 |
|
|
EPA Sets Engine Standards
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set strict new standards for gas-powered lawn equipment and marine engines, enhancing public health by substantially reducing the amount of gas fumes, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and smog-forming pollutants emitted from a wide range of engines. The regulations will take effect in 2010 and 2011.
"EPA's new small engine standards will allow Americans to cut air pollution as well as grass," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "These standards help fight smog in our neighborhoods and waterways as we continue to improve the environmental landscape." Read more... |
|
|
AHRI Releases July Heating and Cooling Equipment Shipment Data
The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) has released July heating and cooling equipment data. According to the association, categories that saw increases included air-conditioners, heat pumps, electric water heaters, room heaters and hearth products. Warm-air furnaces and gas-fired heaters saw a drop in July. Read more...
|
|
|
LG, Samsung Ranks High in Customer Satisfaction Survey
Among washing machine manufacturers, LG ranks highest in customer satisfaction for a third consecutive year, while Samsung ranks highest among clothes dryer manufacturers, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Laundry Appliances Study.
The study measures customer satisfaction with clothes washers and dryers based on performance in six factors: ease of use; features (such as the number of settings available and appliance capacity); performance (including energy efficiency, noise level and how well the appliance functions); styling and feel; warranty; and value. Read more...
|
|
Gorenje Signs Contract with Apple
Gorenje signed a license agreement with Apple for the use of their technology in Gorenje refrigerators. Resulting from this cooperation, a unique combination of the iPod device and Gorenje fridge freezer was developed, offering the best of both. The license also includes the use of Apple logo "Made for iPod". This innovative - previously unseen - combination that made its debut at the world's largest consumer electronics fair IFA 2008 in Berlin is yet another result of Gorenje's fruitful innovation. The new project is intended to bring the use of household appliances closer to the contemporary consumer and show how modern information technology can make
their use both simple and fun - just the way the user of tomorrow wants them. Read more...
|
|
|
Hoshizaki Group Acquires Gram Commercial
Gram Commercial A/S has been acquired by Hoshizaki Group, a worldwide group manufacturing refrigeration and freezing products for commercial kitchens.Gram was owned by Danish private equity fund LD Equity and Management.
Hoshizaki Group, which is a Japanese family-owned business with just under 10,000 employees and a turnover of EUR 1,115 million, wants to maintain its market share in Japan, while increasing its worldwide market share through expansion in Europe and the U.S. Since its establishment in 1947, the Group has expanded its business in commercial kitchen equipment leveraging its high technology, strong sales and service network. Read more...
|
|
|
Lack of Skilled Workers Hurts U.S. Economy
More leading manufacturing executives today believe the lack of skilled labor and management skills in the work force - not current oil prices or the weak U.S. dollar - most hurts the growth of America's economy.
In a new poll conducted by sponsors of the FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show including METALFORM, 27 percent of the executives cited the lack of employee skills as the leading obstacle to growth. Ranked second was oil prices (cited by 20 percent), followed by tax policies (11 percent), weak U.S. dollar (10 percent), the financial commitment in Iraq (9 percent) and the credit crisis (7 percent). Read more... |
|
|
North America TV Shipments Surge
Despite a weaker US economy and rising energy prices that directly impact consumers budgets, North American TV shipments climbed a remarkably strong 26% quarter to quarter and 28 percent year-to-year in the second quarter of 2008 to more than 9.3M units, according to preliminary results from DisplaySearch's Quarterly Global TV Shipment and Forecast Report .
This Y/Y growth is the strongest since DisplaySearch began tracking TV shipments in 2004. LCD and Plasma TV technologies both posted strong sequential quarterly gains, rising 30% and 35%, respectively. PDP growth in particular was influenced by strong initial shipments of Vizio's 32" HD PDPs. Learn more... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
