A deafening reception greeted the crew of the space shuttle Atlantis when they walked on to the pitch from the players’ tunnel with the music of 2001: A Space Odyssey playing from the tannoys.

The Nasa astronauts lined up with their mascots like a football team, dressed in their blue space suits at the home of Portsmouth FC.

The 4,000 to 5,000 crowd were excited enough seeing the Nasa astronauts on the pitch.

But their enthusiasm was taken to another level when the rocket men started climbing into the crowds to give high fives and sign posters.

Read full story

An investigation by Engineering and Technology (E&T) Magazine, published by influential UK-based engineering and electrical body the IET, has suggested that the current inefficiencies of batteries and the investment needed in infrastructure for EVs may mean that governments would do better to focus their efforts on high-efficiency diesel models and hybrids.

The report points to the range of today’s vehicles, some of which would be capable of over 600km at 70 mph (113 km/h) on a single tank of fuel, calculating that for an EV to offer comparable performance, the battery would weigh 1.5 tons and cost approximately £100,000 (€120,151).

According to the authors, the current performance limitations of batteries, along with the life expectancy of lithium-ion models and the infrastructure requirements for charging, means that finding a vehicle that “behaves in the same way as a petrol or a diesel is not viable for the foreseeable future.”

Read full story

(PRWEB) June 4, 2010 — With the arrival of the recent heatwave in the UK, leading property maintenance company Aspect Maintenance has seen call-outs for the breakdown of air conditioning units double and in London air conditioning needs a 50% boost in the current heatwave to keep it running efficiently.

Commenting on the increase in London air conditioning unit repairs, Will Davies, Managing Director of Aspect Maintenance, said: “With the arrival of the first wave of hot weather in the UK many air conditioning units struggle or break down altogether and we have seen a rapid increase in the amount of call-outs on London air conditioning units in the last week. By taking these steps you can avoid costly breakdowns and stay cool when the weather is hot”.

The Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Team at Aspect Maintenance offer the following six tips on preventative measures to avoid leaks and breakages in air conditioning units, fans and refrigerators:

1. Today, more people are concerned with air quality, and when we experience hot summers, people are keen to ensure their properties stay cool.

2. Bathrooms can also experience damage from condensation, and the overall air quality, so it is important to install extractor fans in bathrooms with no windows. Mildew spores can degrade finishes the sealant and tiling. And, today, building regulations state that bathrooms without windows must have extractor fans installed.

3. You should also ensure that your cooker has a hood with an extractor fan on.

4. Some people install heat exchangers into their property. In the winter heat is taken into the air and recycled, and in the summer they have the opposite effect.

5. These units are often installed in a loft, and ducted around the house via grills in specific rooms.

6. In an age where local authorities and the government are looking towards homeowners to be more sustainable, heat exchangers and air conditioning units offer a good solution.

If you are struggling to find a London air conditioning repairs service, call Aspect Maintenance today for a quote on 0843 216 5050.

###

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/06/prweb4061384.htm

(PRWEB) May 22, 2010 — Lincolnshire based Skynasoars Ltd, one of the UK’s leading specialists in the design and manufacture of portable flag and displays systems celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2010. With over 50% of their sales, to outdoor sports companies, in December 2009 they received an invitation to contribute to the promotion of the 2012 Olympics. It was contracted by Sportset to produce a large number of flags and banners for Volleyball England - which was the largest single order the company had ever received.

The company has grown substantially in the last decade and recently revamped its image with a new style website and brochure and is firmly focused on the next ten years with the recent launch of a new range of products.

Skynasoars has launched a range of bespoke ‘Event Flags’ designed for large outdoor gatherings which have proved popular for festivals, parties and corporate entertaining. The demand for these flags has been unprecedented and they have been used in a wide range of activities.

An innovative range of ” Pop Up Banners” has also been very well received and in demand across the UK for a wide range of events and sports both indoors and outdoor, but particularly with sponsored golf tournaments.

The team at Skynasoars’ always look for new opportunities and markets which led to the development of a highly innovative range of personalised portable flags specifically designed for weddings, used for decorating the churches and wedding venues.

Having grown substantially in the past ten years, Jim Rowlands the Skynasoars’ founder is looking forward to the next ten years..

“We take pride in what we do, and how we regard our customers. Almost all our products are designed in-house and have gone through rigorous testing before being offered for sale: we do not buy blind, or choose the cheapest option, but source only from reputable suppliers.”

The new 2010 brochure highlights Skynasoars’ most popular products and introduces their newest innovations. A copy of the brochure can be downloaded from the new look website.

The new Skynasoars website went live this month and has undergone a complete redesign. It now features detailed product descriptions and information and employs an increasingly user friendly interface.

The business was founded in 1992 to manufacture enthusiast kites, but rebranded as Skynasoars in 2000 and moved to new markets. The company has since grown to be one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of portable flags and signs. Based in Scunthorpe, Skynasoars is seen as one as of the most creative and innovative in this sector.

For more information visit www.skynasoars.co.uk or contact owner Jim Rowlands on 01724 280307.

###

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/05/prweb4034864.htm

(PRWEB) April 28, 2010 — Unvented cylinder systems are now experiencing an unprecedented growth in the replacement market, as many installers recognising that a combi system isn’t always the best choice, according to McDonalds Engineers, one of the UK’s leading hot water cylinder manufacturers.

Since figures published by the Hot Water Association in 2008, showed that mains pressure hot water systems reached close to half of the total hot water storage market, for the very first time, the growth has continued as changing demands favour the benefits offered by unvented cylinders.

Whilst combi systems can provide an instantaneous hot water solution, very few can exceed 20 litres per minute, or cope with demand from multiple outlets in the way that Unvented Cylinders can.

And as the unvented cylinders can also be used with renewable energy systems such as solar, heat pumps , solid fuel and wind power, Unvented Cylinder systems are fast becoming the cylinder of choice for hot water systems.

McDonald Engineers Sales Director, Jamie Stewart, explained ” Modern households are expecting their hot water systems to be capable of delivering more hot water, at higher flow rates, simultaneously to multiple outlets and with limited loss of performance and unvented cylinders provide the perfect answer.”

He continued, “As a result we have seen enquiries for our POWERflow 2000 unvented cylinder rise considerably from installers, house builders and local authorities who are beginning to question the attractiveness of the combi system. We have also seen a dramatic increase in sales of our THERMflow Thermal Storage Unit. This gives the benefits of Mains Pressure Hot Water at the tap, but with a Vented Store. This type of unit is ideal for all boilers and can also be used when people have an additional Solid Fuel heat source.”

To find out more about the POWERflow 2000 Unvented Cylinders with Mains Pressure and THERMflow Thermal Store range, visit www.mcdonald-engineers.com, or contact our technical sales team on 01592 611123.

###

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/04/prweb3924244.htm

(PRWEB) March 19, 2010 — Dickson Testing, a USA-based metal testing company, is one of a number of engineering firms adopting the free Drumlin PDF security software and service to protect their IPR. They were particularly impressed with the simplicity and quality of the software, and the excellent support they received, helping them choose exactly the right solution for their requirements. And the software and service they adopted was provided entirely free-of-charge!

“Here at Dickson Testing we specialize in metal testing where our resources and privacy is invaluable to our company. Our digital files naturally increased with the daily growing technology, but so did our vulnerability. This is where Drumlin comes in. Everything and everyone was considered when we were choosing a PDF solution. Besides being cost-free, what stood out about Drumlin from the rest were the positive individual consumer blogs and forums written about using Drumlin. Drumlin offers the standard in PDF security without the standard in pricing. It is simple to use and powerful when utilized. Other products focus on pricing, focused on getting our dollars per files or licenses but not Drumlin.

“With the great help of their staff, Drumlin focuses on our requirements and catering Drumlin to our use. Their staff are prompt and informative. As a result, Drumlin was easily integrated into our system and has had few to no problems so far. The only issue we initially had with Drumlin is the two year limit for registered accounts, but when it was explained (it is auto-updated without charge) we are more glad to have it than not because of the extra sense of security. With how helpful their staff has been with us, we are confident Drumlin will help us best with our interests. Overall the Drumlin experience is wonderful and a blessing to use. Many thanks again Drumlin!”

Hoi Chan, Dickson Testing Company: Quality Engineer

The Drumlin service includes the free Drumlin PDF reader/publisher, coupled with a free digital rights management (DRM) service. The Drumlin software and service ensures that PDF versions of documents such as books, technical manuals, market research reports, courseware, subscription newsletters, financial statements, contracts and similar materials can be distributed with complete safety. The fully secured version of PDFs created using the Drumlin software can be placed on a web site, CD or emailed to a user or customer without concern that they might be intercepted, read, decrypted or copied.

The “publisher” facility in the Drumlin PDF reader/publisher strongly encrypts conventional PDF files with the option to ensure that they can only be read once they have been authorized. Even then, these files can only be opened on the individual PC on which they have been authorized - such files cannot be copied and read elsewhere. Drumlin’s publisher facility enables many controls to be applied to such documents, such as enabling or disabling text copy facilities; setting start and end dates for viewing; and specifying the number of times a document may be viewed, and the number of times it may be printed (if at all).

The “authorization” facility within the Drumlin PDF reader enables the recipient of a secured PDF to open the document. If all is OK the file is decrypted, saved on disk as a new encrypted file and the user can view and optionally print this file according to the settings the publisher has made. For more details and demonstrations please see the Drumlin Security web site

# # #

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/03/prweb3742014.htm

Toronto, ON (PRWeb UK) February 17, 2010 — The airline industry has undergone quite a transformation in the past decade. Low cost carriers have made significant inroads into major markets. High-profile mergers and bankruptcies have reduced the number of legacy airlines in the Americas and Europe. The volatility of fuel prices has exposed weaknesses in an industry long on fixed costs and relatively static on unit price. Online booking and third-party fare aggregators have ushered in an age of perpetual bargain-seeking among consumers.

All of these changes have led the industry to experience perhaps the biggest change to its business model in decades —a growing emphasis on ancillary revenues. And even here, the industry is beginning to transform again with a new report to be released by GuestLogix and Airline Weekly - the Airline Weekly GXI Onboard Retail Benchmark 2009.

GuestLogix, Inc . (TSX-V: GXI), the leading provider of onboard store technology to the airline industry and Airline Weekly, the leading news weekly covering the global airline industry business, teamed up to prepare and distribute the first-of-its-kind report, which demonstrates how the airline industry is looking to augment compulsory fees (like checked baggage charges) with new, consumer-centric revenue generation models.

Specifically, the report analyzes the ways in which airlines in various regions have developed onboard retail strategies, from food and beverage sales to duty free to innovative passenger comfort and virtual goods offerings, creating a more fulfilling onboard experience in the process.

With the advent of in-cabin credit card processing, “cashless” cabins have become the preferred operating style for many airlines, facilitating more sales and offerings of many different items. In effect, this technology has allowed airlines to pursue value-driven ancillary revenue strategies within the passenger cabin itself.

The Benchmark report breaks down the results of these strategies in terms of region, routes, retail models and product category. Compiled and analyzed over the past 15 months, the report covers the in-cabin operations of global and regional airlines representing nearly one-third of the annual passenger trips worldwide. The statistics, analyses and trends included in the report function as a benchmark of onboard retail success for the industry as a whole.

“The airline industry, from a revenue standpoint, is in an innovation-by-necessity period, and every bit of new information counts. Now we have this new, critical data in the industry’s most dynamic space — onboard retail. Airlines with the fastest growing non-ticket revenues are commanding attention, as this could — at last — be a step toward sustainable profit generation, with strong respect for the consumer,” said Mr. Seth Kaplan, Managing Partner of Airline Weekly.

“These trends indicate that onboard retail has already become a game-changing strategic play for the airline industry,” said Mr. Tom Douramakos, President and CEO of GuestLogix. “This benchmark marks a way forward for airlines as well as passengers.”

The Airline Weekly GXI Onboard Retail Benchmark is the industry’s first holistic snapshot of the status of onboard retailing today. For an industry well accustomed to transformation and reinvention, the onboard retail report is a bright signpost on the path forward.

For more information about Airline Weekly GXI Onboard Retail Benchmark 2009, please visit www.airlineweekly.com/OBRBenchmark.

For media enquiries, please contact Vanessa Horwell or Jennifer Rodrigues at ThinkInk, at +1.305.749.5342 x 232.

About Airline Weekly
Airline Weekly is a subscriber-supported publication, paid for by readers who want a more interesting, more valuable read about the airline business. Each Monday, Airline Weekly reports on who’s flying where, new marketing approaches, fleet finance, and critical airline and airport data. And, most importantly, Airline Weekly readers enjoy a critical context, insightful analysis and new ideas found nowhere else. For more information and to download a FREE special report on ancillary revenues, visit www.airlineweekly.com.

About GuestLogix
GuestLogix is the world’s leading provider of onboard store technology which helps airlines build and manage onboard retail operations tailored to their needs and their passengers. Serving 35% of the global airline passenger traffic, GuestLogix has become a trusted partner to airlines around the world. The Company is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and maintains sales and support facilities in the US, UK, Singapore, and S. Korea. GuestLogix is publicly traded in Toronto (Symbol: GXI.V). More information is available at www.guestlogix.com.

# # #

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://uk.prweb.com/releases/2010/02/prweb3617694.htm

(PRWeb UK) January 25, 2010 — Stannah Passenger Lifts are getting bigger in answer to the demands of customers whose requirements go beyond the 6 -16 person capability of their standard range.

Alastair Stannah, MD, Stannah Lifts Limited, comments:
“I’m delighted to be able to introduce the new Stannah Xtralift range - which simply means we can now help our customers with lifts from 6-33 person capacity, hydraulic or traction, with higher travel and variable speeds. We can’t wait to demonstrate our new capability.”

The new Xtralift range provides MRL gearless traction passenger lifts for up to 33 persons, with a multitude of speeds, platform sizes and travel configurations - doubling the scope of the Stannah passenger lift range.

Xtralifts are ideal for bustling buildings where lifts are in continuous use such as retail, offices and hotels.

Of course the lifts all come with the same Stannah assurances: quality manufacture, comprehensive choice of finishes, excellent customer service and local service, nationwide.

For more information about the new range of passenger lifts simply call Stannah on 01264 339090 or go to www.stannahlifts.co.uk/passengerlifts

###

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://uk.prweb.com/releases/2010/01/prweb3497094.htm

Orlando, Florida (Vocus) November 24, 2009 — Gas Turbine Efficiency plc (AIM: GTE), a leader in energy and aviation products and services, announces the hiring of Lee Wilkinson as Sales Director for the company’s European power generation market. In this role, Mr. Wilkinson will direct business development operations to expand GTE’s power generation business from its North East Lincolnshire, UK office.

In addition to achieving strategic growth goals, Lee Wilkinson has been tasked with increasing GTE’s customer mix and meeting the company’s new business objectives through agreements with utility operations throughout Europe. Through Mr. Wilkinson’s development of market intelligence, GTE will secure its industry leadership in Europe as part of the company’s expansion plans.

“The European power generation industry can benefit from GTE’s offering of proven gas turbine productivity and environmental solutions,” said Steven Zwolinski, Chief Executive Officer for GTE. “Lee will provide an important link to European customers where the value of GTE solutions is amongst the highest globally.”

According to the European Turbine Network (ETN), fossil fuels will still be the dominant fuel for power generation through 2030 and gas turbines will remain a key technology in this industry. To capitalise on Europe’s power generation needs, GTE is increasing its industry footprint by taking an active role in the development of technologies that can lead to cleantech solutions for sustainable energy generation.

“Europe’s demand for energy will continue to increase in the future and GTE is securing its place in the power generation industry to respond to this market,” said Par Krossling, Managing Director EMEA. “Lee’s incorporation into the team is one more key element in our strategy.”

Before joining GTE, Mr. Wilkinson worked with Pratt & Whitney as European sales manager and with RWE Power International as head of its business development group. Given his knowledge of the European power generation market, he contributes the benefits of existing contacts in Europe, a solid industry reputation and depth of knowledge in a market that offers a high potential for growth. As an accomplished professional, Lee is an Advisory Board Member for PowerGen Europe and holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering.

“The European market is traditionally an early adopter of cleantech solutions,” said Marcus Turner, Chief Marketing Officer. “With close to 4,000 gas turbines operating in Power Generation and Oil & Gas sectors, GTE sees a large market opportunity for continued expansion in this region.”

The growth outlook for the European power generation market is well served by GTE’s expanded product line in clean technology and sustainable energy services. A full description of GTE’s products and services, including case studies, can be found at www.gtefficiency.com.

GTE will be exhibiting at Power Gen International 2009, the world’s largest Energy Industry convention on December 8-10, 2009 in Las Vegas, NV. The company will be located in booth number C3/600, Row 1, in the convention’s expo floor.

About GTE

www.gtefficiency.com [Gas Turbine Efficiency designs, manufactures and supplies proprietary cleantech energy saving and performance enhancing solutions to the power generation, oil and gas, and aviation industries. The company’s extensive portfolio of patented cleantech solutions save fuel, reduce emissions, increase availability, and extend turbine and parts life. The Group also provides solutions for burning a wider variety and quality of fuels such as liquefied natural gas, clean coal and alternative fuel blends. Products and services developed by our world-class technology team include compressor cleaning and power augmentation systems; fuels management systems; combustion design, repair, upgrade and monitoring; and fluid and control auxiliaries.

For more information about Gas Turbine Efficiency plc and its products and services, please visit http://www.gtefficiency.com.

For more information:
Megan Thomas
Director of Communications
Gas Turbine Efficiency
media(at)gtefficiency(dot)com
Phone: 407.304.5236

###

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/Gas_Turbine_Efficiency/Power_Generation/prweb3251794.htm

Productronica, Munich, Germany (PRWeb UK) November 9, 2009 — Electro Scientific Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESIO), a leading provider of world-class photonic and laser systems for microengineering applications, today announced a revolutionary laser micromachining platform that provides component and original equipment manufacturers (OEM) with greater yields, enhanced cost-of-ownership, and enables them to break new ground in the manufacturing of micro-electronics, automotive and other consumer products. While at the show, ESI also plans to showcase its entire micromachining portfolio, which is uniquely created for the mass production of high-precision micro-features on a wide-range of metallic and organic substrates.

“By working closely with our customers we were able to identify and solve their key manufacturing challenges,” said ESI Interconnect and Micromachining general manager Jeff Albelo. “They were looking for a micromachining solution that has unparalleled placement accuracy, has high yields, and reduces scrap of incorrectly processed parts, while maintaining high throughput. We developed a platform that not only addresses all these issues, but is fully field-upgradable, delivers automated inspection and processing of parts, and is able to handle upwards of 10,000 parts per day. Our customers are genuinely pleased with the system because it provides them with a solution that solves their biggest manufacturing bottlenecks at an attractive cost-of-ownership.”

The ML5900 is an advanced, high-precision system that is optimized for industrial-production. The system gives customers real-time process control while providing them with a modular framework for maximum flexibility and rapid redeployment. Featuring a high-power, interchangeable diode pumped IR, Green or UV laser, the system enables component and OEM manufacturers to drill, route, and nanostructure a wide range of materials including metals, organics, dielectrics, semiconductors and hybrid-engineered parts. The platform’s integrated metrology and rotary stage allow for fully parallel processing, thereby increasing the system’s overall speed and handling capabilities.

All of ESI’s micromachining platforms are built with a flexible architecture that can be used across many industries and applications. The systems are designed to increase manufacturing throughput and have the ability to create complex geometries at unprecedented speed. All systems offer fast processing, exceptionally high yields and solid return-on-investment (ROI).
During the show, ESI will also feature several other micromachining systems including:
• The MM5800, a dual-beam laser micromachining system geared for metallic applications. It incorporates two high-power, infrared (IR) fiber lasers designed specifically for industrial use. The MM5800 features a patented compound beam positioner with seven axes of co-ordinated motion control to ensure that there are no stepping time penalties or abutment errors.
• The 5330 micromachining platform which is optimized for via drilling and profiling on flexible circuits, for processing metals such as aluminum, and for machining high-aspect-ratio controlled-depth and through vias in silicon.
• The Lasermill™, a versatile benchtop laser micromachining system designed for small prototype machined parts. Past applications include the processing of micro-wires and circuitry to aid in the battle against Parkinson’s disease.
About ESI Inc.
ESI is a pioneer and leading supplier of world-class photonics and laser systems that help its microelectronics customers achieve compelling yield and productivity gains. The company’s industry-leading, application-specific products enhance electronic-device performance in three key sectors—semiconductors, components and electronic interconnect—by enabling precision fine-tuning of device microfeatures in high-volume manufacturing environments. Founded in 1944, ESI is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, USA. More information is available at www.esi.com.

PRESS CONTACTS:
World Headquarters
Barbara Rizzatti
Electro Scientific Industries
Portland, Oregon,
USA

European Headquarters
Dr Damon Green
Electro Scientific Industries
Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire
UK
Email: dgreen (at) esi (dot) com

Agency Contact – Europe
Richard Hart
Hart Marketing International Ltd
UK
Email: richard (at) hartmarketing (dot) com
www.hartmarketing.com

###

For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://uk.prweb.com/releases/ESI_Photonics/Laser_Micromachining/prweb3165454.htm