Dutch Dash 2005

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It's 9pm on a reasonable, although slightly windy Monday night and we are sat on the Sun Deck of the P&O North Sea Ferries vessel Pride of Rotterdam at King George Dock in Hull, just about to set off on a mini cruise to the Netherlands.

Paul and I have already downed our first pint and Debbie and Kirsty are trying to drag us to the onboard shops and we haven't even left port yet!

Looking down the Humber is the Humber Bridge with clear skies and calm waters. We're on our way! Most of those on the Sun Deck rush to the left of the ship to see how the Captain manoeuvres this 216 meter long vessel out of the dock. It's got side thrusters and that's bloody cheating!!


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As we head down the Humber we pass Sunk Island on our left and Grimsby on our right with the sun setting behind us. Ships and trawlers are crossing the Humber on their way to Grimsby docks. The wind has picked up and it's getting quite cold so we head inside for a look around and spent the rest of the evening sampling the onboard entertainment before hitting our beds.


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Debbie and I woke early to the sound of the multilingual announcements over the ship's public address system. After a shower we headed on deck while Paul and Kirsty got ready and our timing couldn't have been better as we had just passed the Hoek van Holland (Hook of Holland) and was heading down the Caland Canal.

We docked at Rotterdam around 7am local time and after passing through Customs boarded our awaiting coach for the slow journey to Amsterdam. Still hung over and knackered I'm glad now that we hit rush hour traffic as it gave us some time to relax and catch up.

The bus driver dropped us off at Amsterdam's Central Station, a large, old building undergoing some restoration or modification work.


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Across the road is a large old church, interesting for its architecture rather than anything else.


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It didn't take the girls long to find their first target. This is the first shop we went into and of course we are in Amsterdam so it had to be a sex shop. I'm not complaining of course but let's face it, once you've been in one you've been in them all and after half a dozen we were all getting bored of them.


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As we walked out of the last sex shop we visited we stopped to take a photo of an old tower dated 1670. I'm still not sure what it is so if you know please leave me a comment on this post.


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Amsterdam is famous the world over for its canals and waterways and here's a couple of views taken from a bridge over the canal while stuffing our face with pizza.


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These bridges seem to be frequented by those you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley at midnight so we quickly moved on.


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We arrived in a large square and Debbie immediately latched on to these weird freaks. Debbie being on the same wave length as these just had to have a go herself and here's the result!


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The UK's transport infrastructure is falling apart despite the claims of Tony Blair and John Prescott that they could save the world and our transport system (They failed to tell the truth about that aswell as everything else). In Amsterdam they seem to have their heads screwed on the right way and one example is double decker trains, clean and on time at the Central Station.


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Thank goodness for 6pm as my legs were falling off after walking for 8 hours on cobbled streets in scorching heat. We was back in the coach outside the Central Station ready to set off back to the ferry. Looking out of the window was the Amsterdam H.Q. of Shell.


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Back at the terminal building at Rotterdam's Europoort and the Pride of Rotterdam is awaiting us so we head through Customs and back on board for yet another well deserved pint!


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Looking out from the Sun Deck again can be seen the terminal building at Europoort with a couple of what seemed hundreds of storage containers and tanks.


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I like this. Everywhere we looked at Europoort was wind turbines used to generate an endless supply of cheap and clean electricity. Let's face it, these turbines don't look out of place in their industrial setting and there's plenty of wind coming down the Caland Canal from the North Sea to power them. Why can't we do this in the UK instead of placing them in areas of outstanding natural beauty?


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After a good nights sleep we awake and go on deck as we head down the Humber. As you can see it was typical UK weather, cold, overcast, windy and cloudy but at least we would dock soon and could head home for a proper cup of coffee.


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As the captain makes his final manoeuvres I grabbed a few photos looking over Hull and King George Dock.


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And a few of Hull's Terminal Building and the boarding ramps we would soon be heading down.


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In Summary, a good few days away on a modern and well equipped ferry and well worth doing again.

Open Directory

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I am pleased to announce the addition of the Open Directory Project to Jonfry.com



In the last week I have added software which makes available the entire Open Directory database directly from this web site. To search click here - Jonathan Fry's Open Directory.

The Open Directory Project is the largest, most comprehensive human-edited directory of the Web. It is constructed and maintained by a vast, global community of volunteer editors.

The web continues to grow at staggering rates. Automated search engines are increasingly unable to turn up useful results to search queries. The small paid editorial staffs at commercial directory sites can't keep up with submissions, and the quality and comprehensiveness of their directories has suffered. Link rot is setting in and they can't keep pace with the growth of the Internet.

Instead of fighting the explosive growth of the Internet, the Open Directory provides the means for the Internet to organize itself. As the Internet grows, so do the number of net-citizens. These citizens can each organize a small portion of the web and present it back to the rest of the population, culling out the bad and useless and keeping only the best content.

The Open Directory follows in the footsteps of some of the most important editor/contributor projects of the 20th century. Just as the Oxford English Dictionary became the definitive word on words through the efforts of a volunteers, the Open Directory follows in its footsteps to become the definitive catalog of the Web.

The Open Directory was founded in the spirit of the Open Source movement, and is the only major directory that is 100% free. There is not, nor will there ever be, a cost to submit a site to the directory, and/or to use the directory's data. The Open Directory data is made available for free to anyone who agrees to comply with our free use license.

The Open Directory is the most widely distributed data base of Web content classified by humans. Its editorial standards body of net-citizens provide the collective brain behind resource discovery on the Web. The Open Directory powers the core directory services for the Web's largest and most popular search engines and portals, including Netscape Search, AOL Search, Google, Lycos, HotBot, DirectHit, and hundreds of others.

Jonathan Fry's Open Directory can be searched at http://www.jonfry.com/directory

Engine Manufacturing Motors Ahead

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The UK engine manufacturing industry has grown by 29% over the past 6 years with production exceeding 2.7 million engines in 2004. The 'Study of the UK Automotive engineering Industry', published today by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), confirms the industry as one of the most successful parts of the UK automotive business.

Minister for Industry Alun Michael MP said: "The automotive engine industry is an undoubted success story of UK manufacturing and this study shows a buoyant industry that can look to the future with confidence.

"Research and development are crucial if the industry is to remain at the forefront of innovative design. Improving engine efficiency and reducing emissions are key areas of engine innovation and the Government helps by supporting industry and academia to work closer together to bring cutting edge technology to commercial success. The SMMT and the DTI work in tandem to service and support the industry.

"The UK boasts more volume vehicle manufacturers than any other EU country and has over 3250 companies providing 237,000 jobs across the automotive industry. In 2004, 1.65 million cars and 209,000 commercial vehicles were produced in the UK."

This detailed study examines key trends of the engine manufacturing industry and examines in particular the UK's Future Vehicles strategy, emissions standards and the role of biofuels. The study also makes clear the UK's leading role in automotive engine manufacturing and the Government's commitment to research and development.

The report highlighted the innovative projects that are being supported by the DTI Technology Programme, which is investing £320m over the next three years. These projects include developing energy efficient electric urban transport, hydrogen fuel cell technology and enhanced diesel engine lubrication systems.

Research Material:

1. The DTI/SMMT 'Study of the UK Automotive Engineering Industry' can be found at www.autoindustry.co.uk/ukprofile/powertrain/enginereport

2. Further information about the Technology Strategy can be found at http://www.dti.gov.uk/technologyprogramme/open_comps.html

3. A national Technology Strategy & Programme was one of the recommendations of the Innovation Report, December 2003, and its role was strengthened in the Government's 10-Year Science & Innovation Investment Framework, July 2004. The Technology Programme has funds of approximately £320 million over the period of 2005 to 2008, profiled to show an increase over the next three years to a level of £178 million per annum by 2007/08 following the recent Spending Review settlement. The Technology Strategy & Programme will guide government investment in UK and European R&D programmes.

4. The Technology Strategy & Programme is a key initiative in the Government's innovation plans and its expert, business-led Board will identify and back key technologies where the UK industry can commercially take advantage.

5. Last November the Prime Minister and Patricia Hewitt launched the DTI's 5-Year Programme 'Creating Wealth from Knowledge' with a new focus for the department on science, innovation and technology. It is available at http://www.dti.gov.uk/fiveyearprogramme.html

6. The Technology Programme was officially launched by Lord Sainsbury, the Science & Innovation Minister, when he announced the second (£50m) competition in April 2004 consisting of the 2 business support products:
- Collaborative R&D and
- Knowledge Transfer Networks.

A further 2 competitions for funding have since been announced in Collaborative R&D in November 2004 (£80m) and April 2005 (£100m).

Case Study Projects

Enhanced Diesel engine lubrication systems for reduced environmental impact

Project lead: Ford Motor Co. Ltd.

Over a quarter of fuel consumed by a diesel-engine car is due to parasitic losses in various components of the engine and transmission. This project aims to reduce these losses using a systems approach to the lubrication system and the tribological surfaces within the engine. The energy saving achieved translate to lower CO2 and other exhaust emissions. The knowledge generated will help retain the UK's leading position in diesel engine manufacture and lubricant development whilst contributing to the achievement of emissions targets.

2/4SIGHT - Downsized 2-stroke / 4-stroke switching engine for passenger cars

Project lead: Ricardo UK Ltd.

This project takes forward the basic research results of a Foresight Vehicle project '2/4SIGHT'. It will examine on a running engine the potential of switching between 2-stroke and 4-stroke combustion modes to enable aggressive gasoline engine downsizing, targeting a 30% reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions whilst delivering superior vehicle performance and lower cost than a modern diesel engine.

Energy efficient electric urban transport

Project lead: Zytek Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles can contribute to improved air quality and reduced CO2 emission, particularly in the urban environment. This project will research electrical machine parameters, battery chemistry and waste heat management with a view to optimising energy utilisation within a battery electric city car. It will also investigate means of measuring electromagnetic pollution with a view to helping shape future legislation for electric vehicles.

LIFECar

Project lead: Morgan Motor Co. Ltd.

This project is aimed at lowering the entry barriers for hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles by demonstrating a whole system approach to vehicle design. This will involve using light-weight vehicle design optimised for the performance characteristics of the fuel cell operating at a high hybridisation level. This approach is targeted at minimising the fuel cell cost whilst achieving fuel economy commensurate with a 300 mile range.

Department of Trade and Industry
7th Floor
1 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0ET
Public Enquiries +44 (0)20 7215 5000
Textphone +44 (0)20 7215 6740
(for those with hearing impairment)
www.dti.gov.uk

Stuttgart Sees Launch of an Extraordinary New Engine Design

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The Slider Engine was unveiled at the recent Engine Expo in Stuttgart to critical acclaim, developed by Slider Engine Technologies (AU). Visitors saw a highly developed Vee-twin featuring this new and important technology.

Engineers at Slider Engine Technologies have discovered and developed a way to stabilise the pistons and cranking arrangement of the infamous scotch yoke engine. The Company unveiled manufacturing solutions for Vee, Inline, W, Boxer and Radial engine configurations.

The technology has the potential to unify and rationalise the R&D efforts of manufacturers around the globe. For consumers, uptake of the technology by manufacturers will deliver significant advantages including improved fuel economy and a considerable increase in overall refinement.

Central to the company's offering are the efforts of seasoned inventors and brothers Michael and Peter Raffaele. The Raffaele brothers became interested in the Scotch Yoke engine principle whilst watching a TV programme featuring the technical and commercial failure of a yet another doomed scotch yoke engine development which had been underway in Australia for several decades. The brothers came away from the programme with one question; why had scotch yoke engine development been so narrowly focused on the unpalatable Boxer configuration?

With this question in mind, and realising the Scotch Yoke principle could have no commercial future without the inclusion of In-Line and Vee format engines, the Raffaeles began a search of the global patent database and technical publications, whilst simultaneously designing and manufacturing a Scotch Yoke powerplant in order to gain further insight into the mechanism's behaviour under load.

In just over three months the brothers had designed and built an engine from scratch, but this first unit failed within hours. 'We have a policy of jumping in at the deep end' confesses Michael. 'It's been our experience that more finesse, which inevitably soaks up time, doesn't necessarily equal relevant information. We knew from the damage to our prototype what was missing, and why' he adds. 'We learnt that the offset Scotch Yoke cannot tolerate free rotation of its big end mounted drive block because it leads to the impartation of instantaneous accelerations and a very certain catastrophe.'

Following an intensive review of relevant literature, Mercedes-Benz patent filing DE 3624753 (1986), which included the generic device of a piston guide system for controlling free rotation, became of specific interest to the Raffaeles. However, they realised that what was described could not arrest the problem, the guides being positioned at too distant a location to function effectively. 'We feel that Mercedes-Benz, along with so many others, was defeated by an optical illusion' explains Peter. 'We suspect they believed that the area swept by the big end of the crankshaft during its rotation was automatically a no-go area for a guide system'.

To their immense surprise the brothers found that with simple alterations to the scale of certain components, a rail and race guide system could actually fit into this so called 'prohibited' space. The guides are configured to dip in and out the swept volume without contacting the big end.

Christened the Slider Engine, the new unit features pistons and con-rods that are twice as expensive to manufacture as those of a conventional powerplant. However, Slider Engine Technologies argues this on-cost is simply dwarfed by the technology's benefits: 30% slower idle speed, 15% increase in max rpm, lighter and far less complex geartrains and drivelines, leading to reduced vehicle mass and cost reductions throughout the entire vehicle.

For European manufacturers with significant investment in technology centred on NVH issues linked to the conventional engine, the Slider Engine could seem to be detrimental to all that they have developed with its inherently superior NVH solution. The Slider Engine team believes this initial reaction is understandable but unlikely to prevail given the size and make up of the global automotive industry.

The Slider Engine is compatible with all known development trends and fuel types. Its ultra low NVH and increased speed range make it the perfect platform for development of tomorrows HCCI, VCR and Common rail diesel engines.

With 25-30 years of manufacture still to go before the piston engine is superseded by fuel cells and other more exotic technologies, the only certainty is that development of the combustion engine is not finished. Since the engine's unveiling at the beginning of this month, manufacturers have been requesting demonstrations of the unit's capabilities and potential. The Slider Engine team now warmly invites the international press and manufacturers to take a closer look at this truly remarkable engine.

Mechanics on course to charge £200 per hour by 2008

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By 2008, the British motorist could be paying more than £200 per hour to get their car fixed at a franchised dealer according to research by independent automotive warranty specialist, Warranty Direct.

During the past twelve months, labour rates have risen nationally by an average of 4 percent, but with the most expensive dealers increasing by 10 percent, some are on course to charge an astonishing £256 per hour by the end of the decade.

The highest recorded during the past twelve months, a BMW dealer in Greater London, earned his employers an astonishing £158.63 per hour. Other highly paid mechanics included £146.88 from an Audi garage, £129.35 from a Land Rover and £123.38 at a Mercedes Benz dealer.

And if you thought high charges were confined to prestige badges, one Renault dealer has been invoicing his customers a whopping £116.33 an hour - that's the same as the highest Porsche dealer recorded.

Unsurprisingly, Greater London is home to the most expensive dealers in the country with £100 plus hourly rates fast becoming the norm. "A growing number have been happily joining the £99 + VAT club," said Warranty Direct spokesman, Duncan McClure Fisher.

Even so, the average cost of labour from both franchised and independent garages has actually only risen by 2 percent across the Capital since last summer - a figure that compares favourably with Thames Valley belt (up 10 percent), Scotland (up 19 percent) and the Midlands (up 12 percent). Encouragingly, falls were recorded in Wales (down 5 percent), Anglia (down 8 percent) and the North West (down 7 percent).

Warranty Direct's analysis of 2,897 dealers nationwide also uncovered an increasing trend to penalise owners of newer cars.

On average, vehicles under 3-years-old could expect to pay up to 20 percent more than a four-year-old version of the same model. One Skoda dealer even admitted to Warranty Direct that they 'don't have a fixed labour rate at all.'

In a similar trend, labour charges have now started to vary according to the actual model in question. For example, one Land Rover dealer was charging £90.48 per hour for work conducted on a Range Rover but just £69.37 for work on a Freelander - both under the same roof.

Warranty Direct's, Duncan McClure Fisher added: "We've been banging the drum about the extortionate rates being charged by dealers for several years now. The only reason they think they can get away with these figures is because the public continues to fail to ask the key question - 'how much are you going to charge me?'"

"And just because you have bought an expensive car, it doesn't automatically mean you should take some of the rip off rates being charged on the chin. The fact is the job done is the same in Norwich as it is in London, but you'll save over £65 an hour if you're an Audi owner."

Is Biometric Technology the Answer to the Problem of Vehicle Key Theft?

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Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c18968) has announced the addition of An analysis of biometric technology for automotive security applications to their offering.

Is Biometrics the answer to the rising trends of car-jacking and vehicle key-related crime?

"Vehicle security development has reached an important milestone. The use of immobiliser systems fitted to new vehicles has caused a change in theft techniques used by car thieves, and has resulted in a significant increase in the number of vehicles stolen using the original vehicle keys. A variety of methods are now being used to obtain the original keys, including deception, fraud, burglary, and direct force."

The increasing use of immobiliser systems has caused a change in theft techniques used by car thieves, resulting in a significant increase in the number of vehicles stolen using the original vehicle keys. The challenge facing the vehicle security industry is how to prevent this theft method. So how can we verify that it is the genuine vehicle owner who is using the vehicle key?

One possible solution to this verification problem is the use of biometric technologies.

This report investigates the application of biometrics within the automotive security industry. Four of the most developed technologies: fingerprint, iris, face and voice recognition, are analysed and compared against key factors such as cost, security, application and customer acceptance.

According to data from insurers in Holland, close to 80% of thefts of cars under 6 years old involved the theft of the car keys. The British Crime Survey 2001 puts this figure at 53% for the UK.

The challenge facing the vehicle security industry is how to prevent these theft methods. Some additional verification of the user is required to ensure that it is the genuine vehicle owner who is using the vehicle key.

One possible solution to this verification problem is the use of biometric technologies and this study investigates their application within the arena of vehicle security.

Who could benefit from buying this report?

• Vehicle Manufacturers

Can this technology enhance your vehicles? Which type of biometric solution offers the easiest practical implementation and why? What other factors must be considered?


• Automotive Suppliers

Is biometrics on your product portfolio? Should it be? What are the issues facing automotive manufacturers that you would be expected to have the answers to?


• Biometric vendors

Have you considered automotive security applications? Do you understand the implications?

Research Material:
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c18968

Source:
Research and Markets

CONTACT: Laura Wood, Senior Manager of Research and Markets,
press@researchandmarkets.com , or fax, +353-1-4100-980

Ford 'Takeback' Network Expands to 25 Sites

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The Ford network of 'takeback' and treatment facilities currently being established to meet the European Commision's End of Life Vehicles (ELV) directive, has now grown to 25 sites across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Earlier this year Ford was the first manufacturer to announce a comprehensive plan to meet ELV legislation and it is now also the first company in the automotive sector to establish 'takeback' points in all four countries of the United Kingdom.

Working in partnership with Cartakeback Limited, Ford's newly-appointed sites will provide customers of the Ford group brands sold in the UK – Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Volvo, Aston Martin and Mazda – with a free 'takeback' service for all ELVs from January 1, 2007.

From that date the ELV directive will require motor vehicle manufacturers and importers to:

• Take back vehicles – regardless of the date of a vehicle's first registration - that they put on the market at the end of their life ensuring that they are treated in an environmentally responsible manner.


• Meet recycling and recovery targets of 85 per cent by weight in 2006.

This service will be available to the last owners of all Ford group brands qualifying vehicles that have reached the end of their lives when presented at a Ford-appointed facility.

All the Ford contracted sites are fully licensed by the Environment Agency as authorised treatment facilities. They also meet additional Ford professional quality standards for the receipt, treatment and recovery of end of life vehicles and have been appointed with immediate effect.

The full list of Ford appointed 'takeback' facilities is:

England
A1 Walton Salvage, Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex
A.Brunton Scrap Metal Processors, Bridlington, East Yorkshire
Aldershot Car Spares, Aldershot, Hampshire
ASM Auto Recycling Ltd., Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Auto Spares & Salvage, Raunds, Northamptonshire
AutoDrain, Leeds, Yorkshire
Charles Trent Ltd., Billingham, Cleveland
Charles Trent Ltd., Poole, Dorset
Charles Trent Ltd., Canvey Island, Essex
Charles Trent Ltd., Erith, Kent
Doncaster Motor Spares, Tollbar, Yorkshire
Doncaster Motor Spares, Hull
ELV Recycling Ltd., Brierley Hill, West Midlands
GW&G Bridges, Pease Pottage, West Sussex
Robcliffe Ltd., Huyton, Liverpool
S&P Motors, Sittingbourne, Kent
Wirral Bus & Garage Engineering, Birkenhead, Merseyside

Scotland
Bridgend Garage (Auchinleck) Ltd., Auchinleck, Ayrshire
Henderson Kerr Ltd., Mossend, Glasgow
Overton Dismantlers, Dyce, Aberdeen
Rosefield Salvage, Dumfries and Galloway

Wales
Pic Up Spares, Winchwen, Swansea
Tanygroes Car Dismantlers, Cardigan, Dyfed

Northern Ireland
Clearway Ltd, Belfast
T-Met Ltd., Moy, Armagh, Co. Tyrone.

Ford will increase the number of facilities in the network to meet the criteria set down in the UK ELV (Producer Responsibility) Regulations 2005 in time for the 31 August, 2005, deadline set by the Department of Trade and Industry.

Last owners of Ford Motor Company qualifying ELVs which were first registered on or after 1 July 2002 can now obtain free 'takeback' by contacting the Ford Customer Relationship Centre on 0845 8411111 or by e-mailing elvgb@ford.com .

Additionally a freephone hotline operated by Cartakeback Limited – 08000 71 71 91 – has been established to provide information on any of the listed sites and advice on the safe and proper disposal of ELVs.

Further details and information on Ford's End of Life recycling initiatives can be obtained on the Ford website at www.ford.co.uk under the 'Environment' section.

Ford Motor Company's brands sold in excess of 487,000 new cars in the UK in 2004. The company has over eight million vehicles in the UK car parc – approximately 25 per cent of the total.


Research Material:

• Cartakeback is a wholly-owned subsidiary of UK Shredders Ltd, a consortium of 11 private UK shredding companies.


• UK Shredders employs over 650 people and has a combined turnover in excess of £400 million per annum


• Member companies include: JR Adam & Sons Ltd (Glasgow); Ampthill Metal Co Ltd (Bedfordshire); Christine & Son Metal Merchants Ltd (Glasgow); Clearway Ltd (Belfast); Dunn Bros [1995] Ltd (Birmingham); Easco Ltd (Norwich); CD Jordan & Son Ltd (Portsmouth); S Norton & Co Ltd (Liverpool); RM Supplies Ltd (Edinburgh); TJ Thomson & Son Ltd (Stockton-on-Tees; H Williams & Sons Ltd (Hertfordshire)


• Ford Motor Company is a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Michigan, which manufactures and distributes automotive products across six continents. With more than 328,000 employees, the company's automotive brands include Aston Martin, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercury and Volvo.


• In the UK, Ford Motor Company has approximately 35,000 employees (around 45 per cent of the Ford of Europe total.)

Spain Opts For 'Positive Points' Instead Of UK Style 'Punishment Points' For Drivers

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The ABD today calls for the UK government to copy the new Spanish system of positive points for drivers.

ABD Road Safety Spokesman Mark McArthur-Christie explained:

"We are pleased to see the Spanish government introducing a measure the ABD has long proposed for the UK (www.abd.org.uk/manifesto.htm para 5). Under the new system in Spain existing drivers will start with a tally of 12 points with points being deducted when offences causing risk occur. New drivers will start with 8 points rising after 3 years offence and accident free. Good drivers will be able to increase the number of points on their licence. After 3 years conviction free they will gain 2 points and a further 3 years gains a further point. Four points will be awarded for those taking further driver training courses".

McArthur-Christie continued: "This system has the huge benefit of giving incentives for drivers and riders to take training before they have a crash or commit an offence, something that has been severely lacking in the UK. Current practice only sends drivers on training courses after the event. Training is seen as part of their punishment. Responsible drivers who drive safely or choose to take advanced training of their own volition get no recognition from the authorities".

The ABD urges the new road safety minister to urgently consider introducing a similar system in the UK. The organisation strongly believes that a carrot and stick approach to road safety will achieve far better results than that of recent years that has relied only on the stick, a system that has failed dismally to reduce fatalities.

Research Material:
For more information about the ABD visit our Website at http://www.abd.org.uk

The Association of British Drivers is run on a voluntary basis to lobby for the beleaguered British motorist: "Reclaiming the roads for the people who pay for them" "Demanding proper roads (and railways) in exchange for paying one seventh of all taxes" "Debunking the nonsense you hear about the environmental impact of the car" "Promoting effective road safety instead of the criminalisation of safe driving"

Motor industry slams London Assembly Liberal Democrats' list of anti-SUV stereotypes

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SMMT has today criticised the London Assembly Liberal Democrats for producing a list of vehicles which it says should incur double the London congestion charge for drivers. The list of 4x4s / SUVs, including 16 not currently sold in the UK*, is based on a well-trodden path of anti-SUV stereotypes, misinformation and out-of-date American safety research.

SMMT chief executive Christopher Macgowan commented, 'The London Assembly Liberal Democrats suggest that a "one size fits all" approach to the London congestion charge is flawed. Why then have they chosen to apply the same approach - the one size fits all 4x4 label - to produce a list of cars which they claim should pay double to drive in central London? It makes no sense at all.'

SUVs - are a danger to pedestrians?
The British-built Honda CR-V is one of only a handful of cars to have gained three stars in independent NCAP crash tests for pedestrian protection. This is a better performance than 19 out of 21 supermini models tested by the safety body since 2002. So, why is the CR-V included in the Liberal Democrats' list?

SUVs - take up more road space and cause congestion?
The three best-selling 4x4 / SUVs in the UK, Land Rover Freelander, Toyota RAV 4 and Honda CR-V are all shorter than a Mondeo or Vectra. How then can they be more responsible than larger cars for congestion?

SUVs - emit four times more CO2 at the tailpipe?
The group claims that 4x4 / SUVs emit up to four times more CO2 than 'cars'. This is nonsense. The average luxury saloon emits 286 g/km, 4x4 / SUVs emit 244 g/km and sports cars 232 g/km.

Carbon dioxide emissions from 4x4 / SUVs have also fallen by 14.6 per cent since 1997, more than the 9.7 per cent average for all new cars sold in the UK.

SUVs - cause more damage than any other type of car?
Out-of-date US research has been used to justify the claim that UK-sold SUVs in 2005 are inherently dangerous. The truth is that the vast majority are smaller car-derived vehicles, compared to larger truck-derived models sold in the US.

The focus on crash tests also ignores the huge investment in the latest active safety systems like ABS, electronic stability and traction control systems, as well as crash compatibility and anti-rollover features fitted to modern 4x4s like the Volvo XC90.

Research Material:
* http://www.glalibdems.org.uk/.....a1fe5b157e9e
The following models and model derivatives listed by the London Assembly Liberal Democrats are not currently for sale through official distribution channels in the UK; Chevrolet K5 Blazer, Land Rover SI, Chevrolet S-10 ZR-2, Chevrolet Tracker, Dodge Dakota R/T, Dodge Raider, Mitsubishi RVR, Foers Ibex, Ford F150 XLT 5.8 Lariat, Honda Element 2.4 litre EX, Hummer, Infiniti QX4, Isuzu Bighorn, Isuzu Jimny, Toyota Surf, Vauxhall Monteray

Forecasters on Alert for Hot Weather

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Summer looks set to kick off its shoes this weekend as Met Office forecasters predict high temperatures and plenty of sunshine for large areas of the UK.

The heat will build through the weekend, with highs up to 32 Degrees C (90F) likely in some parts of central, eastern and southeast England on Sunday. Overnight temperatures will remain high. This combined with humid air and light winds will make it uncomfortable for many. Most areas will see lots of sunshine developing as early cloud breaks up. Beware though, the high temperatures may trigger the odd thundery downpour, especially on Sunday.

As usual with the British weather, there are some flies in the ointment; as well as the risk of thundery showers, some southern and western coasts could be very misty at times.

With soaring temperatures, concerns also rise for people's well-being; the sun is at its strongest at this time of year and sunburn is a real hazard. In addition, several health conditions are adversely affected by very high temperatures. The Met Office works closely with the Department of Health through the Heat-Health Watch, where forecasters issue warnings that health professionals use to minimise the risks to public health, particularly of the elderly. The Met Office has advised the Department of Health and the NHS of the increased risk of temperature thresholds being reached this weekend.

Longer term prospects for the first week of Wimbledon look very promising. The temperature will ease back a little after the weekend and despite the risk of a few showers on Monday, the weather should pose few problems for the start of the tournament.

Motor Indistry Unveils First Ever National Accreditation For Car Technicians

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A groundbreaking initiative to raise standards of car servicing and repair by testing the current competence of technicians working in the retail motor industry is launched today.

Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) is a voluntary assessment system designed to clearly recognise technical competence, raise the professional status and credibility of skilled individuals, provide a benchmark for technician recruitment and career development and significantly improve consumer confidence in the retail motor sector.

Having first signed a code of conduct, a technician must pass a series of timed practical tasks, adjudicated by an ATA-registered assessor and an on-line knowledge test, to achieve accreditation.

There are three levels of accreditation, reflecting an individual's job role, experience and qualifications (Master Technician being the highest):

• Service Maintenance Technician


• Diagnostic Technician


• Master Technician

Successful individuals are issued with a unique photo identity card, valid for five years and are listed on a public on-line register. ATA-registered technicians must be re-assessed after five years to maintain their credentials.

The assessments are based upon National Occupational Standards, to ensure they evolve with changing skills requirements and future innovations in technology. ATA has the backing of Automotive Skills, the Sector Skills Council for the retail motor industry.

Automotive Technician Accreditation has been developed over two years and trialled extensively with a number of founding partners, including: BMW; DaimlerChrysler; Durham Constabulary; Ford; Hertz; Nationwide Autocentres; Toyota and Unipart. Other vehicle manufacturers and industry stakeholders have since become involved, including Pendragon plc, the UK's largest car retail group.

The following organisations are also supportive of the initiative: BSI Product Services; Department of Trade and Industry; Retail Motor Industry Federation; Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders; Trading Standards Institute; and Which?

Governance, moderation and administration of Automotive Technician Accreditation is the responsibility of The Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), the professional association for individuals employed in the retail motor industry and also the leading awarding body for vocational qualifications in the automotive sector.

There are two routes to achieving Automotive Technician Accreditation status, both independently monitored by the IMI, to ensure a consistent process:

1. Via an ATA approved assessment centre, such as a training division of a national service and repair organisation; an independent automotive training provider; or college of further education.


2. Via an ATA approved vehicle manufacturer assessment programme.

The recommended fee for ATA assessment is under GBP195, although this may vary regionally. There is also an individual accreditation fee of GBP50, inclusive of registration, on-line testing, issuing of a photo identity card and all administration. The fees cover a period of five years and are exempt from VAT.

Dependent on the ATA level, areas in which technicians are assessed include:

• Air conditioning


• Braking systems


• Customer liaison


• Engine electrical systems


• Engine mechanical


• Instructional support


• Supplementary Restraint System (SRS)


• Transmission systems


• Vehicle electrical systems


• Vehicle safety and documentation


• Wheel alignment and steering

Commenting on the launch of Automotive Technician Accreditation, Steve Nash, Aftersales Director, BMW, and IMI Chairman, said:

"The introduction of a unilateral benchmark of technical competence for the retail motor sector will clearly identify skilled individuals, which is as important to consumers as it is to employers seeking qualified technicians. ATA will reinforce efforts to improve career development and elevate the status of a highly important and creditable profession."

Full details of Automotive Technician Accreditation can be viewed at www.automotivetechnician.org.uk or by telephoning +44-1992-511521.

Related Articles:
MOT Milestone Sees First 1,000 Car Technicians Sign Up to New National Skills Tests

Helping You Enjoy More Reliable Journeys - Summer 2005

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As part of its commitment to provide more reliable journeys and better information for motorists, the Highways Agency today published a summer travel advice leaflet.

Summer Driving 2005 is a handy-sized guide for families using the roads for the school holidays. The Agency, which operates motorways and major A roads in England, wants to help people enjoy trouble-free journeys and avoid heavy traffic around roadworks.

The leaflet advises road users how to drive more safely in heavy traffic, and provides useful contact details for up-to-date road and travel information. To help families plan their journeys, the leaflet also gives advance notice of major roadworks around England, from June to September, that could delay journeys.

Drivers are encouraged to take regular breaks, not to tailgate, and when driving through roadworks to watch out for roadworkers and their vehicles leaving or entering the works. Road users are advised that traffic officers will be on hand, patrolling motorways in the West Midlands, to help drivers in distress and to work with the police to keep the roads free of incidents.

Copies of Summer Driving 2005 are available by calling the Highways Agency Information Line on 08457 50 40 30. Drivers can consult the Highways Agency Traffic England website
www.highways.gov.uk/trafficinfo or the interactive phone line 08700 660 115 for 24-hour real-time traffic information.

New research shows many fleet operators are failing to implement even the most basic road safety policies

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There has been an increasing amount of discussion on fleet safety in the UK in recent months, in part caused by the proposed Corporate Manslaughter and Road Safety Bills, as well as changes to Police and HSE reporting requirements on fleet vehicles.

Four recent research studies in the UK have focused specifically on the fleet safety policies that organisations have in place.

1. Towards the end of 2004, Nottingham Business School's Centre for Automotive Industries management found that only 31% of the fleets in its survey had a written fleet safety policy in place.


2. A study by the RAC in early 2005 put this figure at 60% of fleets.


3. More recent findings published on the internet suggest that 79% of companies have no fleet risk management strategy in place.

Clearly there are some conflicting figures coming out from these surveys. For this reason we at Interactive Driving Systems decided to undertake our own research on this issue, based around three questions.

1. Do you have a written fleet safety policy in place?


2. Is the policy reviewed, improved and updated annually.


3. Do you check your drivers' knowledge of the policy.

The latter two questions were felt to be important because having a policy is a good starting point - but living, breathing and making the policy work for you is better!

The survey was posted on our internet site at www.vfrm.net and was responded to by 242 fleet managers. Of these:

1. 70% have a written fleet safety policy, 30% don't.


2. 49% update the policy annually, 51% don't.


3. Even less, 41%, check their drivers' understanding and application of the policy, 59% don't.

IDS CEO Ed Dubens said: 'These results suggest that although almost three quarters of respondents had a policy, less than half of them reviewed and updated it on a regular basis and that almost two thirds of them did not bother to check whether their people were aware of, understood or applied the policy'.

Dubens continued: 'This led us to believe that there are some clear gaps between organisational policies - what they say and procedures - what they actually do and suggested that we should import one of our successful US tools into the UK'.

Risk Foundation is a tool to help organisations take the step from having the policy to making it an integral part of their 'crash free culture' program. To develop a Risk Foundation solution, we work closely with each client to turn their Health and Safety and Road Safety Policy and Procedure Manuals into 45 question assessments of the most safety critical issues for drivers.

The objective of the assessment is to create a critical mass of knowledge amongst employees who drive for work purposes about the key policies and procedures designed to keep them safe at all times.

Following the launch of this new service to a number of clients earlier this year, the key benefits have been identified as:

1. Significant reductions in the number of 'I was not aware of that' excuses.


2. Much greater awareness of company policy and procedures.


3. Better understanding by management of the operational implications of key policies and procedures.


4. Creates a Management Review process to update, clarify and/or rewrite key policies and procedures not being used or monitored.

Risk Foundation is designed to be updated and retaken every 12 months by everyone driving for work purposes, to keep them up to date on changes in working practices and legislation that may impact on certain policies and procedures. The extensive management information system that sits behind Risk Foundation also ensures that the policies and procedures are regularly reviewed and updated by managers - as well as ensuring that drivers read and understand them.

New drivers are tasked with completing their Risk Foundation Assessment before finishing their induction/orientation program.

According to Dubens: 'this is a massive step forward in terms of converting organisations existing, but often 'dead', fleet safety policies into a living, breathing fleet safety process'.

More detailed reports on our research, and details of how to see a demonstration of Risk Foundation, are available at www.vfrm.net

TIC Warns Against Fitting Self Supporting Run-Flat (SST) Tyres

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The fitment of SST run-flat tyres to cars not originally designed to accept these advanced types of tyre, and not equipped with a pressure monitoring system, is not recommended by the tyre industry's foremost safety body, the Tyre Industry Council.

A car's suspension is specifically tuned for SST run-flat tyres for maximum safety, performance, handling and ride quality. SST Run-flat tyres must only be fitted in conjunction with a tyre pressure monitoring system to ensure that a tyre deflation is communicated to the driver at the earliest possible moment. Failure to do so could result in a tyre being run in a deflated condition for longer than the recommended period and the driver left in ignorance of a tyre's condition.

Retrofitting of SST run-flat tyres may also compromise the ride characteristics of the vehicle to which they have been fitted because few older vehicles have been designed with run-flat fitment in mind.

An example pointed out to the TIC recently involved the fitment of a set of run-flat tyres to a 10 year old vehicle not fitted with a tyre pressure monitoring system. The car suffered a puncture and the driver was unaware of the deflated tyre, which was run in this state for some time, and the car failed its MOT because of damage to the tyre.

All major tyre manufacturers producing SST run-flat tyres, along with all major tyre retailers, recommend against fitting run-flat tyres to vehicles not originally designed with this type of tyre in mind.

Self supporting run-flat tyres must never be mixed with standard tyres on any vehicle.

Research Material:
The Tyre Industry Council is Britain's foremost tyre safety organisation. Formed in 1989, it is a not for profit, non-commercial organisation charged with the responsibility of raising the awareness of the dangers of driving on defective or badly worn tyres. In 2001 the Council received the prestigious Prince Michael International Road Safety Award for its contribution in raising the awareness of the importance of tyre safety. The TIC engages in high profile campaigns with the police and is credited with reducing the number of defective tyres in the UK from 17% some 10 years ago to 12% today. The Council's activities are supported by various organisations including the Association of Chief Police Officers, The RAC Foundation and The Institute of Advanced Motorists.

Web Site:
http://www.tyresafety.co.uk

Related Links:

• Keeping a Grip on Safety
• Research into wet driving conditions calls for tyres to be changed at 3mm
• Summer Driving Tyre Tips from the TIC
• A Lucky Escape

TSO GT2 Sportscar

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MARCOS ENGINEERING DEBUTS THE “TSO GT2” SPORTSCAR
New Lightweight 475 Horsepower V8 Coupe Unveiled at London Motorexpo

(Click on the photo to enlarge. High resolution versions are available)

Marcos Engineering Limited is pleased to announce the new Marcos TSO GT2 coupe is making its world debut today at London’s Canary Wharf Motorexpo. The GT2 is a race bred Grand Tourer that delivers superb handling and stunning performance. Customers can choose from a Sports Package that offers sports suspension, racing brakes and an awe inspiring 475 horsepower, or a Touring Package that includes softer suspension and additional touring features. Pricing for the GT2 starts at just £49,995.


(Click on the photo to enlarge. High resolution versions are available)

The design team was driven to capture styling cues from Marcos’ 45-year British motorsport heritage. This includes Sir Jackie Stewarts first win in 1961 - in the MarcosGullwing coupe, numerous finishes at LeMans and the nineties British GT championshiprace car - the famed LM600. This design effort has produced a distinctly British sports car with classic lines and a stunning exhaust note.

The Marcos motorsport bloodline is also visible in the GT2’s impressive test track performance. Weighing just 1150 kg, the GT2 can accelerate to 60 mph in 4 seconds and to 100 mph in 9 seconds with a top speed of 185 mph. The GT2 also performs superbly on the open road. Its 50/50 weight distribution inspires driving confidence and its broad torque curve yields effortless overtaking – accelerating from 50 to 70 mph in only 2 seconds.

Driving agility and impressive road holding are achieved through extensive chassis development under a partnership with Prodrive – a worldwide leader in chassis dynamics, vehicle dynamic systems and powertrains. Prodrive has six World Rally titles and five British Touring Car Championships to their name.

“The TSO GT2 marks the return of the race bred Marcos coupe in modern form”, said Tony Stelliga, Chairman of Marcos Engineering. ”Our extensive Engineering efforts have produced an outstanding Grand Touring car with excellent track capabilities – and a new price/performance point in the industry”.

The TSO GT2 is being showcased at London’s Canary Wharf Motorexpo from June 13th through June 19th. Additional information can be obtained at www.marcos-eng.com.

Sponsored Links:

Search the 1920 census for FREE! June 15 - 17 2005

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Search the 1920 census for FREE! June 15 - 17 2005

Ancestry.com is offering a very unique opportunity. Starting next Wednesday, June 15, 2005 through Friday, June 17, 2005 the 1920 Census database will be open to users coming through specific affiliate banners, buttons, and text links. (Yes, this means free access after you register your name and email address, no credit card required!).

New Car Prices Start to Rise at a Faster Rate

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The monthly Glass's New Car Market Trends report, the UK's most up-to-date analysis of changes to new car prices, indicates that list prices rose by 1.7 per cent, year-on-year, to the end of May, equivalent to a rise worth £221 for the average vehicle*. This represents the highest rate of list price inflation since February, when prices rose 2.4 per cent, year-on-year.

The upper-medium car sector (Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Vectra, Toyota Avensis, etc) has seen the largest price increases over the past 12 months. Following two years of virtual price stagnation, the last four months have seen sizeable price rises across many models, equivalent to average year-on-year rise of 2.7 per cent, or an additional £432 for each car.

The lower-medium car segment has also seen increases, with five of the big sellers (Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra, VW Golf, Toyota Corolla and Citroen C4) replacing outgoing variants in the class at a higher price point. In addition, the emergence of a new generation of 'MPV-style' compact family cars has further helped push up average prices in the sector. The best examples would be the new Seat Altea and Volkswagen Golf Plus, both with price premiums over their conventional hatchback siblings. The entry-level VW Golf Plus has made its debut in the UK during the last month with a premium of around £500 over the equivalent standard Golf.

Other key sector-by-sector price changes
The price of the average supermini (Ford Fiesta, Peugeot 206, etc) fell by 0.4 per cent, or £43 over the past year, in part reflecting the arrival of new vehicles at the budget end of the market.

Overall the executive sector (BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, etc) has changed little - down just 0.1 per cent, representing a fall worth a mere £13. However, within the sector there have been some sizeable movements, with price increases from Audi, BMW, Saab and Volvo offset by reductions from Mercedes and Jaguar over the last year.

The biggest list price changes
In pound note terms, the single biggest list price rise in May was for the Nissan 350Z 3.5 V6 Coupe, which rose by £500, or 2 per cent, to £25,297. The largest single list price reduction last month was for the Chevrolet Kalos 1.4 Sport three-door, which fell £305, or 3.2 per cent, to £9,807.

To request a free electronic copy of the latest Glass's New Car Market Trends report, email: marketing@eurotaxglass.co.uk, quoting reference 'GNCMT6'.

Reference Material:
Glass's New Car Market Trends methodology
* The list price of the 'average' new car referred to in the monthly Glass's New Car Market Trends report is based on analysis of over 1,000 models across key UK vehicle segments. To ensure the results are representative of true market trends, the data is weighted by sales volumes.

About Glass's - now part of the EurotaxGlass's Group
William Glass first published Glass's Guide to Car Values in 1933 and July 2003 marked 70 years of the motor trade's 'Bible'. Today, Glass's offers products and solutions that are essential at every stage of the vehicle lifecycle. From key valuation, technical and fleet management data, through to estimating, bodyshop and dealer management systems and web-based services, Glass's has information that the motor industry relies on. Glass's also now provides valuation data direct to consumers, via the Glass's Motoring Guide website (www.glass.co.uk).

In 2000 Glass's merged with Eurotax, forming EurotaxGlass's - Europe's leading supplier of automotive business intelligence across 28 countries. The merger has created a group with unrivalled resources and knowledge. This has paved the way for many innovative future developments, not least of which is the pan-European Market Intelligence Service that provides bespoke data and analysis for the industry at large.

Road Tolls Will Drive Fleet Costs Up

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ROAD TOLLS WILL DRIVE FLEET COSTS UP, SAYS ACFO
Government must discuss congestion charging with fleet community

Fears that motoring and administration costs for the business driving community will increase significantly under Government congestion charging plans have been expressed by ACFO.

And, while broadly in favour of Government measures to ease traffic congestion, ACFO, the UK's leading organisation representing car and van fleet operators, says Transport Secretary Alistair Darling must focus on 'business reality' and not let the views of academics hold sway.

ACFO, also says, that just because it can be easily targeted, the fleet community must not bear the brunt of the huge infrastructure costs of establishing the nationwide pay-as-you-drive plan promoted by Mr Darling this week and first outlined in the 'Road Pricing Feasibility Study' report to the Transport Secretary published in July last year.

ACFO represents more than 800 fleet operators who are collectively responsible for running more than 650,000 vehicles. Director Stewart Whyte said: 'ACFO generally welcomes this latest Government acknowledgement that radical action must be taken to beat traffic gridlock.

'But, it is vital that Mr Darling and his colleagues listen very carefully to the views of the fleet community. The fleet and business communities buy the majority of new cars and vans in the UK and typically drive higher mileages than private motorists. Therefore, the businesses which we represent must play a huge role in the discussion going forward.'

The Government's plans for congestion charging at rates varying from 2.5p to £1.34 per mile would result in a reduction or possible axing of Vehicle Excise Duty and fuel duty.
Mr Whyte said: 'While the Government says congestion charging will be revenue neutral there are bound to be winners and losers in any new system. ACFO fears that fleets will almost certainly be worse off as a result of both the tax change and the undoubted rise in administration costs.'

He added: 'Dealing with the revised expenses claims from drivers will have a massive impact of the administration costs of all companies who rely on staff to drive, particularly in respect of employees who currently claim business mileage. Checking individual drivers' direct debits will be time consuming in the extreme.'

Although any congestion charging plan could be up to 15 years away Mr Whyte warned: 'Establishing such a scheme will cost hundreds of millions of pounds in infrastructure and software developments. We already have thousands of uninsured cars on the roads, thousands of motorists who flout VED and thousands of people who take to the roads but who don't have a driving licence. How does the Government intend to make these people pay-as-they-drive?

'We are also concerned about the impact on the DVLA systems: the current VED arrangements have been built to keep the vehicle register up to date to help reduce evasion and to improve anti-crime initiatives. Removing VED costs would leave this vital aspect vulnerable. How will that fit into the overall road tolling system?

'The Government has already recognised that in general fleet cars and vans and employees' own cars used on work-related journeys are highly compliant with all legislation and the fleet industry should not be penalised for being law abiding. Fleets must not be targeted as a cash-cow to help fund development and transition costs of the new system. And, because businesses buy the majority of new vehicles in the UK, the technology can be easily fitted - how will the Government tackle the fitment of technology to older vehicles?'

He added: 'The price for being easily-targeted should be a discount on road toll mileage rates.'

Mr Whyte concluded: 'ACFO is not asking for unique or exceptional treatment on behalf of its members in respect of the road pricing debate. We are merely pointing out the practical reality of a system that the academics probably do not understand in its details. It is therefore vital that ACFO is involved in all the discussions with Mr Darling and his colleagues.'

Reference Material:
http://www.acfo.org

ACFO Ltd is a non-profit making organisation, and is the largest UK body representing the interests of businesses which operate cars and vans as part of their normal commercial activities. There are some 850 members, collectively responsible for over 675,000 vehicles in the UK fleet market.

Members are represented within ACFO by a named delegate, usually the fleet or transport manager. There is, however, a very wide range of job titles involved, reflecting the different styles of fleet operation. ACFO provides both a national representation platform, and regional networking opportunities, to support its key objective of improving the discipline and craft of fleet management, and its status.

Western Auto Manufacturers Still Playing Catch-Up With Japan

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Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c18903) has announced the addition of A Review of Flexible Automotive Manufacturing to their offering.

Automakers are trying to be more flexible -- using advances in production technology to adapt their production lines to build multiple models. But western companies are still playing catch-up with Japan.

Around 14 years ago, there was a re-evaluation of manufacturing processes, and slowly, European and American auto makers have adopted the Japanese methods and techniques epitomised by the Toyota Manufacturing System.

Not a moment too soon - by 1990, the Japanese automakers were well established in North America and had already opened their first European production facilities.

Lean manufacturing techniques have now been implemented in many plants for almost ten years and should have now matured in terms of acceptance and delivering real benefits.

Yet the results are not conclusive. Both in Europe and North America, automakers continue to be afflicted by overcapacity, and indigenous OEMs have been unable to reduce costs and increase profitability, especially in the face of stiff competition from the Japanese transplants.

Old, established plants, such as Fords Dagenham and GMs Luton plants in the UK for example -- have fallen victim to this revolution -- the plants were deemed too old and poorly designed to be modernised and made competitive.

In the main, western OEMs have had to introduce lean methods, with mixed results.

But lean manufacturing -- cutting stock inventories, using Just-in-Time deliveries from suppliers and integrating Tier 1 suppliers into the product development process as well as just the production system -- is only part of the story.

This Management briefing considers Flexible Manufacturing, providing a review of French and Japanese manufacturers as well as case studies for:

• General Motors


• Ford


• DaimlerChrysler

Reference Material:
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c18903

Source:
Research and Markets

CONTACT: Laura Wood, Senior Manager of Research and Markets,
press@researchandmarkets.com , or fax, +353-1-4100-980

Turbocharged Gasoline Engines Will Play an Increasingly Important Role

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Turbocharged Gasoline Engines Will Play an Increasingly Important Role in Helping OEMS Meet Future Fuel Economy Regulations

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c18837) has announced the addition of The global market for automotive turbochargers: 2005 edition to their offering.

This exclusive report reviews the key market drivers for turbochargers for both the passenger car and commercial vehicle markets, providing some forward-looking analysis.

Turbocharged gasoline engines will play an increasingly important role in helping OEMs meet future fuel economy regulations. Although not as fuel-efficient as turbo diesel engines, they offer many other advantages such as lower emissions, lower fuel consumption and high customer acceptance.

Comprehensive study addressing the key issues

This report addresses a number of topical issues facing the turbocharger market, including:

• How will boosting technology evolve through this decade?


• Who is leading the turbocharger markets and how are their positions changing?


• How can these players respond to regional turbo boosting market opportunities if the focus is on globalisation?


• What are the opportunities for turbocharging in the emerging market?


• Who is supplying into these markets? How are they doing it? Who with? Who to? From which location?


• What is driving the development of gasoline turbocharging technology?


• Are the issues for gasoline turbocharging the same across the world for OEMs?


• What will be the key technological developments in gasoline boosting?


• With different regions having different priorities, can there be a truly global approach to gasoline boosting?


• Where are the greatest opportunities for gasoline boosting?


• What are the implications for the turbocharger aftermarket?

Examines every major market, providing 25 detailed market share pie charts

In addition, this edition provides detailed market share analysis of the turbocharger market in Europe, North America, South America, Japan, Asia, South Korea, India and worldwide. All in all, this report provides no less than 25 detailed market share pie charts, providing unrivalled market intelligence.

Who leads the Indian turbocharger m