text:
When it comes to business, the
economy dominates national coverage of Oregon, with its brewpubs, food carts and skateboard-accessible restaurants.
But older, grittier industries form an unusually strong economic backbone as a more visible body politic strives to keep Portland weird.
In a lesser-noticed world, blue-collar workers rise early and make railroad cars, airplane parts and semitrailer trucks. Brands such as Greenbrier, Precision Castparts and Daimler Trucks North America may not be household words, but much of Oregon's livelihood depends on them.
One of these manufacturers, Esco Corp., turns 100 this year. Managers of the privately held company, which makes dinosaur-size parts for digging, drilling and clawing, are emerging from their shells.
They plan an exhibit at the Oregon Historical Society. They aim to take the expanding company public. And they've commissioned a study documenting Esco's economic impact of more than $430 million on Oregon last year.
The report doesn't touch on Esco's environmental sustainability -- the company makes strip-mining, dredging and clear-cutting equipment, after all -- but it notes a "buy local" approach pioneered decades before trendy Portland restaurants advanced the concept.
Founded: 1913, by industrialist C.F. Swigert
CEO: Calvin Collins, 54
Employees worldwide: 4,800
2011 sales: more than $1 billion
Products: equipment used in mining, construction, dredging, oil and gas
Locations: in 28 countries on six continents
Source: Esco Corp.
Esco impact in Oregon
Economic activity: $432.8 million
Hires since 2008: more than 200
Payroll, benefits: $91.3 million
Average annual wage: $71,500, plus benefits
Oregon average annual wage: $43,092, plus benefits
2011 state/local taxes, fees: $19.5 million
2011 donations: More than $200,000
"I've done maybe 100 economic impact studies for private companies, and I was amazed at the amount of goods and services that Esco buys from local or Oregon-based businesses," said Alec Josephson, a senior economist at ECONorthwest, a Portland-based consulting firm. And while fans at a Portland Timbers game merely stir dollars around, Josephson said, Esco brings in new money by selling virtually all its products out of state.
Esco's record recent sales and profits buck years of U.S. and regional manufacturing declines. Since a peak in 1998, Oregon has lost more than a quarter of its factory jobs, which now number 169,400.
But Portland has retained a larger manufacturing base, as a percent of total employment, than the average U.S. metro area. Manufacturing offers higher wages and better benefits than other sectors, especially for workers of color and those who don't speak English, according to the Value of Jobs Coalition, a local pro-business group.
"Manufacturing really is the backbone of a healthy economy, and Esco exemplifies that," said Calvin Collins, Esco president and chief executive officer, whose father, Nick, also headed the company. "We have more new products today in our pipeline than we have ever had in Esco's 100-year existence."
Esco's new Nemisys Lip System, an array of lips, shrouds and teeth for excavators, drag lines and cable shovels, may lack the consumer appeal of a Nike Flyknit Racer shoe. But Esco has a growing research and development team. More than 70 percent of the products Esco sells are covered by patents.
"Even in this dirty, gritty steel-manufacturing business, it's still all about this ability to innovate," said economist Joe Cortright, president of Impresa Inc. consulting.
"Intel is here because it has its leading chip designers and process-development people here. It's continuously pushing the edge of the science, just as Precision does with titanium," Cortright said. He referred to Precision Castparts, a rapidly expanding worldwide manufacturer little-known as Oregon's other Fortune 500 company besides Nike Inc.
Esco, with 987 Portland employees and about $1 billion in annual sales, doesn't pack the economic punch of Nike, whose 2012 revenues exceeded $24 billion. The sneaker giant adds nearly $2.5 billion a year to Oregon's economy, according to ECONorthwest. But Josephson said that Esco's job multiplier, the number of Oregon positions resulting from each of the company's employees, surpassed Nike's multiplier. Every 10 jobs at Esco support another 18 jobs elsewhere in Oregon, Josephson said.
That's not because Esco plows investment into big capital projects, as Intel does with its chip factories. Beyond Esco's local purchases, the impact reflects the company's average annual gross wage of $71,500 plus benefits -- 65 percent greater than the statewide average wage last year.
Sandra McDonough, Portland Business Alliance president and chief executive, said industrial jobs are often overlooked.
"We want to make sure that schools and educators and parents understand the promise of those kinds of jobs," said McDonough, who came away impressed recently from an Esco plant tour in Brazil.
Esco profits by specializing in rugged products designed to last as long as possible in punishing conditions. But they wear out, meaning they must be replaced, like Gillette razors.
Not only does Esco ensure its own survival with products that wear out, but managers have shifted direction to stay profitable. Last year the company sold a turbine-technologies division that fell outside its mission.
Esco spent $325 million to buy a company that designs and manufactures drill bits used to make oil-and-gas wells. The acquisition gives Esco customers in the expanding fracking industry that extracts natural gas.
Esco operates in 28 countries on six continents, with 4,800 employees worldwide. Managers take pride in the company's sustainability, which they define as eliminating waste and cutting costs. Asked whether the company would audit its environmental practices, CEO Collins said Esco recently completed its first corporate social responsibility review. But managers haven't decided whether to release the report.
Mary Peveto, an activist who lives near Esco's Northwest Portland world headquarters, says company managers are meeting a 2011 "good neighbor" agreement for cutting foundry pollution. "They have done a bold thing," she said, "and it speaks well to their commitment to this state and to the community they're part of."
Kerry Tymchuk, executive director of the Oregon Historical Society, is preparing to host Esco's exhibit Feb. 4 to April 21. He marvels at Esco's ability over a century to transform its business with the times.
The business originally called the Electric Steel Foundry Company served the timber industry early last century, he said, then made war goods when the Kaiser shipyards geared up in Portland. Now Esco's expansion in the energy sector continues to reflect economic history.
"All along, there have been these little-publicized manufacturing stalwarts like Esco, Hyster, Blount, Schmitt, Vigor and Schnitzer that you don't hear much about because they're not the flavor of the moment," Tymchuk said.
If managers succeed in taking Esco public, Tymchuk said, "They'll probably do better than Facebook."


text:
This holiday season, McDonald’s and Mariah Carey are launching the Mariah Menu with an exclusive merchandise collection.
McDonald’s is bringing even more holiday cheer with the co-branded Christmas merch in less than a week before the arrival of the limited-edition Mariah Menu.
Featuring a throwback T-shirt and an exclusive beanie, the capsule pays tribute to Mariah’s love for the McDonald’s brand. McD’s app is the only place where fans can access the merch for free. From December 15 to 21, merch will be given away to the first 10,000 people who redeem the Mariah Menu on the app.
Mariah’s iconic signature appears on the beanie, while a throwback photo of her enjoying her favorite McDonald’s order is featured on the shirt. The beanie will be released on December 15, while the T-shirt will be released on December 21.
A statement from Mariah Carey reads: Just like so many of my fans, I have such amazing memories with McDonald’s over the years. I always get a sense of nostalgia when I see the Golden Arches, so creating throwback merch with one of my favorite photos from the ’90s was really fun for me.
McDonald’s commercial for The Mariah Menu!
The Mariah Menu will be available in participating stores across the U.S. beginning December 13.

domain: news


text:
With lots of Christmas events cancelled this year, it's safe to say this festive season will be very different.
However, one company is planning on bringing the festive spirit to Wales as a drive-in cinema showing your favourite Christmas films is parking up in Porthcawl this winter.
The films will be shown at The Hi-Tide for one week only from Monday,December 7 to Friday, December 11, thanks to Firefly Cinema Club.
It promises to be a safe and Covid-secure event and it will work under any local lockdown restrictions in Bridgend County Borough - if there are any in place in December.
Visitors will be able to enjoy classics such as Elf, Home Alone, Muppets Christmas Carol, Nightmare before Christmas and The Polar Express from the comfort of their own car.
All films will start at 5pm and tickets for a small and medium-sized car of up to five people will cost £30 per car and £35 for a large car.
Find out more about family events
There will also be food and drinks that you can buy, including popcorn, hot dogs and burgers.
To find out more information and to buy tickets, you can visit the website here.
Inside Seasons Christmas Shop:
Talking about the event, director Ryan Powell said it's the first time the company have come to Porthcawl.
"I normally run children's events around Wales and England, due to the pandemic that's been struggling.
"I really didn't want to make redundancies, as a business owner I had to innovate and come up with something to save the staff.
"I wanted to end 2020 on a good note and that's what we all need right now," he said.
Up to 200 cars will be able to park up and enjoy the films.
"The drive-thru cinema works under local lockdown restrictions (if the Bridgend county has one) and is Covid-secure. Full FAQ’s are listed on our website.
"We are recommending people to stay in their cars because of what is going on but there is a little bubble area where you can move about in as long as you don't go in other people's areas," the 23-year-old added.


text:
In case you have not seen any information about this all over social media and television news, Pepsi has got themselves in a bit of a media mess and is currently still dealing with the consequences. The soda brand is known for its celebrity guest advertisements, for how could we forget the iconic 2013 Beyoncé advert? Beyoncé was reunited with various old versions of herself after drinking Pepsi, and the ad gained global recognition and is a perfect example of when Pepsi got it right. The same cannot be said for their most recent advert.
In the 2 minute and 39-second advert, Kendall Jenner is in the middle of a photoshoot when she spots a protest happening. She makes eye contact with a man who beckons her to join and decides to throw off her wig to join the chanting but happy individuals. The Kardashian star then decides to bring everyone together by handing a law enforcement officer a can of Pepsi. After the advert was released to the public, it got 1.6 million views within 48 hours on YouTube and had twice as many dislikes than likes for the video. Twitter and Facebook users pointed out how the ad lacked sensitivity.
The backlash stemmed from the immoral, gauche, and insensitive nature of the ad, as Pepsi used visual resistance moments in order to sell a fizzy sugary drink. The image of Jenner approaching the law enforcement officer was found to mimic the iconic photo of Ieshia Evans, a black woman who stood in front of armed police during a Black Lives Matter protest, which was a reaction to the fatal 2016 shooting of Alton Sterling. Bernice King, the daughter of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr commented via Twitter, “If only Daddy would have known about the power of #Pepsi.” The comment got over 200,000 likes on Twitter.
Pepsi has now removed this advert and apologised to the public, saying, “Pepsi was trying to project a global message of unity, peace and understanding. Clearly, we missed the mark, and we apologise. We did not intend to make light of any serious issue.” They also expressed how they should not have put model Kendall Jenner in this position. That does bring into question how much responsibility should land on the model. When it comes to advertisements it is clear that most celebs are aware of what the ad contains before, during, and after filming. Whether this is something for Jenner to put down as bad judgment is down to the model.
Words: Seyi Adejori
Hashtags: #Pepsi #Kendall #KendallJenner #Jenner #Protest #BlackLivesMatter #AD #IeshiaEvans #Beyoncé #Kardashian #MartinLutherKingJr #BerniceKing #socialmedia #Twitter #Facebook #YouTube #soda #police #officers #news #culture


text:
Google - which now prefers to call itself Alphabet - is on course to become a $100bn turnover company, this year or next, after it filed first quarter revenues of $24.75bn, up by 22 per cent compared to...
Respawn Entertainment comes up with cunning plan to deal with cheats
Facebook denies being a monopoly, Amazon denies unfairly competing with Marketplace merchants, and Google denies being evil
Amazon accused of abusing its position as both retailer and retail platform
Security flaws identified by Eclypsium have since been mitigated by the manufacturers


text:
Sony ready PS3 cut for March?
VG247 report over the weekend word that Sony could be looking to reduce the price of their PlayStation 3 console come March of 2009. That's the word out of an official Sony staff briefing.
Apparently, European Sony Computer Entertainment chief David Reeves revealed the platform holder's plans speaking at SCE's Staff Annual Briefing in London last Friday.
He is quoted as saying the console "will be getting more competitive on price from March 2009 onwards." He probably didn't want this unveiled now, however.
A PSP version of LittleBigPlanet (four month's gone apparently), Uncharted 2 and God of War 3 were also mooted at the event.
- Valve's Chet Faliszek has been confirmed as the first developer session for EGX Rezzed 2015
- One area from Zelda Wii U is as big as the entirety of Skyward Sword
- Telltale's new collaboration is with Mojang, on a Minecraft story game
- Franklin voice actor indicates GTA V story DLC is on the way
- Red Dead Redemption, LA Noire and Bully sequels will come when the time is right says Rockstar
- Telltale teases another collaboration with another game developer
- New Company Of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault trailer recognizes the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge
- New Call Of Duty: Advanced Warfare trailer focuses on character customization
- Splash Damage's free-to-play shooter Dirty Bomb coming to Steam in the new year


text:
The proposed amendments will not only hugely inconvenience the consumers but will also adversely impact the overall consumer sentiments, the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) said in a statement.
"While we understand the health concerns arising out of smoking and understand Government's efforts to contain smoking habits, we as an industry that has an annual turnover of approximately Rs 4 lakh crore and provides direct employment to over 7 million Indians, are also hugely concerned about the impact of this decision on our business at a time when we are fighting a grim battle to eke out a mere survival for ourselves," NRAI President Anurag Katriar said.
"The proposed amendments to COTPA will inconvenience our consumers, thus hurting the consumer sentiments, which will have a direct bearing on our business. We cannot afford this," Katriar said.
While restaurants can regulate the sale of tobacco products, it will be incorrect to hold a restaurant management responsible if an individual guest lights a cigarette in violation of the rules. The proposed fines are also very significant and seem disproportionate for the nature of the offence, he added.
"I would also like to take this opportunity to request the Government of India to make NRAI an integral part of the consultative process as the restaurant sector is a very significant part of the larger hospitality and tourism industry," Katriar said.
The amendment to COTPA proposed by the Ministry of Health disallows retail sale of loose sticks of cigarettes, prohibits sale of tobacco products to persons below 21 years, put controls on in-shop advertising and promotion, amongst others.


text:
The founder and CEO of beleaguered Tate Publishing and Enterprises have been arrested, accused of bilking their clients out of tens of thousands of dollars. Founder Richard Tate, 70, and his son, CEO Ryan Tate, 38, are each charged with eight criminal counts, including seven felonies and one misdemeanor. The publishers are charged with four felony counts of embezzlement, three felony counts of attempted extortion by threat, and one misdemeanor count of embezzlement.
Reports say Tate Publishing began falling on hard times in 2013. By 2015, the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Unit began investigating consumer complaints against Tate Publishing and affiliated Tate Music Group. Soon, printing services providers Xerox and Lightning Source sued Tate Publishing for millions of dollars, and ultimately won their cases this year after the publishers failed to respond to discovery requests.
In January 2017, Tate Publishing shuttered its doors after 20 years in business. This left clients who claimed they were owed thousands of dollars frustrated, understanding that they would likely never see their royalties or the books and albums they paid the companies to produce.
However, recently, the firm emailed some of its clients to say that it would be reopening soon. That prompted the Attorney General's Office to take quick action against the founder and CEO. Attorney General Mike Hunter said of the arrests, "[The email] had something to do with us approaching this in the expeditious manner that we did. We don't need any more victims. We are very focused on this. There now have been more than 800 complaints, and we are going to look into each one of them.”
Prosecutors say the Tates took money intended to publish books and produce albums, and instead deposited that money into personal accounts. One of the felony embezzlement charges is related to a contract in which a client paid $25,800 in 2016 to Tate Publishing in exchange for 10,000 copies of his books. The client never received any books, and investigators say they tracked the client's payments into the personal bank accounts of Richard and Ryan Tate and their wives.
The three extortion charges are the result of letters Tate Publishing reportedly sent to authors saying they must pay $50 to prevent the destruction of their manuscripts.
Prosecutors say that with 800 complaints against the firm, it is likely that the founder and CEO will face additional charges.
- Trackback Link
- Post has no trackbacks.


text:
Greek dairy company FAGE said due to increased sales volumes in Europe, it plans to increase production capacity by constructing a new manufacturing facility at the Riegmeer Hoogeveen business park in the Netherlands.
This week, we have conversations with Dr Ross Crittenden, Chr. Hansen’s senior director for commercial development; Molly Renaldo, Fair Trade USA partnerships manager; and Kimberly Carey Coffin, global technical director at Lloyd’s Register.
Fair Trade USA and Chobani, LLC have launched a certification program for US dairy farms and cooperatives to provide financial premiums to dairy farmers and workers, which aim to protect and empower them while raising sustainability standards.
This week, we have conversations with Quantec founder Dr Rod Claycomb and CEO Raewyn McPhillips; Christina Matrozou, marketing manager for taste in Europe and Russia at Kerry, and Chobani chief corporate affairs officer, Cristina Alesci.
The construction of a yogurt factory planned by the Greek dairy group FAGE in Bettembourg, Luxembourg, has drawn criticism from environmental group natur & ëmwelt asbl, as the project enters the next phase.
US Greek yogurt maker Chobani announced today it is donating all profits from a new limited edition charity flavor to Feeding America, a nationwide network of food banks that provides food to people in need.
The coronavirus is upending businesses and economies around the world, and the dairy sector isn't immune. While some aspects of the industry need stability and assistance, others are able to share their wealth and give back.
On the podcast this week, we have one interview related to the cancelled Natural Products Expo West, some more interviews from the salon du fromage in Paris, and a feature on cleaning products during the coronavirus pandemic.
As a Greek yogurt-based ice cream alternative, Yasso has grown to be a nationally distributed better-for-you dessert. Now the brand is handing off its leadership to a new management team and opening a headquarters in Boulder, Colorado.
Each cup of Greek yogurt generates more than three cups of acid whey waste, which is expensive to dispose of sustainably. Startup Capro-X says it offers more cost-effective, creative solutions to the problem.
Once again Chobani is throwing out the old playbook that many food and beverage companies have followed for decades by ditching the traditional organizational divisions in favor of a more “nimble, team-centric” approach that it believes will foster innovation...
Chobani has opened a 71,000 sq ft innovation and community center at its Twin Falls plant in Idaho, the world’s largest yogurt production facility, as its celebrates a 6.9% jump in dollar sales in measured channels in the latest 52 weeks (Nielsen Total...
In this week’s podcast, we discuss leak detection technology with Bill Burnard, package integrity sales & business development manager, North America, Inficon, regarding the company’s new Contura S600 equipment. We also speak with Mark Braman, president...
The meteoric rise in popularity of Greek yogurt over the last decade has shown that consumers respond well to high-protein dairy snacks. Cottage cheese falls into that category and has been making a mainstream comeback with single serves.
A plant-based yogurt alternative company from Germany has claimed Chobani copied its packaging designs for its recent Non-Dairy line. Harvest Moon hopes to expand distribution to the US and said it “will take legal actions to protect our brand.”
Clio Snacks, which makes chilled Greek yogurt bars dipped in chocolate, sees itself as supplementing a declining Greek yogurt category by expanding usage occasions and answering the consumer call for a permissibly indulgent snack.
Danone North America and the Chef Ann Foundation (CAF) have chosen 12 yogurt-based foods submitted by school districts across the country. Yogurt is considered a meat alternate in school meals and services the growing popularity of vegetarian diets.
The Winter Fancy Food Show (WWFS) last week featured 1,400 companies and more than 25,000 attendees looking out for the latest trends in food and drink. More functional and plant-based CPGs are on the dairy horizon for 2019.
Greek yogurt giant Chobani has jumped on the popular plant-based wave and introduced a line of non-dairy yogurt alternative drink and cup products. It follows last month’s announcement of Chobani’s significant expansion into kids’ yogurt.
Chobani recently announced its new line of kid-focused yogurt products, launching nationwide in the new year. It’s calling Gimmies the brand’s ‘biggest’ and ‘most significant’ launch since Chobani Flip.
Danone North America has launched Two Good, a new line of high protein, low sugar Greek yogurt from its Light & Fit brand. Each cup contains just 2g of sugar thanks to a slow-straining method that removes the sugar from milk.
The dairy industry has room to grow in 2019 and consumers can expect to see launches that reflect popular culinary-inspired trends seen in other food categories. Premium indulgence, sophisticated flavors and a global influence will all find a place in...
Greek yogurt still accounts for half the total yogurt category. After explosive growth in the US throughout the last decade, Greek yogurt brands are innovating however they can to keep consumers interested in the high-protein snack, taking cues from wider...
Chobani is rolling out its Hint Of… low sugar, high protein, Greek yogurts nationwide in August following a successful debut in the Pacific, Northeast and Florida markets, with ‘new formats’ of the brand hitting stores in January 2019.
Chobani’s third and largest incubator class for Spring 2018 includes nine “purpose-driven” food and beverage startups selected by CEO Hamdi Ulukaya based on their potential to transform traditional product categories.
Three dairy companies made the top 10 list of Fast Company’s ‘World’s Most Innovative Companies’ in the food sector for 2018 – Chobani (in third spot), Eden Creamery (the makers of Halo Top, in fifth) and The a2 Milk Company, in ninth place.
General Mills has been working to turn around its yogurt business and is starting to see slow signs of improvement but "there is more work to do," CEO Jeff Harmening said during the CAGNY (Consumer Analyst Group) conference in New York City.
Maple Hill 100% grass-fed organic dairy has launched a new range of blended yogurt developed in response to high consumer demand and to complement the company’s existing cream-on-top and Greek yogurt lines, CEO Carl Gerlach said.
BakeryandSnacks caught up with the president and COO of Chobani, Tim Brown, during Food Vision USA in Chicago recently, and learned that the yogurt company is updating its packaging to look more like a snack brand in the future.


text:
We’re looking forward to the Black Friday VIP Shopping Event at the Dakota Collective! Come sip champagne and indulge in some retail therapy at the multibrand pop-up shop in Westside Costa Mesa. Mention Greer’s OC and get 20% off current season items from BB Dakota, Cheap Monday, Corpus and many more contemporary brands. In addition, all high end handbags and shoes (from Marni, Balenciaga, and Jil Sander) are 50% off! Dakota Collective is at 1640 Pomona Ave at 17th Street in Costa Mesa. Any questions, call 949.515.2248 or email email@example.com. The event runs Friday from noon to 8 p.m.
Sassoon Salon in South Coast Plaza is offering Greer’s OC readers a break this Black Friday. Book a blow-dry service for Nov. 27 and receive a complimentary, personalized treatment ($30 value) from a Kerastase expert. Appointments are available 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Call 714.556.5673 and mention this offer when booking.
The Latest from greer's oc
The Mini Pink Party
SeaLegs at the Beach in Huntington Beach is celebrating the launch of internet sensation, The Fat Jewish’s, White Girl Wines champagne collection on Sunday, Oct. 22 at noon. The “Mini Pink Party” will take place at the beachfront…
New To Laser Hair Removal?
New to laser hair removal? New clients at Image Perfect Laser in Irvine can take advantage of a limited time special--$250 for four Laser Hair Removal sessions through Oct. 31, 2017. You can choose one small body area.…
Irvine Offers Amazon a One-Click HQ2
Kelsey Montague’s first mural in OC at Village at La Floresta
Internationally acclaimed street artist Kelsey Montague just unveiled her first Orange County mural on an exterior wall of Whole Foods Market at Village at La Floresta in Brea. Kelsey Montague “Wings” mural spreads the message of hope and…


text:
Tweaks to keep goods rolling
Hino’s Australian management team is basking in the glow of the 500-Series Standard Cab sales success — but the company is now looking for similar sales boosts with other models.
In Victoria, the 500-Series is now the market leader in medium duty and Hino has the goal of being the national segment leader within the next 12 months.
I met Hino brand and franchise development general manager Bill Gillespie last week to get the company’s reading of market moves and product planning.
Mr Gillespie confirmed the latest spec improvements to the 700-Series are the last scheduled tweaks before the arrival of the completely new model in 2021.
We can expect an all-new cab, significant engine developments and a complete electronic package to bring the truck up to Euro standards.
Don’t be surprised to see some form of alternative fuel or even hybrid options around then either.
There will be more chassis variants to the 500-Series as well. The sales success is sparking interest with fleets wanting the same features across other application requirements.
In the truck business, fleet requirements are ignored at the peril of the manufacturer.
The 300-Series will likely get the safety package sooner rather than later, especially since a direct competitor has them as standard.
Within six months, you can expect us to quit writing about autonomous emergency braking and lane and pedestrian alert — it’ll be as standard as ABS.
However, logistics transport is really Hino’s bread and butter and there are some major shifts in the task which will mould product and features even more than driver or operator preferences.
Hino is regularly talking to customers trying to solve the challenge of “the last 50m” in urban delivery.
In particular, the growth of home grocery delivery is causing headaches with inner-city deliveries, where parking is non-existent, roads often narrow and clogged with residents’ cars on permits, and even the smallest truck causes a jam when a driver has to get out and take deliveries to three or four apartments in one building.
Additionally, people want their order delivered when they’re home: the middle of the day doesn’t work, they’re out early in the morning, and evenings mean the clatter of freezer units pounding away and the beep of the reversing alarm drives everyone nuts.
At the last meeting Hino had with Woolworths home delivery, trucks weren’t mentioned once. It was about the task and how to solve it.
Electric is clearly a way to go but critical temperature control is power hungry and existing battery capacities fall short. Adding even a small battery boost costs payload.
Current technology means idle time costs Woolies over $1 million a year in fuel. So Hino is re-mapping the existing hybrid to extend battery support when stationary.
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails


text:
Owners of cats and dogs can get their pet’s picture taken with Santa Claus and help a local charity buy toys for needy kids at a fundraiser sponsored by Luther’s Cafe on December 8.
Pet Night With Santa is a yearly event which is organized by Scott Ross, Luther’s marketing director. Photos with Santa are $5 or a new unwrapped toy which will be donated to Operation Blue Santa.
The Blue Santa program originated in 1976 when a group of SA policemen, led by Officer Tom Preston, purchased and distributed toys to needy children.
Over the years, the Blue Santa program, which is now sponsored by San Antonio Police Officers Association, has grown to become a city-wide effort which serves over 8,000 needy families with not only toys but food, clothing and monetary donations.
Ross says the Luther’s event offers a great way for the LGBT community to lend a hand to the Blue Santa effort while having a great night out with their furry companions.
Pet Night with Santa, Tuesday, December 8 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Luther’s Cafe, 1503 N. Main Avenue. Photos are a $5 donation or a new unwrapped toy.


text:
New Delhi : In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court on Friday recognised ‘living will’ made by terminally-ill patients for passive... ...http://www.sify.com/news/how-the-aruna-shanbaug-case-changed-passive-euthanasia-laws-in-india-news-national-sdjre7gcgdfbb.html
Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd. (formerly Lafarge India Limited), one of the leading building materials manufacturers, won the 'Best in Class Continuous... ...http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/nuvoco-wins-best-in-class-continuous-improvement-award-118030700259_1.html
The largest lender State Bank has said its tie-ups with various e-commerce players, including Snapdeal and Flipkart, have not yielded the desired... ...http://www.deccanherald.com/content/661493/co-brandings-e-tailers-not.html
Retail is one of the fastest growing industries in India and contributes massively to the Indian growth story. By 2020, the industry is expected to... ...http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/trakin/~3/Xt1JgWNt3sE/
Price competition has grown more intense in most sectors we know primarily because purchasing managers exert much more influence over suppliers in... ...http://www.mydigitalfc.com/fc-supplements/roar/big-shifts-supply-chain
Offering seven years of expertise in...
Miocon is pleased to introduce...


text:
Cleveland-based Eaton Corp. last week unveiled several new technologies in a ride-and-drive event with journalists at its Marshall proving grounds.
Included was an all-new electronic limited slip differential, called Ultra Posi, for front and rear-wheel drive vehicles that performs comparably to four-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive systems and provides up to a 10 percent savings in fuel economy. The new differential provides instant traction and stability under slippery road conditions and improves driver enjoyment under normal conditions.READ MORE: Consumer Alert: How To Avoid Fake N95, KN95 Masks
“Our engineering team is employing all the knowledge we have demonstrated as a global leader in developing electronic and mechanical locking and limited slip differentials for larger rear and four-wheel-drive systems that require added performance and utility, and applying it to the unique requirements of more compact, front-wheel-drive vehicles,“ said Chris Ostrander, vice president and general manager for Eaton Torque Controls. “We’re focused on the customers’ most critical issue – smaller packaging. This allows our customers to reduce vehicle weight up to 300 pounds, which translates into improved fuel economy and enhanced performance and safety for the end consumer.”
The new Ultra Posi differential is located inside the transaxle and receives input from the existing brake, wheel-speed, steering-wheel, throttle, yaw and lateral acceleration sensors to ensure each wheel is receiving sufficient torque. In the event of slippage it instantaneously engages a hydraulic power supply to transfer extra torque to the wheel with the most traction by modulating the differential from fully open to fully locked, and anywhere in between, depending on driving conditions.
“Our testing has shown a 20-30 percent improvement in managing over-steer with less brake intervention compared to comparably equipped all-wheel drive vehicles,” said Ostrander.
Eaton also announced that in addition to boosting engine performance, its superchargers can provide up to a five percent fuel savings and reduce emissions compared to competing technologies.
“We have won four new programs this year because of the advancements we’ve made to superchargers in overall performance and value compared to competing technologies, such as turbochargers,” said Darryl Niven, general manager, Eaton Supercharger Division. “Our superchargers are fuel-efficient, maintenance-free and provide flexibility in packaging space that makes them easily adaptable for use in a variety of engines.”READ MORE: Flint Public Schools Staying Virtual Indefinitely Due To Large Amount Of Positive COVID-19 Cases
Recent examples of the trend toward supercharging include:
* Nissan recently announced its 2011 1.2L, 3-cylinder Micra city car will be powered an engine with Eaton’s most advanced supercharger, the Twin Vortices Series. Nissan says the engine is “aiming to achieve the lowest level of fuel consumption in the world for a gasoline-powered engine,” and offers the engine power output equivalent to a 1.5L engine.
* China’s largest independent automaker, Chery Automobile Co. Ltd., will debut the first use of Eaton superchargers in China on three vehicles, the 2010 1.6S Tiggo, 1.3S A3 and Riich 1.3S G3.
* Volkswagen’s 2010 1.4L TSI Twincharger four-cylinder engine combines a supercharger with turbocharging, and won the International Engine of the Year Award for the second consecutive year. The engine is used in more than eight Volkswagen models.
* The 2010 Porsche Cayenne S Hybrid SUV features an Audi 3.0L V6 direct fuel- injection engine with Eaton’s TVS supercharger that produces 20 percent less carbon dioxide emissions compared to gas-only systems and achieves 26 mpg.
* The 2010 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid features a supercharged 3.0L TSI V6 engine that is shared with the automaker’s Audi brand and matched with a new 8-speed automatic transmission and an electric-hybrid system to provide 17 to 25 percent better fuel economy than a conventional Touareg.
* Audi will replace the 3.6-liter V-6 and the 4.2-liter V-8, in favor of two versions of the company’s relatively new 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 on its 2011 Q7 sport utility vehicle. The new supercharged V6 will provide 17 to 24 percent better fuel economy than the current 3.6L V6 and 4.2L V8 engines.
Eaton is the worldwide leader in original equipment supercharger solutions. The first original equipment application of an Eaton supercharger debuted on the 1989 Ford Thunderbird Super Coupe. Since, in addition to the vehicles listed above, Eaton superchargers have appeared on various Mercedes Benz models, the Buick Park Avenue Ultra, Buick Regal, Pontiac Grand Prix, Ford Mustang Cobra SVT, Ford Mustang Shelby GT500, Ford Lightening SVT, MINI Cooper S, Jaguar XKR, Range Rover Sport, Cadillac STS-V, Cadillac XLR-V, Chevrolet Cobalt SS and the Saturn Ion Redline.
Eaton’s TVS supercharger design was first introduced in 2008 on the Audi A6, Corvette ZR1, Cadillac CTS-V, Jaguar XJ XK XF and Range Rover vehicles and in addition to those mentioned earlier, appeared in 2010 on eight Audi models including the Audi S4 and S5.
More at www.eaton.com.MORE NEWS: State Fears Confusion After Michigan Restaurant Wins In Dining Ban Case
(c) 2010, WWJ Newsradio 950. All rights reserved.


text:
Oak Creek - An alert off-duty security officer thwarted a shoplifting attempt at Pick 'n Save, 2320 W. Ryan Road, at 12:30 p.m. Dec. 18, and detained one of the suspects until police arrived.
According to the Oak Creek police log:
An off-duty loss prevention contractor for Roundy's was shopping at the store when he saw two men loading a cart with baby formula. The officer recognized one of the men as a shoplifting suspect from recent store alerts and immediately told the store manager. When the manager attempted to stop the men at the store exit, one, a 51-year-old Milwaukee man, pushed the manager back and reached toward his waistband. Fearing the man had a weapon, the security officer wrestled him to the floor and held him until police arrived.
Pick 'n Save employees locked the front doors during the incident for the safety of incoming customers.
The second man involved in the theft attempt is described as a stocky black man wearing a multi-colored plaid shirt. He drove off in a silver or tan Buick Century.
Officers discovered the 51-year-old man is wanted on a warrant for retail theft with the West Allis Police Department and on five warrants for grand theft in Florida.
- HCFD raises around $5,000 to donate to Operation Finally Home
- Hales Corners police report: June 30, 2016 issue
- Free Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra concert at Boerner Botanical Gardens
- Wounded Warrior now "The Chowventor" (1)
- New Hales Corners administrator prefers 'personal touch'
- Hales Corners Library to host puppet show for summer reading program
- Watercolor paintings of nature on display at Botanical Gardens
- Hales Corners Board selects new administrator
- Rolling road forces bumpy review in Hales Corners
- Hales Corners Chamber of Commerce social to focus on "Millennial Mind"


text:
Audi may be a major luxury player in the U.S., but rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz have one big thing the four-ring brand does not: an American factory that can produce cars locally. That’s going to be a challenge, considering the big volume goals Audi has for the new Q6 E-Tron, so it’s eyeing a few options—including borrowing some factory space from a surprising source.
That kicks off our midweek edition of Critical Materials, our morning news roundup. Also on today’s agenda: Stellantis settles a deal with California that it once fought against, and just about everybody seems mad at Elon Musk in Germany. We’re going around the world on this one, folks, so let’s get started.
30%: Audi Looks Into U.S. Manufacturing
Hey, car companies: Do you want your EV buyers to take advantage of tax incentives? If so, you’ve gotta build those EVs in North America. So says the Inflation Reduction Act, whose onerous terms have heavily incentivized U.S. car and battery manufacturing.
But building cars on our shores has never been Audi’s forté. BMW has a gigantic plant in South Carolina (America’s biggest car exporter by volume, fun fact) and Mercedes has been cranking out cars in Alabama for decades, but Audi only makes the Q5 in Mexico. Other models get imported from Europe.
You can already see where this is a problem for the new Q6 E-Tron, a big-deal car that’s “key to the growth of the business here in North America as our volume EV model,” as Audi America’s president put it recently. And if buyers can’t get the tax break, they’ll likely shop elsewhere. As such, the Financial Times reports Audi is eyeing more local production:
Audi is looking into manufacturing electric cars in the US, including using space in a $2bn plant being built by parent company Volkswagen in South Carolina.
Chief executive Gernot Döllner said the company had discussed “different scenarios on how to produce in the US” as it looks to increase its market share. “There’s more potential for growth in the US,” he said.
He added that “bigger SUVs” would be part of Audi’s US strategy. While EV sales have taken off in coastal regions, many drivers in inland states still prefer combustion engine models, he added.
The story doesn’t say it directly, but unless the Volkswagen Group is building some other $2 billion factory in South Carolina that they didn’t tell me about—which would be extremely rude—he’s referring to the new Scout Motors plant near Columbia, SC.
When I was at their factory groundbreaking, Scout executives also alluded to the possibility of other VW Group models getting built there, so this isn’t entirely surprising. (I have emails in to both Scout Motors and Audi about this and will update if I get a response.)
Meanwhile, Döllner, Audi’s CEO, insists it’s in the EV game for the long haul, even if the White House changes hands in November and that results in some new policy decisions:
However, he denied that rowing back on the IRA by a new administration next year would threaten any shift in manufacturing, saying it would not be “that important”.
“[Cancellation of the IRA] would not make it less attractive to us, especially as a premium manufacturer. We are not that reliant on subsidies and the battery incentives [for VW] are already locked in, in Canada,” Döllner said.
“We are planning much more long term than one legislative term.”
Audi actually has been eyeing a dedicated U.S. plant in recent years, but no final decisions have been made yet.
60%: Stellantis Joins California’s Tough Emissions Laws, Even If Trump Rolls Them Back
Audi playing the long game with EVs is one sign of how this technology is here to stay, even if the rate of growth is slowing a bit. (Bloomberg NEF still expects them to be up 32% year-over-year, so this is all far from dead in the water, like the cable news pundits think.) Here’s another sign: last year, Stellantis fought against a deal the state of California struck with Ford, Honda, BMW and Volvo to voluntarily reduce car emissions over time.
That deal actually happened in 2019, back when the Trump Administration at the time was seeking to roll back emissions standards for light-duty cars and trucks; basically, it was those automakers saying they would chase cleaner vehicles together on their own even if the U.S. backed off on such strict rules. Stellantis cried foul, but now it’s in, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office announced yesterday.
Here are the details, via Forbes:
Stellantis will cut emissions through the 2026 model year under the agreement, effectively avoiding the production of 12 million additional metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, according to a statement from California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office.
The automaker will also comply with California’s requirement to have zero-emission and plug-in hybrid vehicles comprise 68% of new light-duty vehicle sales by 2030, even if the California Air Resources Board can’t enforce the standards due to judicial or federal challenges.
Stellantis will also invest $4 million to produce public charging stations in California’s rural areas and its federal, state and county parks, in addition to another $6 million investment in other states that have adopted California’s emissions standards.
And here’s the really important part: even if America gets a second Trump administration and the president attempts to remove California’s emissions-setting authority, which he tried to do once later in his first term until Biden’s EPA reversed it, this is a voluntary agreement with the automakers. It will stay in place regardless of any attempts to try that again.
“Together, we have found a win-win solution that is good for the customer and good for the planet,” Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said. “This agreement will avoid 10 to 12 million metric tons greenhouse gas emissions over the lifetime of the agreement and will also allow our U.S. customers to fully benefit from our advanced technologies, including five plug-in hybrids and two pure electric vehicles.”
90%: Elon Musk VS. The Culture Wars In Germany
When he’s not doing ketamine for the sake of Tesla’s investors, CEO Elon Musk does things like jaunt off to Germany to try and cheer up his workers after so-called eco-activists attacked the Giga Berlin factory and knocked it offline for a spell. That’s certainly unfortunate, but thankfully, it appears no one was injured.
Still, the incident shows that Musk, once hailed as a hero for setting up one of Europe’s top EV powerhouses, has since become an extremely polarizing figure on both sides of Germany’s political aisle. Tesla, too, even though it’s probably done more to reduce tailpipe emissions than any other car company. This is from the Wall Street Journal:
Musk’s ambition to cement Tesla’s position as the EV leader in Europe has become entangled in local culture wars, making his shining factory a lightning rod for a range of critics—from local citizens to environmental activists, left-wing militants and far-right politicians.
[Local resident Manuela] Hoyer is one of the central figures organizing opposition to GigaBerlin, as Tesla calls its plant. She and her allies scored a victory last month when 62% of residents voted in a nonbinding referendum to deny Tesla’s bid to knock down 250 acres of local woodlands to make room for more factory buildings, a train yard and a daycare center.
“Our concern is about the water protection areas in the forest,” she said. GigaBerlin sits amid acres of pinewood forests and country roads winding past lakes whose shores are dotted with bungalows and boat docks.
And then on the other side of things, you have Germany’s right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is opposed to electric anything, as well as people who don’t like all the foreign workers Tesla employs there:
In an unexpected confluence of trends, local leaders of Germany’s far-right AfD have joined the far-left in opposing the factory’s expansion. In addition to concerns about the landscape, the AfD points to the thousands of foreigners from Poland and elsewhere recruited to work here.
Recent public opinion polls project the AfD could become the strongest party in the state of Brandenburg, where Grünheide is located, at regional elections in September. The party could garner up to 30% of the vote, according to polls.
The Tesla plant has done little to benefit local residents, said Kathi Muxel, an AfD official on the Grünheide city council and in the state legislature.
“In the summer, you can see the Tesla workers from Poland sleeping in their cars at the lake,” Muxel said at a roadside cafe and convenience store.
What an unusual spot for Tesla to be in.
100%: How Much Can Political Opposition Stop The Electric Revolution?
There is a very, very good chance that Trump could retake the White House in November, and Germany’s AfD would be the second largest party there if an election were held today, the AP reports. This is a global trend, so how much can it really put a potential damper on an electric-car future? Or is that future inevitable based on market forces alone?
Contact the author: [email protected]


text:
originally posted as LinkedIn article
Now you may have noticed there’s a theme to my posts, there’s always something that’s got me thinking. Well this time it was a lovely client, and now firm friend, Eddie who sparked off my brain cells. He kindly agreed to do a customer recommendation video for me, you can see it here if you’re interested:Eddie video and I think he’s brilliant on it. When I put it up on LinkedIn Eddie commented on his accent and that was what got me thinking. Continue reading
Originally posted as LinkedIn article
A headline in the Daily Telegraph this morning over breakfast caught my attention “Savvy shoppers force down prices.” The article reported that the rising popularity of discount stores has forced prices down by 1.8% over the last year overall and this got me thinking. Have supermarkets given profit a bad name?
Don’t get me wrong it’s been widely reported that Britain has some of the highest food prices in Europe & hopefully discount stores like Lidl and Aldi can bring some equilibrium to the market so this is a positive move in that respect. My concern is that people see the profits made by the “big boys” in retail and apply the same measure to small local shops. Enterprise Rockers reported that micro business owners, which covers many of your local shops, earn 20% less than employees. Yet I know from experience that people who would never go into Tesco’s and ask for a discount if one wasn’t advertised will ask a small local shop for one. Continue reading


text:
L.A. allows restaurants to use sidewalks, parking lots for outdoor dining
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced in a news conference Friday that the city would allow parking lots and sidewalks to be used as outdoor dining areas, a move aimed at increasing seating for restaurants reopening with reduced indoor capacity.
The temporary program, called L.A. Al Fresco, streamlines the approval process for restaurants looking to increase outdoor seating.
The program will cover sidewalks and parking lots initially, Garcetti said, potentially expanding to include streets and parklets, based on interest from restaurants and local business associations.
“I know it’s hard for restaurants to make a profit at reduced capacity,” Garcetti said. “But what this allows is for you to have more people, even with that reduced capacity.”
Outdoor dining permits, for which eligible restaurants can apply through a city website, would be issued immediately and last for 90 days. Restaurants with existing alcohol permits are allowed to serve alcohol within approved areas.
Several L.A. City Council members worked in conjunction with the mayor’s office to design and implement the initiative.
“We are cutting red tape and making it easier for restaurants to use and share outside spaces,” L.A. City Councilman Mike Bonin said in a statement. “This will protect the health and safety of restaurant employees and customers by making it easier to accommodate physical distancing.”
On Friday afternoon in downtown San Pedro, L.A. City Councilman Joe Buscaino — one of the proposal’s main proponents — hosted a dress rehearsal of what the outdoor dining program might look like if expanded to include street closures.
Dozens of tables and umbrellas were set up along West Sixth Street between Mesa and Centre streets as customers ordered nachos and beers from nearby San Pedro Brewing Co. and were waited on by restaurant employees.
The waterfront town of San Pedro had discussed expanding sidewalk dining for years, Buscaino said, but the economic challenges caused by COVID-19 gave the outdoor dining initiative a greater urgency.
“There’s been a great deal of interest from other council members, and we’re hoping [San Pedro’s outdoor dining plan] can be a blueprint for other parts of the city,” Buscaino said.
As summer approaches, L.A. is the latest city transforming public space into al fresco dining areas to help struggling businesses. Long Beach, Pasadena and Palm Springs have adopted similar measures, as have cities across the country, including Tampa, Fla., and Portland, Maine.
It's a date
Get our L.A. Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore and experience our city.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.


text:
Amazon’s Woot launches a B2B auction site for excess merchandise
July 13, 2015 03:32 PM
Woot, a daily-deal retail site and Amazon.com Inc. subsidiary, recently launched a business-to-business e-marketplace—Woot Liquidation Auctions—where merchants and other businesses can buy excess merchandise.
The online B2B auction site, developed by B-Stock Solutions and located online at Woot.BStockSolutions.com, allows business buyers to bid on new, excess merchandise. Businesses can buy anything on the site from a truckload of salvaged TVs to a pallet of toys, and all items are sold for a fraction of their retail price, says Howard Rosenberg, CEO of B-Stock Solutions. In the future, he adds, the site may include products that were returned by customers or that Woot was unable to deliver. Woot did not respond to a request for comment.
The retailer’s inventory is held at approximately 43 sites across the United States, and inventory lots range in size from single pallets to full truckloads. There is no fee to buyers for creating an account on the B2B auction site and, in the 30-days since the site’s June 11 launch, about 1,000 buyers have signed up to buy excess goods. (A “lot” is a wholesale term for products offered for sale as a single group of items.)
“Buyers have to apply on the site and be approved according to the seller’s requirements,” Rosenberg says. “Woot only requires all sellers to have a resale certificate to provide evidence that they’re a real business and shouldn’t be charged sales tax on the transaction.”
Once a buyer is approved for the site, she can go to any auction page and start bidding on Woot’s products.
B-Stock Solutions says it has built liquidation marketplaces for hundreds of retailers for selling their own excess merchandise, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc., The Home Depot Inc., Wayfair Inc., and Gregg Appliances Inc., which operates online and in stores under the brand hhgregg. B-Stock Solutions also helps its client retailers market to buyers in its database. “We bring a very robust buyer base,” Rosenberg says. “Our job is to market the site to our large and rapidly growing base of business buyers of all types. There’s mom-and-pop, flea market guys all the way up to multi-store retail chains.”
When the Woot auction site launched, B-Stock Solutions sent an email buyers on its list that the Woot Liquidation Auction site was open for business. Rosenberg says he wouldn’t be surprised if there were 5,000 registered buyers on Woot.BStockSolutions.com by the end of the year.
The company charges a commission based on a percentage of what’s sold on the marketplace, and the percentage charged varies by volume. “We’re compensated on what sells,” Rosenberg says. “The more we can get them for their inventory, the more we can make.”
Sign up for a free subscription to B2BecNews, a weekly newsletter that covers technology and business trends in the growing B2B e-commerce industry. B2BecNews is published by Vertical Web Media LLC, which also publishes the monthly trade magazine Internet Retailer. Follow Nona Tepper, associate editor for B2B e-commerce, on Twitter @ntepper90.


text:
The company reported a net loss of $1.19 a share, which came in lower than the loss of $1.39 a share that analysts were expecting.
Lyft reported revenue of $1.02 billion, coming in stronger than analyst expectations for $984.17 million.
This was the first time that the company has posted revenue over $1 billion.
While Lyft CEO Logan Green said that the company “significantly" improved its path to profitability, the company did not move up its profitability timeline, unlike its rival, Uber (UBER) - Get Free Report, did when it reported earnings.
The company is aiming to become EBITDA positive by 2021. Uber, meanwhile, says that it will be EBITDA positive by the fourth quarter of 2020.
Lyft guided higher, aiming for revenue between $1.055 billion and $1.060 billion for the first quarter or 2020.
It expects to have an EBITDA loss of $145 and $140 million.
And, in the call, Green said that Lyft will continue to invest in technology advancements in 2020.
During the call, RBC analyst Mark Mahaney asked Green about Lyft’s pricing.
“We really want to win on product innovation, on customer experience and brand preference, not on things like coupons or incentives,” Green noted.
Lyft was still falling in premarket trading, but year-to-date, the stock is up around 25%.


text:
Xiaomi, or Mi India, recently completed five years of its “Make in India” journey, where the company has been producing smartphones and smart TVs locally. Now the company is upping the pace.
Question: How can I increase the efficiency of my isolated power supply?
US President Joe Biden has responded to the industry’s call to reinvigorate domestic semiconductor manufacturing. The president is pushing a USD 37 billion bill to identify solutions to the semiconductor shortfall.
"We leave 2020 behind us with a positive trend for order intake and increased activity among our customers. This augurs well for 2021," says CEO Peter Kruk in the year-end report.
Total North American EMS shipments in January 2021 were up 9.7% compared to the same month last year. Compared to the preceding month, January shipments fell 6.4%, says the IPC.
Kioxia has started the construction of new fabrication facility at its Yokkaichi plant, located on the Mie Prefecture, Japan, to support the production of sixth-generation 3D flash memory.
The Swedish technology company has received an order for two SLX mask writers from an unnamed, but existing customer in the USA. The total order value is between USD 8 and 12 million.
Pervasive Displays has introduced the EXT3 extension kit and evaluation board, with support for its entire range of iTC ultra-low power e-paper displays for industrial, commercial and retail applications, along with extensive software libraries to help reduce its customers’ engineering effort.
Magna has broken ground on a new manufacturing facility in St. Clair, Michigan, that will build complex battery enclosures for the all-new 2022 GMC Hummer EV.
HP Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire HyperX, the gaming division of Kingston Technology Company, for USD 425 million.
As of December 2020, only TSMC—the world’s largest foundry—was listed among the wafer capacity leaders in each of the three wafer size categories. It had the most 200mm wafer capacity last year and ranked second, trailing only Samsung, in 300mm wafer capacity.
The Dutch supplier of semiconductor equipment has signed a five-year long deal, worth USD 4.3 billion, with SK Hynix as the South Korean company works to secure equipment to boost it output.
Mekoprint has been through two major fluctuations in activity over the past Corona year with increases and decreases of over 40%. Despite this, the company has succeeded in continuing overall growth in both revenue and earnings.
Fisker has entered into a MOU with Hon Hai Technology Group. Foxconn is said to manufacture the vehicle at projected annual volumes of more than 250,000. Global market scope – including North America, Europe, China, and India.
The EMS provider reported 2020 forth quarter revenues of EUR 31.5 million, showing an increase of 94% from EUR 16.3 million during the same quarter 2019.
With a power budget that is ten times lower than UWB’s state-of-the-art, this transmitter lays the foundation of next-gen ultra-low-power and small form-factor UWB use-cases. This is achieved while complying with the technology’s stringent international spectral emission regulations.
Automotive supplier TE Connectivity orders further equipment for automated assembly of cell contacting systems from Manz.
Keysight Technologies has completed the acquisition of Sanjole, a provider of solutions for protocol decoding and interoperability of 4G, 5G and other wireless technologies.
Demand in the global foundry market remains strong in 1Q21, according to TrendForce’s latest investigations. As various end-products continue to generate high demand for chips, clients of foundries in turn stepped up their procurement activities, which subsequently led to a persistent shortage of production capacities across the foundry industry.
The Austrian headquartered EMS provider opened its new location in China just before the Chinese New Year. In this first step, the company invested a total of EUR 4 million in the new 3'000 square metre, high-tech location in Heyuan in southern China.


text:
A brand new trailer for the upcoming Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has premiered at The Game Awards 2022, revealing a release date and preorder particulars.
A brand new trailer for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has been revealed at The Game Awards 2022 alongside a release date for the sport. A teaser for the highly-anticipated sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order was first proven earlier this 12 months, however little or no concerning the story was truly revealed, and no actual gameplay was proven. Survivor is one among three Star Wars video games presently being developed by Respawn Entertainment, though its presently unknown what the opposite two are.
Rumors of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor coming to TGA 2022 have confirmed true, with a brand new trailer for the sport premiering through the ceremony in addition to a release date announcement. The trailer demonstrated Cal being totally familial along with his Jedi powers, exhibiting them off in opposition to each foes and completely different creatures, teasing a number of new characters as properly. Limited Run Games has additionally introduced a particular Collector’s Edition of the sport, that includes a SteelBook and full-size model of Cal’s lightsaber hilt. The sport is ready to release March 17 2023.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Has A Lot Of Potential
It was already clear from the primary teaser that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has plenty of potential as a sport, however this new trailer has emphasised that time much more. The recent footage actually exemplifies how the ending of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order has left a myriad of storyline alternatives open for protagonist Cal Kestis to discover what it means to be a Jedi. On prime of an intriguing story, the gameplay within the new trailer exhibits off plenty of Survivor‘s participating lightsaber fight, which was a big a part of what made the primary title so beloved.
The release date of March 2023 for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor could also be surprisingly quickly for some gamers. The sport is ready to release lower than a 12 months after its teaser trailer premiered, a a lot quicker turnaround than is seen for lots of AAA titles. March 2023 means the sport will arrive with ample time for gamers to get ahold of it for Star Wars Day on May 4, though many excited followers might have already completed it by then.
Considered one among Star Wars‘ best video game Jedi by many gamers, Cal Kestis’ return early subsequent 12 months is definitely one thing for followers to be enthusiastic about, significantly after seeing this new trailer. Although there’s nonetheless so much left to study concerning the sport’s antagonist and mysterious Bacta Tank character, the brand new footage supplied extra perception into the motion awaiting gamers in 2023. With the brand new particulars given on this trailer about preorders, story, and the release taking place in solely a handful of months, gamers can lastly let themselves begin actually getting enthusiastic about Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
- Original Release Date:
- Respawn Entertainment
- Star Wars Jedi
- Adventure, Sci-Fi, Action
- PC, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5
- Electronic Arts
- Unreal Engine 5
- Following up after the occasions of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor continues the journey of Cal Kestis after surviving the aftermath of Order 66 and the mass execution of the Jedi. Five years after barely escaping the clutches of Darth Vader and the Galactic Empire, Cal continues to reside on the run along with his robotic companion, BD-1. Players will now assume the function of Cal Kestis as now not a Padawan however a Jedi Master. Spanning a number of planets and additional refining and evolving the lightsaber/force-powered Jedi fight in Fallen Order, Survivor will as soon as once more put gamers again into the ever-expanding Star Wars Universe.
- Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order


text:
January 22, 2020
Bose announced plans to close all of its 119 retail locations in North America, Europe, Japan and Australia over the coming months (click here to request a list). Approximately 130 stores in China and the United Arab Emirates will remain open, along with additional stores in India, Southeast Asia, and South Korea. Bose indicated that it is pulling back on its brick-and-mortar presence since its products are “increasingly purchased through e-commerce.” Colette Burke, VP of global sales, stated, “Originally, our retail stores gave people a way to experience, test, and talk to us about multi-component, CD and DVD-based home entertainment systems. At the time, it was a radical idea, but we focused on what our customers needed, and where they needed it, and we’re doing the same thing now.”
J.C. Penney announced it will close six stores by April 24 and shut down a call center in Lenexa, KS, as part of its annual review of operations. Affected stores are located in Missoula, MT; Myrtle Beach, SC; Akron, OH; Raleigh, NC; Tulsa, OK; and Valley Stream, NY. Although the Lenexa call center is closing, J.C. Penney will maintain its Lenexa distribution center, which supplies stores and ships online orders. That facility is one of the chain’s three largest distribution centers, each of which are about two million square feet. A year ago, the Company had announced the closure of 18 department stores and nine furniture units. Over the past decade, J.C. Penney’s store base has shrunk 24% to 840 (including the six set to close). It also operates 11 distribution centers, six of which are owned and five are leased. The Company will report fiscal 2019 results in late February. Click here to request a list of future store closings.
Reports indicate that Schurman Retail Group is shutting down the retail arm of stationery retailer Papyrus, and has hired liquidation firm Gordon Brothers to assist with the going-out-of-business sales at roughly 260 stores (store closings map below). The Company cited “current challenges of the retail industry” and said that it had been working to revitalize the business for months. It was not immediately clear whether the Company would file for bankruptcy or if the e-commerce site or wholesale business would be affected. Schurman Retail Group also owns Carlton Cards, Paper Thread and American Greetings. Click here to request a list of closings.
Gap Inc. is no longer considering the spin-off of Old Navy into a standalone public company, given the cost and complexity of the split and the Company's poor performance in recent quarters. The Company is also making changes to its management team, including the departure of Gap brand CEO, Neil Fiske. He will be replaced by Mark Breitbard, currently President and CEO of Banana Republic. The Company also updated its fiscal 2019 outlook; it now expects comps and total sales to be at the higher end of prior guidance of down mid-single digits and down low single digits, respectively. Improved promotional levels during the holiday, especially at Old Navy, are boosting EPS, now expected to be above the higher end of its $1.70 – $1.75 guidance. Click here to request a list of future openings and closings.
For the November/December holiday period, Kohl’s same-store sales dropped 0.2%, leading many to question whether its tie-in with Amazon is working. In July 2019, the Company began accepting returns for Amazon customers at all Kohl’s stores. Kohl’s had said ahead of the 2019 holiday season that a nationwide rollout of the Amazon returns service was going to boost sales. Some say it is benefiting Amazon more than it is Kohl’s. In response, CEO Michelle Gass commented, “Amazon is working. This returns program is working. We’re seeing the traffic. We’re getting new customers.”
In other news, Amazon is reportedly opening an 8,040 square-foot store in Washington, D.C. While few details were disclosed, a site plan indicates that the store will sell produce, alcohol, and prepared meals. It also includes an area to park shopping carts and a “speed lane” for people to enter the store with a swipe. Last week, the Company announced it is opening a new pop-up store in one of its Seattle headquarters buildings; the store is described as an expansion of existing retail initiatives and will have a revolving inventory.
Amazon also plans to open a new, one million square-foot distribution center in Newnan, GA (south of Atlanta). No opening date has been set. Amazon is currently building another new fulfillment center on Atlanta’s east side.
Last week, Amazon notified its third-party merchants that they could once again use FedEx’s Ground network to ship orders placed under Amazon’s Prime membership program, nearly a month after imposing a ban on the service. Amazon has said that it banned FedEx Ground because the service was not meeting its standards and now is reversing the decision because FedEx’s service has reached acceptable levels.
Finally, Amazon said it planned to ask a judge to temporarily block Microsoft Corp. from performing any substantial work on a $10.00 billion Pentagon cloud contract until its lawsuit challenging its validity is resolved.
On January 16, Kirkland’s announced the departure of President and COO Michael Cairnes, whose duties will be taken over by Wood Woodward, currently CEO. Given that there is no change to the CEO position, this should not have an impact on the Company's broader strategy to turn around the business. There are plans for further cost reductions at the corporate office and the Company will close 27 stores in early 2020, with the potential for additional closures throughout the year (click here for more information). Mr. Woodward also commented on the Company’s holiday performance, saying, “While the environment remains challenging for home décor retailing, our business overall remains on track with our expectations. Seasonal and e-commerce sales are driving a sequential improvement in the comp trend, and we have managed a better transition to January than in recent periods.”
Golf & Tennis Pro Shop (dba PGA Tour Superstores) announced it will open three new stores this spring in East Hanover, NJ, Palm Beach Gardens, FL and Columbus, OH, and it anticipates opening “additional stores” later in the year. The Company currently operates 41 units in 16 states, and its customer base grew by 500,000 in 2019, bringing its “annual visitors” to approximately eight million per year. Management said it plans to accelerate its growth strategy to expand its brick-and-mortar presence by another 50% over the next three years. Over the past three years, sales have increased 46% and comps have risen 22%. The Company’s brick-and-mortar footprint has expanded 52% and e-commerce comps have risen 91%.
Topgolf Entertainment Group opened a new, 65,000 square-foot location in Germantown, MD on January 17. This is the Company’s second location in Maryland, joining a location in Oxon Hill (National Harbor). The Company plans to open its third Maryland location in Baltimore soon. Topgolf operates nearly 60 locations across the U.S. Click here to request a list of future openings.
Sportsman’s Warehouse announced plans to open new stores in Parker, CO (February 2020), Brentwood, CA (August 2020), and Corona, CA (October 2020). While the Brentwood store expands the Company’s presence in Northern California, the Corona location is the Company’s first in Southern California. Once the stores open, there will be 13 locations in California and seven in Colorado. These are the first announced store openings for 2020, and the Company expects to announce further openings in the near future. Including the three new locations, Sportsman’s will have 107 stores in 27 states.
REI plans to open a new, 23,000 square-foot store in Boca Raton, FL in Fall 2020. This is REI’s third Florida store; there is a location in Jacksonville that opened in 2013 and another in Winter Park, which opened in 2017. The Company plans to add two more stores in Florida, in Gainesville (due to open in spring 2020) and Tampa (opening 2021). REI has 162 stores in 39 states and Washington D.C. Click here to request a list of future openings.
On January 17, 7-Eleven agreed to acquire 7‑Eleven Stores of Central Oklahoma, which includes more than 100 7-Eleven branded locations that have been owned and operating independently for 67 years; terms were not disclosed. All of the stores are located in the greater Oklahoma City metropolitan area. The transaction is expected to close in 60 - 90 days. There are currently more than 9,700 7-Eleven stores in the U.S. and Canada.
Reports indicate Earth Fare has retained restructuring counsel and financial advisors, as it struggles in the saturated natural and organic grocers’ space. Though the Company has announced five store closures in the last few months, including three in Indiana, it has generally been in growth mode in recent years, increasing its count from about 40 in early 2018 to around 55 stores today. Earth Fare is 80% owned by Oak Hill Capital Partners, which acquired its stake from Monitor Capital in April 2012 in a transaction that valued the Company at $300.0 million. At that time, Earth Fare operated 25 stores. The Company maintains a secured borrowing relationship with Fifth Third Bank, secured by substantially all assets. These most recent reports follow Kroger announcing its intention to divest its interest in natural grocer Lucky’s Market, in December 2019. Click here to request more information.
Lucky's Market ("Lucky's") is reportedly closing 20 of its 21 Florida locations as well as its distribution center in Orlando (click here to request a list). The stores are set to close as of February 12, 2020 and we expect the Company is also ceasing development of its 14 "in progress" new stores across the state. Reportedly, the store in Melbourne, FL, will remain open, and though the Company also has a store in Savannah, GA, we estimate the cost to service these two stores, its only remaining east coast locations, is significant and will likely lead to their sale or closing.
Yesterday's news follows Kroger's announcement on December 5, that it had decided to divest its interest in Lucky's. Kroger had originally formed a partnership with Lucky's in April 2016 and was seen as the backer that was enabling its growth including in Florida, where Kroger did not operate any stores. It remains unclear what liability Kroger may have to these store closings. Currently, Lucky's operates 41 stores, closing 20 of these and ceasing development of another 14 could easily create an insurmountable liability for Lucky's without an additional partner.
At its 2020 Investor Day, management at Casey’s General Stores discussed plans to add 350 new convenience stores to its network over the next three years (click here to request a list). According to SVP of Store Development Brian Johnson, there are “significant infill opportunities, particularly in midsize and suburban markets, to augment [its] outward expansion. Over the past 10 years, Casey’s has built or acquired 750 stores, and replaced or remodeled an additional 700 existing stores. Mr. Johnson indicated that newly constructed Casey’s locations perform well and provide growth in both sales and profitability. Mr. Johnson also said Casey’s is reorganizing its development team to have a dedicated M&A group that will focus solely on smaller acquisitions. “There are a lot of targets out there. We have identified over 400 single-store operators in our area and there are approximately 2,500 stores that are in chains of 100 or less.” Casey’s partnered with Tango Analytics to launch a predictive modeling tool next month that will help in site selection. The Company plans to target markets with 10,000 to 100,000 people. “These are not new markets for us…. However, we have historically selected these locations on a one-off basis. With the help of our network planning tool, we now plan to select and build more sites at the same time in these larger communities.” Casey’s third distribution center, currently under construction in Joplin, MO, will open up new territories in the Southwest, and will alleviate pressure from its Ankeny, IA and Terre Haute, IN facilities.
K-VA-T Food Stores will open a new Food City in Etowah, TN. The 41,100 square-foot supermarket will replace the smaller store in that location (which closed on January 8) being constructed on the same site. The new store, expected to be complete by late summer, will include an in-store bakery/deli with a food bar, a large café seating area, a pizzeria, full-service meat and seafood departments, and expanded grocery, frozen food, and produce sections.
Save Mart closed its FoodMaxx in Bakersfield, CA on Friday due to underperformance. The location was the first store the Company opened under the discount format, in 1986. Save Mart sold the lease to another operator, who assumed control of the property. The Company now operates 52 FoodMaxx stores in California.
Weis Markets will close its store in Fredericksburg, VA on February 13. It is the second Weis to close in the area since the Company bought 38 Food Lion locations in Virginia, Maryland and Delaware in 2016 from Delhaize Group; the Weis store at 736 Warrenton Road shut down in November 2018. Following the closing, Weis Markets will have one store in Culpeper, one in Fredericksburg, three in Stafford and five in Spotsylvania. The Company faces increased competition from ecommerce options and dollar stores; additionally, Weis has made little or no financial investment in its Virginia stores, most of which lack pharmacies and have smaller deli, meat and bakery departments compared to those of competitors Giant Food, Publix and Wegmans.
On February 4, Starbucks Canada plans to open a pickup-only location in downtown Toronto, Canada. Less than 1,000 square feet, the location is smaller than most Starbucks stores and does not offer seating. It caters to customers who order ahead on the Company’s app. Starbucks piloted the concept in Seattle, WA and opened the first location in New York City in November.
Walmart opened a 201,000 square-foot facility in Thomasville, GA last week. The facility, under construction since August 2018 and operated by FPL Foods, distributes Angus beef cuts, such as steaks and roasts, from the Company’s new beef supply chain to 500 Walmart stores in the Southeast, including in Georgia, Alabama and Florida.
In other news, Walmart’s chief merchandising officer, Steve Bratspies, is leaving and will be replaced by Scott McCall. Mr. McCall has been with the Company for 25 years, most recently leading the entertainment, toys and seasonal categories. Additionally, Dacona Smith was named COO of Walmart U.S.; he previously was COO at Sam’s Club, replaced by Lance de la Rosa, most recently SVP of the East division.
On January 16, Payless ShoeSource emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and it has named a new executive management team led by CEO Jared Margolis. Additionally, management plans to institute an omnichannel distribution channel strategy, targeting both new and existing markets. Payless has an existing global retail footprint spanning Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. The Company and its franchisees own and operate more than 710 brick and mortar stores in more than 30 countries. Management said it plans to “reinvigorate Latin America, its largest business unit” and it will also relaunch its U.S. e-commerce site and open stores in the U.S., but no details were provided. Payless’ retail operations outside of North America, including its Company-owned stores in Latin America, are separate legal entities and were not included in the bankruptcy filing.
On January 10, mattress retailer Casper filed a document with the SEC for an initial public offering on the NYSE under the symbol CSPR. The price range has yet to be determined. Casper reported $312.3 million in revenue for the nine months ended September 2019, up 20% from the prior year period, and $67.4 million in losses, a 4.9% increase from last year. The Company spent $423.0 million in marketing expenses between 2016 through 2019.
Tailored Brands announced the sale of Joseph Abboud (J.A.), its men’s suit brand, to WHP Global for $115.0 million. The decision to sell the trademark was strategic, as proceeds will be used to pay down debt and improve operations. WHP Global, known for acquiring and reviving brands, also owns women’s apparel line Anne Klein. Tailored Brands will retain exclusive rights to sell Joseph Abboud in its stores, allowing the Company to maintain its private label and expand gross margin. The deal is expected to close by the end of March 2020.
Last week, Target announced sales for the November/December holiday period, with comps coming in at a positive but disappointing 1.4%. Key merchandise categories including toys (flat), electronics (down more than 6%), and home goods (down 1%) reported flat or negative comps for the period; these categories account for a higher portion of sales during the holidays. Other product categories such as apparel, beauty, and food, were up mid-single digits.
The Company adjusted its fourth quarter guidance and now expects comps to be similar to the 1.4% reported for the holidays, down from the prior estimate of up 3% to 4%. Target maintained its fourth quarter and full-year adjusted EPS estimates at $1.54 – $1.74, and $6.25 – $6.45, respectively. On the news, the Company’s stock price fell more than 6%.
On the heels of the disappointing holiday results, Target announced executive changes. The Company promoted Mark Schindele to EVP and chief stores officer, succeeding Janna Potts, who is retiring but will serve in an advisory role until May 1. Mr. Schindele previously served as SVP of properties. The Company also formalized a dual leadership structure for its merchandising organization to reflect the size, scale and complexity of its multi-category commercial businesses and operations. Christina Hennington and Jill Sando, who will remain in chief merchandising officer roles, will work closely with Stephanie Lundquist, EVP and president of food and beverage, to develop and execute a unified merchandising strategy. Click here to request a list of future openings.


text:
It appears that Vodafone Germany plans to discontinue the iPhone 5 32GB and iPhone 5 64GB thanks to a leaked screenshot from German site Flo’s Webblog. If the inventory screenshot is real, it looks like the white and black versions of both devices will be discontinued and the iPhone 4S will be discontinued completely.
An earlier leak from MobileSyrup pointed to the same thing happening at Canadian carrier Telus who also appears poised to discontinue both the 32GB and 64GB versions of the iPhone 5.
If these are accurate and it’s looking like they very well could be, it could mean that Apple’s new iPhone lineup is going to look something like this:
- iPhone 5S 16GB/32GB/64GB and perhaps a 128GB starting at $199.99.
- iPhone 5 16GB at $99.
- iPhone 5C as Apple’s $0 on-contract device, replacing the iPhone 4S.
The iPhone 5S is almost assuredly going to be Apple’s premium iPhone, replacing the iPhone 5 with a better camera, processor, and a fingerprint reader for added security. Rumors have suggested that the iPhone 5C will be a cheap plastic iPhone that will come in a host of colors, a 4-inch Retina Display, Lightning port and iOS 7 and will be aimed at cheaper devices.
So, it could be that the iPhone 5C takes the place of the iPhone 4S at Apple’s lowest price point, just like the iPhone 4 replaced the iPhone 3GS last year.
This of course remains unconfirmed and likely will remain that way all the way up until September 10th when Apple takes the stage in Cupertino and makes its new iPhone plans known.
Earlier this week, Apple finally sent out media invites for an event in the Bay Area wherein the company will likely show off the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C, both of which are all but confirmed for arrival. The company is also expected to detail iOS 7 and its release date as well.
The devices are expected to be released on September 20th, just a few days after they launch. Rumors suggest that the iOS 7 release date could land on September 10th though that remains unconfirmed as well.
4 Reasons Not to Install iOS 13.4 & 11 Reasons You Should
The iOS 13.4 update is a milestone release and it could have a huge impact on your iPhone’s performance. While some...
Samsung Galaxy Android 10 Update Info (2020)
With the Samsung Galaxy Android 10 update rolling out to some devices and new info starting to emerge, we want...


text:
X’s advertising revenue fell by $1.5 billion this year
X’s advertising revenues for 2023 fell by $1.5 billion compared to before Elon Musk’s arrival. The company earns $600 million per quarter from advertising, which is almost half as much as in previous years.
Citing two people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reports that X will earn approximately $3.5 billion in 2023, including subscriptions and data licensing deals.
X’s management aimed to generate $3 billion in advertising revenue for the year, but given the trends in previous fiscal quarters and Elon Musk’s scandalous moments, they will only be able to get about $2.5 billion.
The head of business operations, Joe Benarroch, said that after Elon Musk bought the social network, the company is no longer “Twitter and doesn’t measure itself by the old revenue and user metrics.” He also said that it is now a new global business that is developing in other revenue streams.
Before the acquisition, Twitter was not profitable either, but the company was earning about $5 billion a year, and then-CEO Jack Dorsey planned to raise revenues to $7.5 billion by the end of 2023. At that time, Twitter was getting more than a billion from advertising every quarter. Now this figure has fallen to $600 million.
At the end of November, Elon Musk told advertisers who left the platform to “go fuck themselves”, and then said that they were killing the social network. After that, even more advertisers started thinking about leaving X.


text:
Over the last week, the Obama Administration has taken some extra steps toward demonstrating its commitment to technology and entrepreneurship.
During his State of the Union address, the president pledged to promote innovation by securing broadband access for all Americans via next generation wireless networks. He also reaffirmed his commitment to creating an environment that fosters the success and sustainability of startups and small businesses. And just yesterday, the White House launched it’s StartUp America program with AOL Co-Founder Steve Case as its Chairman. The goal of the partnership is to promote entrepreneurship, innovation and job creation here in the U.S.
StartUp America, a joint venture that includes buy-in from federal agencies like the Small Business Administration, Department of Treasury, Department of Veteran Affairs, the Commerce Department and top administration officials, among others, is, at root
[A] White House initiative to celebrate, inspire, and accelerate high-growth entrepreneurship throughout the nation. This coordinated public/private effort brings together an alliance of the country’s most innovative entrepreneurs, corporations, universities, foundations, and other leaders, working in concert with a wide range of federal agencies to dramatically increase the prevalence and success of America’s entrepreneurs.
read more at Politic365.com
Jay Jay Ghatt is also editor at Techyaya.com, founder of the JayJayGhatt.com and JayJayGhatt.com where she teaches online creators how to navigate digital entrepreneurship and offers Do-It-For-You Blogging Service. She manages her lifestyle sites BellyitchBlog, Jenebaspeaks and JJBraids.com and is the founder of BlackWomenTech.com 200 Black Women in Tech On Twitter. Her biz podcast 10 Minute Podcast is available on iTunes and Player.fm. Follow her on Twitter at @Jenebaspeaks. Buy her templates over at her legal and business templates on Etsy shop!


text:
BOSTON (Reuters) – Hedge fund Sachem Head Capital Management said on Wednesday that it owns a $1.2 billion stake in Elanco Animal Health Inc and plans to push for changes at the company that makes medicines and vaccinations for pets and livestock.
The New York-based hedge fund, run by Scott Ferguson, said in a regulatory filing the Greenfield, Indiana headquartered company’s stock is “undervalued” and an “attractive investment.”
Ferguson raised cash for the position through a so-called special purpose vehicle over the last months and his hedge fund now owns a 9.1% stake through stock and options.
The hedge fund intends to speak with Elanco management and sees opportunities to boost sales and improve margins, a person familiar with Sachem Head’s plan said.
Elanco’s stock price jumped 12.04% to $31.63 on news of Sachem Head’s involvement. A company spokeswoman said management is focused on “enhancing value for all shareholders and will continue to take actions to achieve that objective.”
Sachem Head has experience with animal health companies having invested with Elanco competitor Zoetis in 2014.
Elanco, valued at $14 billion, has lagged its rival with its shares up only 5.4% from a year ago, while Zoetis’ stock has climbed 27% during the same time.
Bloomberg first reported the stake in Elanco.
Sachem Head was founded in 2012. Previously it called on Whitbread PLC to sell its Costa Coffee business before it was spun off to Coca-Cola Co and it pushed Eagle Materials Inc to split its core businesses, before the company’s board agreed to spin off its heavy materials and light materials businesses into two publicly traded entities.
(Reporting by Svea Herbst-Bayliss; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Chris Reese)


text:
Pearland, TX (April 08) – Neighbors Emergency Center has created an exciting new billboard campaign to remind Pasadena commuters about their 24/7 emergency services.
In their efforts to create broader brand awareness, Neighbors Emergency Center partnered up with Spry Creative Group in order to bring appealing design and color to NEC’s utility vehicles.
Two branded SUV’s and a mobile billboard truck now travel everyday between the five different NEC locations in and around Houston, increasing brand awareness while transporting goods and materials from one center to another.
One of the SUV’s sports a stunning display of red and green shapes with white lettering and a prominent NEC logo in the back. The second SUV elegantly displays the NEC logo and name on a white reflective surface, alike to that of police “ghost” vehicles. Finally, the mobile billboard truck displays all the different NEC locations, the website URL, and a couple of beautiful pictures among other useful information.
NEC was impressed with the services provided by Spry Creative Group.
Neighbors Emergency Center
11130 Broadway St.
Pearland, Texas 77584


text:
French auto maker PSA Peugeot Citroen has said it will start producing cars in Nigeria in the second quarter of this year, after signing an assembly and sale of cars agreement with PAN Nigeria Limited, according to local media reports here Thursday.
The report quoted a statement from the Paris-based firm as saying it will begin building its 301 sedan in small volumes at a plant operated by PAN Nigeria Ltd in the North-Central city of Kaduna.
The vehicle will be produced from semi-assembled kits of parts shipped from Peugeot’s plant in Vigo, Spain.
PSA Peugeot Citroën (Paris:UG) and PAN Nigeria Limited signed an assembly and sale of cars agreement in Nigeria on 11 July 2014.
“The first vehicle concerned by the agreement will be the Peugeot 301, the assembly of which will begin in the second half of 2014 at the Kaduna plant. Under the terms of the agreement, PAN Nigeria Limited will also be able to assemble the Peugeot 508 and the Peugeot 308,” the statement said.
The agreement between the two firm is in line with the new automotive industry development policy introduced by the Nigerian government to encourage the production of cheap cars for the growing middle class, create employment, transfer technology, skills and encourage local production.


text:
Fujifilm India Private Limited has announced the launch of its latest FujiFilm GFX100 mirrorless digital camera in India. The newly launched camera features an image sensor with 102 million pixels resolution along with a back-illuminated sensor that comes with phase detection pixels, in-body image stabilization (IBIS) mechanism, and 4K/30P video recording capability.
It also accommodates two GFX Series batteries (NP-T125) and can be charged via USB connection. The camera has support for IEEE802.11ac 5GHz, that enables faster wireless image transfer.
FujiFilm GFX100 camera will be available at a price of Rs 7,86,999.
Commenting on the occasion, MrHaruto Iwata, Managing Director, Fujifilm India Pvt Ltd said, “This is indeed a gratifying moment for us and we are excited to announce the launch of the world’s highest 102 million pixels mirrorless camera – GFX100 in India. At Fujifilm India, our endeavour has always been to bind innovation together with service that enhances customer delight. With the launch of GFX100, we have achieved a great milestone in our digital camera business. I am optimistic that the launch will further enhance our presence in India and we will continue introducing cameras that deliver an unparalleled standard of optical brilliance that is sure to delight a photographer’s fantasy.
Main features of Fujifilm GFX100 mirrorless digital camera:
- The new Fujifilm camera comes with a large image sensor with 102 million pixels resolution. It has the latest fourth-generation “X-Processor 4” high-speed image processing engine, ultra-sharp FUJINON GF lenses.
- The GFX100 camera comes with a highly accurate AF that has the ability to track a moving subject at a speed that is twice compared to other current models. In addition to this, the GFX100 is available with the latest phase-detection AF algorithm, and that is already popular with FUJIFILM X-T3 and FUJIFILM X-T30 in the X Series of Fujifilm’s mirrorless digital cameras.
- It comes fitted with a five-axis IBIS mechanism that is helpful in image stabilization of up to 5.5 stops.
- The device comes with the support of 4K/30P video recording.
- Fujifilm GFX100 mirrorless camera body is compact and lightweight. It measures 48.9mm at the thinnest part. It comes with an inbuilt vertical grip that makes it stable and comfortable to use.
- The camera features a 2.05-inch sub monitor on the rear panel in addition to the main 3.2-inch LCD monitor that can be twisted into three directions.
- The camera is equipped with an electronic viewfinder (EVF) with more than 5.76M million dots for accurate focusing and has a magnification of 0.86x and 100% viewfinder coverage. The electronic viewfinder can be set to three different modes – “Frame Rate Priority,” “Resolution Priority” or “AF Speed Priority”.
- The GFX100 now allows the users to save the images in “16bit RAW” and “16bit TIFF.
- The camera comes with a feature of Smooth Skin Effect function that automatically smoothens the skin tone.
Along with the launch of the Fujifilm GFX100 mirrorless camera, the company’s Optical Devices Division also unveiled the new “Premista” series of cinema zoom lenses. The Premista series supports large format sensors that bring high resolutions, beautiful bokeh and rich gradation with High Dynamic Range. The Premista 28-100mm T2.9 will be available in August 2019 and it will cost USD 38,800(Rs 26,58,537) and the Premista 80-250mm T2.9-3.5 will be available later this year at a price of USD 39,800(Rs 27,27,056).