Nevertheless, when combined with variable volume, pressure-compensated pumps, accumulators not only reduce horsepower requirements, but they will also assist with rapid flow demands. Bladder Accumulators are especially effective when heat causes the volume of a system’s fluid to expand. In systems where hard plumbing is installed, an accumulator is extremely important to prevent lines and pipes from rupturing due to thermal expansion of fluid. When fluids instead contract due to cooling, accumulators can make up for diminishing volume. It is extremely effective in reducing the noise of hydraulic systems caused by piston pumps, relief valves and the complexities of some hydraulic circuits.

Durable Companies Hope Festive Season Will Spur Growth

After a sluggish first half, consumer durable makers are now looking to ramp up growth during the upcoming festive season. While industry leaders LG and Samsung said they are upbeat and expect to grow over 25% from last year in the next few months, others like Godrej Appliances and Whirlpool are not that optimistic about a drastic spike in the demand curve.

The Rs 35,000-crore industry, which has been grappling with increasing commodity prices and interest rate hikes, grew at a moderate 8% so far this year compared to around 13-14% growth it registered in 2010.

While categories like air conditioners have de-grown due to a shorter summer season, flat-panel televisions and washing machines are likely to drive sales this season said companies. The festive season starting with Onam going up till Diwali is a crucial time for all major durable and electronics firms as it contributes almost 25-30% to the year’s turnover. [Read more...]